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Rebecca Kandell

Bioengineering

Rebecca Kandell
Growing up in a small city located in the California Desert, I knew that educational opportunities were key to achieving my goals in life. I was motivated to excel in college because of my supportive family, Hispanic heritage, and strong work ethic. As an undergraduate, I attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where I studied biomedical engineering.  I earned my BS and MS degrees while working as a Laboratory Assistant researching the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human skin cells, keratinocytes. At UC San Diego, my research project is part of Professor Ester Kwon’s laboratory. As a PhD student, I design and deliver nanoparticle therapies to the brain in order to improve treatment options for disorders like Traumatic Brain Injury. Outside of lab, I am active with Jacobs Undergraduate Mentorship Program (JUMP) and Bioengineering Graduate Society (BEGS). I extremely grateful for the community, financial, and mentorship support of the Sloan Foundation for helping make my dream of higher education a reality.