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Student Spotlight – Shirley Cruz

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Shirley Cruz!

Shirley is majoring in English with a minor in Professional Writing. She is part of the UCLA/Keck Humanistic Inquiry Research Awards program. Shirley’s research project is “Still in the Casket: Queer Gendered Bias in Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla.”

How did you first get interested in your research project?

I first got interested in my research project after taking a class during my first quarter here at UCLA titled “Literary Cities – Dublin.” One of the required readings for the class was Dracula by Bram Stoker, which brought me back to my longstanding interest in Gothic literature and in turn led me down a rabbit hole of other vampiric literature that has impacted our culture. One of the other vampiric works that was rarely spoken on was Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. This disparity in scholarship written on Carmilla compared to Dracula is the focal point of the hole I found in research that I am choosing to explore.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

The most exciting aspect of my research so far has been uncovering small but meaningful details in Carmilla and Dracula that I had never noticed before, details that deepen the texts’ queer subtext and reveal how gender shapes their reception. Each new insight feels like opening a hidden door in stories I thought I already knew. I’ve also genuinely enjoyed building a strong working relationship with my advisor; having someone to share ideas with, ask questions, and discuss my discoveries has made the entire process feel collaborative, energizing, and even more rewarding.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

What surprised me about the research process was how relevant the discussion of gendered bias in literature still is today. The disparity in scholarship between queer men and queer women is a long-standing debate, but exploring it through the lens of Gothic literature has revealed new layers I didn’t expect. Seeing how Dracula and Carmilla echo these same patterns—while also diverging in fascinating ways—has made the conversation feel both current and deeply rooted in literary history.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

One piece of advice I can give other UCLA students thinking about doing research is to choose a topic that genuinely excites you, something that fires you up, because that passion will make the writing and thinking process so much easier. Research can feel intimidating, especially coming from a first-generation transfer background, but joining the research community at UCLA has opened my mind both academically and socially. It’s allowed me to connect with other students doing amazing work and build meaningful relationships with faculty, all of which has made a lasting impact on me.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

The effect that I hope my research has is to encourage a more intentional effort to recognize and represent a wider range of gender expressions in queer theory, especially female and nonbinary voices that are too often overshadowed by male-centered narratives. At UCLA and within my community, I hope this work helps reinforce the value of humanities research and inspires others to continue exploring queer stories and gender with depth and care. As current administrations place increasing pressure on academic inquiry, I hope my project—and the work of other UCLA researchers—can stand as a reminder of why this research matters and help pave the way for future generations of scholars.

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Student Spotlight – Natalia Castillo

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Natalia Castillo!

Natalia Castillo is majoring in Cognitive Science with a minor in Art History. She is part of the UCLA/Keck Humanistic Inquiry Research Awards program. Natalia’s research project is “Madness and Modernity: French Visual Culture and Psychiatric Discovery in the Long Eighteenth Century.”

How did you first get interested in your research project?

My interest in this project began at the intersection of my studies in Cognitive Science and Art History, and my personal experiences with mental health advocacy. I’ve long been fascinated by how people have tried to visualize psychological suffering before there was language to describe it. When I started studying eighteenth-century France, I noticed how often artists depicted emotional turmoil and social disorder during times of political crisis. That overlap between visual culture and the emerging understanding of the mind drew me in. I realized that art didn’t just reflect madness—it helped define what it meant. This project became a way for me to bridge my academic interests with my desire to understand how societies make sense of mental illness and collective trauma.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

The most exciting part has been realizing how alive these artworks still feel. When I look at pieces like Lagrenée’s “La Mélancolie,” I can see how artists were trying to translate emotions that people did not yet have scientific terms for: fear, disillusionment, grief. Tracing how those emotions traveled from canvas to clinic, shaping how people thought about madness and healing, has been incredibly powerful. It is also exciting to recognize how relevant these works still are today, since the emotional exhaustion and instability they depict mirror many of the struggles we face in our own world.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I have been most surprised by how aware eighteenth-century thinkers were of conditions we now diagnose with modern psychiatric terms. The French were deeply attuned to mental suffering and wrote and painted about melancholy, hysteria, and mania with remarkable nuance. Yet even with that awareness, the social stigma around mental illness has persisted across centuries. It is both humbling and frustrating to see how far back the struggle for legitimacy goes, and it has pushed me to think more critically about how cultural perceptions, rather than science alone, shape the way we treat mental health today.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

