Osiris Vargas

Background

About Osiris Vargas

While growing up in Mexico, I had the dream to change the world and improve the healthcare system. However, financial limitations made it impossible, so I decided to come to the U.S. Eager to pursue higher education, I enrolled at Woodland Community College (WCC), where I became a first-generation Latino Biological Science student. During my time there, I served as a student ambassador, building connections with faculty and helping students register for classes. I also worked with reaching professors to give students access to their classes, which improved my communication skills. Later, I joined the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) department at WCC as a clerk, directly assisting students pursuing science degrees. As a MESA student, I had the opportunity to do a research internship at UC Davis in the summer of 2023. Working in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, I joined the Ralston Lab. Under the guidance of Dr. Ralston, I studied the role of the host cell cytoskeleton in Entamoeba histolytica trogocytosis. I learned various laboratory techniques, including cell culture, RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, qPCR, and qPCR analysis. My research was funded by the Mathematics Engineering Science and Achievement Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. At the same time, I started volunteering at Clínica Tepati, a UC Davis-run clinic serving the Latino community, as a translator and medical assistant. Additionally, I am currently researching the pathology of autism under Dr. Martínez Cerdeño. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disease that affects social interactions and communication skills. Neurons play a critical role in communication within the brain and signals. My project is based on a specific part of a neuron called Axon Initial Segments (AIS). The AIS is responsible for initiating the electrical impulses that allow neurons to communicate with other cells. There have been reports that the length of AIS has been linked to various neurological disorders and conditions. Through my experiences at Clínica Tepati and as a researcher at Ralston and Martínez Cerdeño Lab, I have reaffirmed my desire to become a Maternal and Fetal Medicine physician. I have always been intrigued by understanding pregnancy development, the impact of parental genetics on fetal development, chromosomal abnormalities during pregnancy, and the necessary genetic conditions for a healthy pregnancy. I desire to discover a tool to identify and prevent abnormalities in early pregnancy stages such as in the first trimester.