1st Annual IPN Summer Undergraduate Fellowship

This summer, the IPN welcomed four undergraduate research fellows into the lab. Through hands-on training and mentorship, they had the opportunity to contribute to ongoing projects exploring the science of psychedelics and neurotherapeutic development. Each fellow brought their own perspective and curiosity to the work, gaining valuable experience in data management and collaboration at the bench.

 

We’d like to introduce:
Kelli Steineman reorganizing her lab bench

Kelli Steineman

I am a 4th year Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major. With my current research focusing on analytical chemistry and neurology, I wanted to delve into the world of synthetic chemistry. The IPN offers a perfect blend of that new area and the neurological topics I've been interested in. The IPN's mission and novelty are what really drew me in, and I am excited to contribute to the early stages of something with the potential to be life-changing. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to attend graduate school to further my research in biochemistry. My overall goal is to lead my own lab as a head scientist, advancing our understanding of autoimmune diseases and developing new treatments. Outside of my academic work in science, I spend my free time creating art!  

Jake Polvie reading a label on a container in the IPN lab

Jake Polvi

I am a 4th year majoring in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. I have been interested in psychedelics ever since learning about their therapeutic potential in the treatment of addiction and depression disorders. With the prevalence of these conditions and having been close to those suffering from these conditions, I find the work done in the IPN to be important and exciting. I aspire to spend my career researching the neurological mechanisms of addiction and depression and for me, this opportunity is a big step in that direction and hopefully will help connect me with this field of research. Outside of academics, I love spending time outdoors backpacking and hiking as well as doing pottery and listening to music. 

Afnaan Waqas using a pipetter to draw liquid out of a container

Afnaan Waqas

 

I'm a pharmaceutical chemistry major coming into my 3rd year at Davis. I wanted to join the IPN for the summer so I could learn more about the features and synthesis of psychedelic drug targets. I plan on taking a gap year to get work experience and then applying to graduate school. 

In my free time, I enjoy cycling, hiking, and fishing!

 

Sophia Zhang weighing a compound in the IPN lab

Sophia Zhang

I'm a 4th year pharmaceutical chemistry major! One of the things that drew me to organic chemistry was the ability to create things that help people. The IPN deals directly with making analogs of psychedelics in the hopes that they can harness the drugs' neurotherapeutic benefits without the hallucinations associated with them to help people with illnesses like depression or schizophrenia, which fits with exactly what I found interesting about organic chemistry in the first place. I'm hoping to pursue a chemistry PhD. Beyond that, I hope to enter the pharmaceutical industry and work in R&D in drug development. Outside of school, I write stories in my free time. I'm currently an editor for an online magazine that contains writing and art from a collection of creators!