Start with what genuinely moves you. Research can be overwhelming and isolating at times, but if you care deeply about your question, it becomes a form of discovery rather than just a task. Do not be afraid to combine different parts of yourself, including your lived experiences, your academic interests, and your personal history. Some of the most meaningful research comes from connecting the personal with the scholarly. Most importantly, find mentors who believe in your curiosity as much as your discipline. That support makes all the difference.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope this project reminds people that art has always been a way to process collective pain. By showing how eighteenth-century French artists visualized madness during times of upheaval, I want to highlight how creative expression can serve as a form of healing and understanding. My goal is to challenge the lingering stigmas around mental illness by reframing it as part of our shared human experience, something that societies have grappled with, represented, and redefined for centuries. At UCLA and beyond, I hope this work encourages more interdisciplinary conversations between the arts, sciences, and mental health advocacy. Ultimately, I want people to see that care, empathy, and imagination are as essential to progress as knowledge itself.

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Student Spotlight – Miah Chao

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Miah Chao!

Miah Chao is majoring in Public Health and is part of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. Her research project is “Youth-Appealing Features in California Cannabis Advertisements: A Cross-Media Analysis of Instagram, Facebook, and Traditional Outlets.”

How did you first get interested in your research project?

In my freshman year of high school, I became heavily involved in tobacco control advocacy after witnessing how addiction affected my family. Throughout this journey, I learned about the decades-long history of predatory marketing tactics used by Big Tobacco (and many other industries) to target vulnerable communities, including young people, and how this interacts with the social and structural determinants of health. As the sale of recreational cannabis expanded, I began to recognize similar marketing strategies in my community. Considering California has relatively unclear regulations surrounding youth-appealing cannabis marketing, I grew curious: What specific features of these advertisements appeal to young audiences? How do messaging strategies differ across platforms? And what might this mean for policy and prevention efforts? These questions have led to my current research examining youth-appealing marketing strategies across digital and traditional media, bridging marketing, psychology, and public health.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

Examining the advertisements themselves and realizing the range of messaging represented. The cannabis industry, by far, does not take a “one-size fits all” approach and has vast diversity in messaging strategies, ranging from emphasizing the health and wellness aspects of cannabis to tying it to enticing flavors, pops of color, and even fantasy football. It has been interesting to try to break these strategies down and see patterns emerge!

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

When beginning my platform comparison analyses, I was originally expecting Instagram to have the highest prevalence of youth-appealing features, given its popularity with young people. However, early-stage results showed that Facebook actually had the highest prevalence, more frequently using rewarding appeals and risky content related to addiction.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

Find a mentor at UCLA that can champion your work! I went into UCLA with an ultra-specific topic that I was interested in, but I was still able to find incredible mentors here. Not only were they interested in the same topics, but they also were willing to train me so I could build appropriate skillsets, connect me with opportunities to share and elevate my work, and enable me to transform my questions into formalized research. Do some digging online, leverage any connections you may have, and don’t be afraid to reach out!

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I would love for my research to inform reasonable, evidence-based marketing regulations for the cannabis industry, especially in digital spaces that go largely unregulated. By studying the messaging strategies used by various industries, we can design more appropriate prevention campaigns catered to younger, vulnerable populations. I also hope my work spreads the message of the importance of learning from past mistakes of other industries, like the tobacco industry, and using public health policy to tackle upstream factors connected to health problems.

 

 

 

A young blond woman sits on a white wicker bench in front of a gray stucco wall. She is wearing a blue and white sleeveless blouse and and white pants. Her arms are folded in her lap and her hair is loosely pulled back. She is smiling and her head is cocked to the side.

Student Spotlight – Brinn Wallin

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Brinn Wallin!

Brinn is majoring in English and is part of the UCLA/Keck Humanistic Inquiry Undergraduate Research Awards program. Brinn’s research project is “The Enduring Phantom of Sylvia Plath: Misrepresentation and a Life Survived by Death.”

How did you first get interested in your research project?

