2023-2024 Undergraduate Research Fellows

Adriana Gutierrez was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is the second oldest of six children. Throughout her childhood, she learned the importance of helping others and giving back to her community. Being a first-generation student, Adriana has become committed to giving back, whether that be as an EMT, or as the Women in Health Program Assistant at the Women's Resource Center at UNM. She hopes her research will lead her to the creation of more resources for other first-generation students around the country. While Adriana's career goals of becoming a Paramedic and Physician Assistant do not directly translate into her research, her goal of saving the lives of others will remain the same in all areas of her life, research and career.

David was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico. His hope is to pursue either a master’s or PhD directly after graduating. After earning a doctorate, he plans on working in a robotics design company focusing on low power actuation. Outside of school, David has a deep passion for nature. His astoundment for the natural world has led him to find artistry in making bioactive terrariums. In many of these terrariums, he makes fully self-sufficient ecosystems by coupling life from simple plant species to insects and amphibians. This affection for nature fuels his interest in optimizing robotic systems based on the world around us. His hope one day is to use the mobility and behavior of animals to decrease power consumption in robotic systems, and make them in general, more life-like.

Catarina was born in Guatemala, lived in El Salvador and Mexico. She came to New Mexico alone to pursue her degree in healthcare in the hopes of becoming a medical forensic pathologist. Catarina comes from a Guatemalan Indigenous Mayan community known as Mam or Qyool Mam. Catarina has always had an interest in healthcare and the system provided in Guatemala, especially for Indigenous People. She knows how to play the violin and was part of Conservatorio de Queretaro, Mexico, for her teenager years. She is an only child, she is part of UNM's student organization AJAAS, she loves her grandmothers mole and loves bugs so much that she does research on them for the Biology Department at UNM.

Charles Aguirre was born in the Philippines but comes from Gallup, New Mexico. He is currently a sophomore at UNM, pursuing Psychology with a pre-med track. Coming from UNM Gallup, Charles has earned three associate degrees in Science, Applied Science and General Studies. He has always been interested in the human mind and how it affects the world around us. From perception to theories, Charles views the human mind as a powerful tool that can both positively and negatively affect our perception of reality. He is truly passionate about making a difference in the people around him and his community through education and the power of seeking opportunities. Charles aspires to be a future physician and to use his time at El Puente to develop a strong research background and to apply his findings in his future career and educational goals.

Cristian grew up in the small town of Pojoaque, New Mexico. Both of his parents immigrated from Mexico to the United States, searching for better opportunities for their children. Cristian is the youngest in a family of five and is a first-generation college student. He is in the second year of his undergraduate studies at the University of New Mexico. From a young age, Cristian has been passionate about his education and has worked hard to be involved within his community. His parents taught him the importance of education and taught him the hardships of life through their experiences. Cristian is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the El Puente Research Fellowship and is excited to gain new skills for both life and school! His ultimate goal is to attend medical school and bring awareness to the ongoing health issues in the Hispanic community.

Cruz Davis-Martinez, a second-year student at the University of New Mexico, was raised in the lowrider capital of the world: Española, New Mexico. Developing towards a degree in Psychology and Studio Art, Cruz wants to pursue art therapy by combining his passion for art with his desire to assist others as a means for giving back to his community. Cruz’s research interest involves how various forms of therapy can positively impact marginalized communities.

Daniela was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As the daughter of two Mexican immigrants, Daniela has learned the importance of hard work and standing up for others. As a first-generation student, Daniela hopes to attend Law School and become an Immigration Lawyer. Daniela has seen the difficulties and struggles her family has faced and wants to give back to the communities that have helped her become a better person.

David was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico. His hope is to pursue either a master’s or PhD directly after graduating. After earning a doctorate, he plans on working in a robotics design company focusing on low power actuation. Outside of school, David has a deep passion for nature. His astoundment for the natural world has led him to find artistry in making bioactive terrariums. In many of these terrariums, he makes fully self-sufficient ecosystems by coupling life from simple plant species to insects and amphibians. This affection for nature fuels his interest in optimizing robotic systems based on the world around us. His hope one day is to use the mobility and behavior of animals to decrease power consumption in robotic systems, and make them in general, more life-like.

Denilson is a third-year student at UNM pursuing a bachelor's degree in music education. He is a first-gen student born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Within the College of Fine Arts, Denilson serves as the collegiate president for UNM NAfME student chapter, and an executive board member of Mariachi de UNM. As a music education major, Denilson seeks to provide the next generation of students with an adequate and enriched music education experience. Denilson is a violinist and plays with the University’s Symphony Orchestra as well as two Mariachi ensembles. Post bachelor's degree, Denilson wishes to continue to a master's program and to teach elementary general music as well as middle/high school orchestra.

