Bridges Scholars

Current Scholars from Palomar and MiraCosta Colleges

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Marvin Cruz Gomez (Palomar)

Marvin is a sophomore at Palomar College taking classes towards his goal to transfer to a four-year university to study engineering. He is specifically interested in working in the field of autonomous robotics with the goal of making machinery capable of security and programmable tasks. He has been working in a Quantum Physics lab at CSUSM under the supervision of Justin K. Perron and Mireya Gonzalez Rivera, conducting research with a Dilution Fridge.

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Meghan Navarro (Palomar)

Meghan Navarro is a sophomore at Palomar College where she is studying biology. Meghan is interested in health care and specifically neurodegenerative diseases. Her career goals are to earn a degree in health care and would like to serve underrepresented communities. Currently she is working with Dr. Jane Kim where they study molecular biology, genetics, and the maintenance of genome stability.

Crystal Hernandez (MiraCosta)

Jose Lucas (Palomar)

Eva Jara (MiraCosta)

Dylan Oest (Palomar)

Jenedith Pascasio (Palomar)

Natalia Salazar (MiraCosta)

Angelica Suarez (MiraCosta)

Ivan Zuniga (MiraCosta)

Bridges Alumni

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Milana Kansky (Palomar)

Milana is a sophomore at Palomar College studying biology and will transfer in 2024 with the goal of pursuing a career in biomedical research. She is currently doing independent research in Dr. Jameson’s lab on identifying the type and function of cells expressing the immune regulatory protein BST2 in alopecia areata and presented this work at the 2023 ABRCMS in Phoenix Arizona.

Marissa Mendoza (Palomar)

Marisa Mendoza is a sophomore at Palomar College studying biology. She will transfer in 2024 with the ultimate goal of earning a PhD in Microbiology. Marisa has been lab shadowing with Dr. Beckett and won best presentation at the 2024 CSUSM Research Symposium for her work on Comparing Nearshore Microbial Community Compositions across Water, Plastic, and Non-Plastic Marine Substrates.

Arianna Serrano (Palomar)

Ariana is a sophomore at Palomar College studying chemistry. She will transfer in 2024 and is specifically interested in pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry research. After doing a summer internship in Puerto Rico working on a new method to synthesize benzotriazinones, Ariana has been interested in working in organic chemistry. She is now working with Dr. Iafe to study the role of gold and benzotriazinones.

Kayla

Kayla Brostrom (Palomar)

I am currently a student Palomar College, majoring in biology. I plan to transfer in the Fall of 2022. My goal is to continue research in microbiology, specifically alternatives for antibiotics, to combat the growing resistance microbes are continually acquiring. I plan to pursue a medical degree as well to coincide with my medical microbiology education. Outside of school I enjoy swimming laps, experimenting with new recipes, or reading science fiction novels.

Nancy Mendez (MiraCosta)

Adnan Al Joubi (MiraCosta)

Anh Tong (MiraCosta)

Pedro Espinoza Figueroa (MiraCosta)

Anastasia

Anastasia Navarro (Palomar)

My name is Anastasia Navarro and I am a Psychology major at Palomar College. Next fall I am planning to transfer to CSUSM to continue my education and earn my Bachelor’s Degree. After I finish school, I am hoping to pursue a career in the healthcare system and become a psychologist.

Christina

Christina Velasquez (Palomar)

I am a Public Health major at Palomar. I plan on transferring to a 4-year university by Fall 2022. I am very excited and passionate about starting my research journey through this program. This will help me gain clinical lab experience that I can use towards a potential future in research. As of right now my career goal is to become a doctor (MD or DO) but I am very interested in research as well so I am excited to see where this opportunity takes me. Personally I feel healthcare and research go hand in hand so being involved in both are extremely important to me. Outside of school and my studies I enjoy hiking, going to the beach, traveling, and eating yummy food!

Albert

Albert Aldaco (Palomar)

My name is Albert Aldaco and I am currently a student at Palomar College. In the fall of 2021, I will be transferring to CSUSM where I plan on earning my Bachelor’s in Molecular and Cell Biology. My goal after my undergraduate studies is to attend graduate school and obtain a PhD in either Virology or Immunology. Ultimately, I aspire to do research in the field of HIV/AIDS in the realm of academia.

Alexis

Alexis Castaneda (Palomar)

I am a Biology major and will be transferring to CSUSM in the fall of 2021. Areas of interest that I wish to explore more at the campus include bioinformatics and microbiology.

Lakme

Lakme Caceres (Palomar)

Lakme is a biology major at Palomar who is passionate about pathology and immunology. She aims to transfer to a four-year university after earning her associate degree where she will continue to conduct research in cellular or molecular biology. She hopes to pursue a medical degree with the goal of becoming an anatomic or forensic pathologist. In her free time, Lakme enjoys biking, weightlifting, and playing soccer. She is also a big fan of videogames and horror films.

Jared

Jared Helms (Palomar)

My name is Jared Helms and I’m a Biology major at Palomar College. My immediate academic goals include transferring to CSUSM in the Fall of 2022 to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After this, I would like to pursue a career in medicine and research, and plan to apply to MD/PhD programs after receiving my BS degree.

Jose

Jose Tapia (Palomar)

The Bridges Scholar program has given me a unique experience that has advanced my academic career. Through research labs, STEM conventions, and active mentors, I was able to make smarter decisions that immediately effected my transfer to a University. Outside of the program, it provided me with a financial stability that allowed me to take time to destress and enjoy my time outside of school. I used this time to participate as a coach for a local youth sports program, as well as an active tutor for my fellow peers that have had to transition to distance learning. Outside of all of this, I try to find time to play video games or watch anime. A healthy balance is incredibly important and I was able to find that balance through the Bridges Scholar program!

Dulce Torres (Palomar)

I am a chemistry major at Palomar. My passion for pursuing chemistry comes from the impact it has on modern medicine. Due to how patient care stems from the exploration of scientists, I want to pursue a research career in organic chemistry so I can further contribute to our knowledge of therapeutics and help synthesize remedies for disease and viral infection. Pursuing a PhD will allow me to not only conduct research and contribute to relieving patient suffering, but also give me to opportunity to teach students in a field I am passionate about.

Marybel Vargas (Palomar)

My name is Marybel Vargas. I am currently a student at Palomar College. In Fall 2022, I hope to transfer to UCSD. I am a Marine Biology major. I am passionate about this field because there is still a lot to learn about our ocean and marine life. Currently, my goals are to get a Bachelor of Science degree and seek out the opportunities there are for me in this major.