My discovery of and love for Sylvia Plath began at a quintessential time in my life, and one that I view as somewhat of a synchronicity. I first picked up her only novel, The Bell Jar, as I was being discharged from a mental health facility. Though the basis of my hospitalization was different from Plath’s (as well as Esther Greenwood’s in this novel), there were several poignant similarities in our struggles. I started reading her poetry, specifically her earliest poems, which doubled my interest in her. However, I began to notice something while studying Plath and her work in academia: she was known, above all, by her suicide. This repeated focus on her death, more than her immense work and influence, spawned a desire in me to research this misrepresentation of her life, work, and legacy. In doing so, my frustrations deepened as my passion grew. When I transferred to UCLA, I applied to an introductory research program to legitimize what has now been my years-long research journey. This research has made up the most prized and essential part of my years as an undergraduate student.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

Everything! If I had to narrow it down to one thing, though, I would say the most exciting aspect of my research is the same thing that overwhelms me: the endless rabbit holes of information, insight, and inquiry that the process of researching yields. I love learning; to me, research is, first and foremost, about learning and fostering personal (and social) growth.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I knew when I first started research what I was getting myself into. Nevertheless, you can never anticipate just how much or how little information you will discover, depending on what specific questions you are asking. At certain points I have found an abundance of scholarly work to support my claims. At others, I could find near to nothing. This is the special part of research, however: the opportunity to build off of the work of previous researchers, while also discovering one’s own unique place within a particular area of scholarship.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

First I would say: do it! But I would follow that by emphasizing the importance of loving what you research. If you take on a project just to say you did it, or because you view it as just another thing you have to do, I don’t think that it is reason enough to sign yourself up. One of my favorite authors and artists, Anaïs Nin, writes that it is passion which lends us moments of wholeness. This, at least to me, is what sits at the core of research: moments, even if brief ones, that fuel our souls.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

Given that my project specifically addresses real-time changes that can be made in the discourse surrounding Sylvia Plath, I hope my research widens the academic lens focused on this larger-than-life (and death!) writer and woman. I hope it allows for greater transformation in the ways we view and treat female artists altogether. And I hope my project positively impacts those who know of Plath, have read her work, or simply heard her name once in passing. In other words, I hope the love I have for her becomes contagious.

 

Tags: Keck, English, Creative Writing, Sylvia Plath, Undergraduate Research, Undergraduate Creativity

 

 

Student Spotlight – Nat Escobedo

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Nat Escobedo!

Nat majors in Chicanx Studies and Art, minors in Art History, and is a part of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.

Her project, “Community Art in the Inland Empire,” aims to be accessible to as many different audiences as possible, and ultimately be made from and for the community.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

I’m from the Inland Empire, grew up in the High Desert, and had the incredible opportunity to work at the Cheech Center for Chicano Art when it opened! The community I was able to get involved with in the I.E, and the conversations we were having are my reason for being here.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

I love talking about my research and getting the opportunity to highlight the amazing work being done by the community in the Inland Empire. It’s always exciting when I talk to someone and they go from not even knowing where the I.E is to wanting to go visit some of the art shows there.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I’m surprised at how few people know where the I.E is…or people thinking it’s in Los Angeles…

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

Anyone can do research, and everyone is doing research all of the time. Every time you ask yourself a question, it’s research. The only difference between Googling how a toaster works and a research project is a bibliography.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope to challenge some of the norms of how research is conducted and written. Often, the communities we have a responsibility to are not centered, if at all considered, in our processes of knowledge production. I want my research to be accessible to as many different audiences, and ultimately be made from and for the community. Also recognizing that communities like mine aren’t usually included in art histories, I hope I can continue to participating in actively changing that by sharing our counter-stories beyond our marginalization.

Student Spotlight – Madison Bishop

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Madison Bishop!

Madison majors in Psychology, minors in Applied Developmental Psychology, and is a part of the UCLA/Keck Humanistic Inquiry Undergraduate Research Awards program. Her project, “From Hearing to Understanding: How Parent’s Language Impacts Children’s Emotion Categorization,” aims to share information that will help families and early childcare centers better support children’s emotional and social-cognitive development.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

I first got interested in my project when exploring the difference between children’s emotion categorization abilities in the Language and Cognitive Development Lab. I was fascinated by what factors may have contributed to some children being better at categorizing different emotions such as happy, sad, and angry.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

The most exciting aspect of my research so far has been the freedom of developing my own project. I have enjoyed setting a timeline and holding myself accountable.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I have been most surprised by the amount of diverse research that is out there. It has been interesting to find several articles that support my hypothesis, but then also stumble upon one that completely contradictions it.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

My biggest piece of advise I have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research is to reflect on what topics you find the most fascinating. Research is a very time-consuming and tedious process, so you want to make sure that what you are learning about excites you!

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope my research will have a lasting positive impact on the field of developmental psychology. Through my project, I aim to share information that will help families and early childcare centers better support children’s emotional and social-cognitive development.

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Student Spotlight – Ryan Horio

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Ryan Horio!