Eva was born in Southern California and raised in Colorado in a blended Pennsylvania Dutch/Chicano household. She came to UNM to be closer to her extended family in New Mexico and build a better connection to her family's culture. Eva is currently in her second year of university. She is the Historian for UNM's Undergraduate Anthropology Society and is looking forward to being a part of another community of people who love learning and are passionate about what they do. Eva's goal is to become a museum curator and work with American archaeology collections to accurately and respectfully educate people about indigenous peoples' history and inspire other minorities to work in museums and dismantle their colonial practices. She hopes that the experience she will have with El Puente will help her to serve her community.

Izabelle is a senior at UNM pursuing bot a B.S. and a B.A. She has acted as a Peer Learning Facilitator for Human Nutrition and currently conducts research at the McCormick Lab, where she has helped study Huntington’s disease as a New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar. She is a part of several student groups, including Christian Challenge, Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society, and Nutrition Club. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, where she was formerly a Secretary and Attendance Officer. Additionally, she is the president of the clinical dietetics club. She has a desire to work in underserved health fields. Due to this and her interests in nutrition and genetics, she plans to pursue a career in researching or treating metabolic conditions.

Jade was born in El Paso, Texas but raised everywhere because she was an Army brat. She is the first in her family to pursue a career in Pediatric Oncology, which she is working toward as a sophomore. She is actively using her time as an undergraduate to lay down roots in Albuquerque and participate in the UNM community. She is a Regents’ Scholar who prides herself on her involvement in organizations like ELL, Lobo Food Pantry volunteering, the HSA, and shadowing at the UNM Pediatric ER because she is passionate about what those opportunities stand for. She is ecstatic to have the opportunity to prove her capabilities with the El Puente Research Fellowship and show every single minority girl that it is possible to chase their STEAM dreams. It is so important to her that they know that no one can make them feel inferior through doubt or the word “No”.

Jason was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a low income first-generation student whose parents immigrated from Mexico. He is the youngest of four siblings and is always striving to meet the expectations set by his brothers, who have already graduated from the University of New Mexico. Jason has recently joined the Student Support Services as a Peer Coach to help other first generation students transitioning to university. After graduation, he plans to enroll and pursue a Master of Business Administration at the Anderson School of Management. By being a fellow with El Puente, he hopes to take this opportunity to not only learn the research process, but by also applying it to his field of study of economics. Witnessing the financial disparity that low-income minority groups face, he wants to take a closer look at how this disparity affects the opportunities available to those communities, and also researching on what can be done to combat this inequality.

Joannliseth was born in Eagle Pass, a small-border town in the southwestern part of Texas, but raised in Piedras Negras, Coahuila in Mexico. Growing up, the automotive world captivated her attention and became one of her greatest passions. Prieto took a leap of faith and decided to pursue her dream of becoming a mechanical engineer. Just like an arrow, she was released from a bow to fully be gone with the wind. The University of New Mexico became her first destination and was presented as a chance to expand her horizon. Within the pack of UNM, she has slowly been able to make her way in the field. Merging into the picture, El Puente has now stepped onto the building of her career by granting a research opportunity. After graduating, she aspires to work in the automotive industry, as she breaks stereotypes and raises the Mexican flag along the way.

Jordan was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. Her father immigrated from Ciudad Juárez, and her mom is from El Paso, Texas. Although Jordan is a first-generation student, the path to higher education was paved by her three older sisters. Jordan has valued the opportunities UNM has been able to provide, including conducting hands-on research, working as a Student Leader for the Anderson School of Management, and being a mentor for multiple programs. Following graduation, Jordan plans to apply to Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Sciences where she can be a part of the growing body of medical advancements but also, create resources and policy to address health concerns in Latinx communities. Through the El Puente program, Jordan hopes to continue to embrace her identity of being a Chicana through the El Centro community and to learn and grow with her fellow peers in hopes to prepare for graduate school.

Jose was born in Santa Fe and raised on the Ohkay Owingeh Reservation in Española, New Mexico. Growing up in an impoverished area gave him the impression that there was no such thing as higher education. That changed after attending Los Alamos schools. He adapted from a poverty-stricken town with a corrupt school system to an affluent town of opportunity where he discovered his passion for technology and 3D printing. After graduating with honors concurrently from Los Alamos High School and the UNM-LA Robotics Certificate Program, he began studying Mechanical Engineering at UNM with his UNM Presidential, LANL Bronze and ASME scholarships driving him forward. Jose plays a very active role in his community as the Vice President of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity here at UNM. When he isn’t 3D printing, he is probably working out, doing community service around campus, or raising money for his fraternity’s philanthropy.