Ryan is double majoring in Human Biology & Society and Asian American Studies with a minor in Community Engagement & Social Change. He is part of the UCLA/Keck Humanistic Inquiry Undergraduate Research Awards program. The title of his project is “Fear, identity, and activism during COVID-19: Conceptualizing racialized Asian youths’ experiences of sinophobia and foreigner racialization in the US.” Through his project, he hopes to give his communities a voice and the courage to use it. Ryan’s best piece of advice is that anything can be research!

How did you first get interested in your research project?

During the pandemic, I witnessed people who looked like me being assaulted and discriminated against solely due to their perceived race. I felt helpless and unable to do anything at the time, and those feelings followed me to college where I pursued a second major in Asian American Studies. My academic journey combined with my passion for racial justice and activism led me to pursue an honors thesis and this research project.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

Definitely speaking to my participants and listening to their stories! As my work seeks to place the experiences of anti-Asian hate during the pandemic within the broader context of sinophobia and foreigner racialization, these interviews are what keep me grounded in my work. It is a privilege to hear such powerful and intimate experiences.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

I did not realize how important research is for any kind of change. Furthermore, I believed research was something that remained in academia. However, discussing with other researchers and reflecting on my research’s purpose, I became surprised at how influential our voices can be if channeled together and done effectively. This experience has shaped my future goals within research and academia.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

Anything can be research! So, you might as well do it on something that you are passionate about—think about the things that get you excited, the topics that you could talk endlessly on, the communities that motivate you to be here as a UCLA student. If you choose something that you are passionate about, you are already further than most others.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope that my research will give my communities a voice, as well as the courage to use it. Historically, we have been silent and have been silenced. In this light, I hope that our institutions listen to our stories as students and support us in the ways that we need them to. I also hope that my work empowers us to speak about our experiences instead of remaining silent. Finally, I hope that my research encourages others to think critically about their own research’s purpose and to keep action at the center of our work as academics.

You can follow Ryan on Instagram at @ryanhorio.

Student Spotlight – Claire Smith

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Claire Smith!

Claire is majoring in Human Biology and Society with a minor in Professional Writing. She is part of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.  The title of her project is “Evaluating the Efficacy of Mindfulness Self-Compassion Therapy in Mitigating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms for Women Experiencing Homelessness with Substance Use Disorders.” Claire’s best piece of advice is to find a mentor whose work you really admire.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

I first became interested in community-engaged research through my work at the UCLA Mobile Clinic Project. This organization showed me firsthand the importance of using evidence-based, compassionate strategies. My work with MCP and Dr. Garfin’s REACH Lab have empowered me to continue advocating for resources and policies that support individuals experiencing housing insecurity.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

The most exciting aspect of this research has been hearing feedback about the Mindfulness Self Compassion course. It’s wonderful to hear that some women feel it has really had a positive impact on their lives.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

I would encourage students interested in beginning research to find a faculty or grad-student mentor whose work they admire. It can be really difficult to get started on your own, but having a mentor to guide you is incredibly helpful.

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope that my research motivates funding bodies and community organizations to provide accessible and effective mental health programs to women recovering from trauma. As the literature surrounding housing insecurity and mental health therapies grows, I hope more people will prioritize trauma-informed care approaches for women experiencing housing insecurity.

You can follow Claire on Instagram at @cclairesmithh.

 

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Student Spotlight – Sihui Lin

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Sihui Lin!

Sihui majors in Architectural Studies, Statistics and Data Science with a minor in Digital Humanities. She is a researcher in our Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP)! Her research project is titled “From First to Fine: Facsimile, Fine Printing, and Cultural Patronage in William Andrews Clark Jr.’s Christmas Gift Books.”

How did you first get interested in your research project?

I first became interested in book studies through an English capstone seminar on libraries and special collections, where I had the opportunity to work directly with archival materials—from 17th-century booksellers’ catalogs to 20th-century fine printing masterpieces. I found it incredibly inspiring to explore UCLA’s vast library resources, which span diverse cultures and histories. While searching for compelling books to work on, I came across an article about the Clark Library’s history written by Lawrence Clark Powell, after whom Powell Library is named. The series of Christmas gift books published by William Andrews Clark, Jr. immediately caught my attention due to their distinctive format and cultural significance. I feel deeply grateful and honored to have the opportunity to explore UCLA’s own collections.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

One of the most exciting parts of my research has been the opportunity to work directly with rare materials at the Clark Library and Library Special Collections. I am always captivated by the experience of handling fine printing books—turning pages made from handmade paper, noticing the intricate details of their craftsmanship, and spotting delicate watermarks that reflect the meticulous care put into their creation. It is a tangible connection to the past that feels almost magical. Beyond the materials themselves, the staff at both libraries have been incredibly supportive, sharing insights about their collections and helping me uncover hidden treasures.