Karina Bolaños was born and raised in Artesia, New Mexico. She grew up in a community that encouraged and supported her in all her ventures. She is a Chase Foundation Scholar; this is a scholarship awarded to those involved in their community, while simultaneously showing academic promise. Higher education has always been her goal, and through the support of the University of New Mexico, she has been able to work toward this and much more. She was a Rural Student Project Scholar, a New Student Orientation Leader (for two years in a row), and is currently serving as the Chase Scholarship Ambassador. She takes pride in all her titles, but especially those of “Stephen and Arabella Bolaños’ daughter” and “Natalia Bolaños’ sister.” She is ecstatic to be a part of a program that works to serve first-generation and underrepresented students. She aims to be a role model to those like her.

Joshua Lopez was born in Santa Ana, California, where he grew up with his two older brothers and his mother. Joshua's father, Josue Lopez, was deported in 2002 for staying past his student visa expiration date to care for his pregnant wife. For the first seven years of Joshua's life, he traveled back and forth across the San Ysidro border with his brothers and mother, Angélica Zavala, so that he could spend time with Josue in Tijuana, Mexico. However, the visits became less frequent when Angélica got a job with the EPA in Seattle, Washington in the summer of 2009. Joshua lived in Mercer Island, Washington for 9 years and then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2018 because Joshua's stepfather, Clifford Villa, had acquired his dream job of teaching Law at UNM. Since moving to Albuquerque, Joshua has realized his passion for innovating, chemistry, physics, medicine, community and competitive Counter Strike. Right now, Joshua is a senior setting his eyes on medical school or a PhD/MD combined program in biomedical engineering.

Koby Alejandro Perez is a student employee at the University of New Mexico. A proud first-generation student who always conveys how proud he is of his Mexican heritage and his hard-working family. He also does his best to advocate that what he does is not just for him and his family, but to also find ways to uplift and empower his community through his professional development and academic advancements. Koby loves to spend time doing personal research on new scientific advancements, spending time with friends, and enjoys occasionally mixing music. He hopes to one day help revolutionize science and challenge the many barriers posed by the natural laws of physics, ultimately leading to scientific advancements and more access to non-hazardous resources and materials. Some of his greatest inspirations comes from the work of Stephen Hawking and Nikola Tesla, however, he still finds the work from many renowned physicists, like that of Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and some physicist work from Leonardo da Vinci incredible and inspirational.

Mario is a resilient and dedicated first-generation college student, born in Chihuahua, Mexico. Motivated by the promise of better opportunities, his family and him decided to immigrate to the United States. As the oldest among four siblings, Mario embraces the responsibility of setting an example for his family. Balancing academic dedication, part-time employment, and household responsibilities, he tirelessly strives to complete his education while helping those around him. Mario's compassionate nature led him to take pleasure in helping others, further enriching his character. Despite facing numerous challenges, he has approached them with an optimistic mindset. His journey and experiences have made him appreciate hard work and see obstacles as opportunities for growth. Despite his rigorous lifestyle, he strives to make time for his hobbies, which include the gym, hiking, cooking, and creative writing. Mario feels super excited to be part of El Puente Research Fellowship and the skills he will acquire along the way.

Matthew was born and raised in Albuquerque. He is the third of four siblings, and a first-generation college student. He values education above all else, and believes that it is the key to understanding, compassion, and empathy. He earned his associate degrees at Central New Mexico Community College, before transferring to the University of New Mexico to earn his bachelor’s degree and plans to attend graduate school. His ultimate goal is to become an educator. His wish is to teach the next generation acceptance through understanding different cultures and histories. Through the El Puente Research Fellowship, he hopes to widen his own understanding of the diversity of the world around him.

Miguel Cuellar was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but was raised in a small town known for its chile, Hatch, New Mexico. Miguel comes from a Mexican household where his dad had migrated from Mexico to the United States. With this, he is known as a first-generation college student and will be the third grandchild to attend college and graduate with a bachelors. He also hopes to become the first grandchild to receive a master's degree. Coming from a Mexican household, Miguel also knows the struggle of having little to no money. As a child, his father was deported, leaving him, his mother, and his three sisters behind. As time went on, his family struggled financially. Now, he is taking the opportunities he can get to not only succeed but help his family out in the process. He is grateful to be a part of El Puente. Not only will this program help him gain the skills necessary to help him succeed, but it will also help him connect with others who also faced similar challenges.

Mitzi was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and currently lives in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She comes from two hardworking Mexican parents, who were born in Chihuahua, Mexico. She is a Sophomore at UNM, where she plans to attend Law School after earning her bachelor’s degree. Mitzi is a first-generation student who hopes to make a change in her community. She plans to become a defense attorney for those who have been wrongfully accused. She plans to help those in her community understand the laws more, as well as defend those in her community. With this program, Mitzi plans to inform people about the disadvantages/discrimination that Latinos face in our government. She is thankful for the opportunities that this program provides, as well as having the chance to improve her research skills.