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

Working with archival materials has been full of surprises, and that’s part of what makes it so exciting for me. There’s something thrilling about diving into boxes of primary sources—whether it’s thank-you notes, newspaper clippings, or handwritten letters—without always knowing exactly where they will lead or what argument might emerge. Sometimes these materials align perfectly with secondary sources, but other times they challenge or even contradict existing narratives, which can completely reshape my understanding of the past. It is in those moments of discovery that I really feel the power of research—being able to piece together a more nuanced, comprehensive picture of history. It is surprising and unpredictable, but that is what keeps it so engaging.

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

I recommend exploring the excellent resources available at UCLA’s libraries! They offer extensive catalogs curated by experts across various fields. Plus, subject librarians are highly knowledgeable in their respective areas, so be sure to take advantage of their expertise!

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

Through my research, I hope to uncover the stories behind the treasures held in UCLA’s libraries and explore how private printing has shaped Los Angeles’s cultural landscape. While fine printing might seem like a niche field with little direct impact on daily life, it reveals fascinating narratives about cultural capital, craftsmanship, and the values of the past. By bringing these stories to light, I aim to help others appreciate the artistry and history behind these works—things that are often overlooked or taken for granted.

 

Student Spotlight – Cris Avitia Camacho

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Meet UCLA undergraduate researcher Cris Avitia Camacho!

Cris majors in Chicana and Chicano Studies & Labor Studies, minors in Gender Studies, and is part of the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program. The title of their project is “The Intersections of Culture, Religion, and Identity on Child-Mother Relationships: College-Aged Assigned Female at Birth LGBTQ+ Individuals with Latinx Mothers.” Cris’ work, which examines the effects of religion, culture, and identity on relationships between assigned female at birth LGBTQ+ individuals and their Latinx mothers, is inspired by their own experience as a non-binary lesbian individual with a Latinx mother. Their best piece of advice is to write about something that matters to YOU.

How did you first get interested in your research project?

I first became interested in my research project when I took CCAS M126 Politics of Crisis: Migration, Identity, and Religion and wrote my final research paper about the effects of migration and religion on the mother-child bond. I felt very passionate while writing that topic and wanted to explore it in a different direction, with my own interests in gender and sexuality. Therefore, when the URFP application went live, I decided to give it a shot and apply. I choose to do my research project for URFP on this topic because of my own experiences as a non-binary lesbian individual with a Latinx mother. I’m in the process of interviewing other LGBTQ+ individuals who have a similar identity to mine and see the effects of religion, culture, and identity on relationships between them and their mother. The importance of this is because gender and sexuality are often “taboo” topics within the Latinx community, and I want to give a voice to individuals whose experiences might otherwise be pushed down or unheard.

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

The most exciting aspect of my research so far has been getting to go through the history of gender and sexuality in Latin American cultures, and how it has evolved over time. There’s so much information not readily available or known to the public, and I believe that writing about this topic could allow for open conversations about it. Also, going through the IRB process and getting approval was so rewarding and helped me learn more about the research process for the future!

What has surprised you about your research or the research process?

The lengthiness of the research process, there is so much scholarship and documentation to go through. It can be overwhelming at times, but being passionate about it motivates me to continue and when I get in a writing mood, it feels like time is flying by. I feel like going through this research process will prepare me for the future and allow me to become a better writer and researcher. This is a rewarding experience, and the process is so worth it!

What is one piece of advice you have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research?

One piece of advice I have for other UCLA students thinking about doing research is to follow your passions and write about something that matters to YOU! We need more people to care about topics like these and beyond, every idea and thought you have could change the world!

What effect do you hope your research has in your field, at UCLA, in your community, or in the world?

I hope that my research allows for small changes within the Latinx community about how we discuss gender and sexuality and dismantle taboos surrounding it. I want people like me or individuals who are friends and family of Latinx LGBTQ+ to feel free to exist unapologetically and know they are not alone in their experiences. I hope this inspires other Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals to also research a similar topic using their experiences because the only way we’ll bring change is if we’re all united. I hope to continue and expand on this research topic in the future because it is so essential to become open-minded and not just tolerant towards LGBTQ+ people in Latinx communities.