Research & CV | Alexis' Page

Current Academic GPA (through 1st Semester Junior year): Academic: 4.6 (W) / 3.93 (UW)

AP Courses Completed: AP Precalculus, AP European History, AP Spanish, AP Computer Science A / Java

AP Courses In Progress: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus BC, AP English Language & Composition, AP US History

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

UCSD Bioengineering Internship – OPALS Program / Institute for Engineering in Medicine

Group Leader | Spring 2026 · Summer 2025 · Fall 2025

Computational dry-lab research on cortical neuron and astrocyte dynamics in traumatic brain injury models, using fluorescence image analysis (MATLAB, ImageJ/Fiji).

Leading development of a multi-class automated analysis platform: a two-stage U-Net segmentation and CNN classification pipeline that identifies and differentiates cortical neurons, astrocytes, and background; measures necrosis progression over time; and quantifies radius of cellular detachment as a novel spatial injury metric. Architecture designed for future extension to calcium wave propagation analysis and generalization across multiple cell types.

Completed Presentations

Oral Presentation — ICBEB International Conference on Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Nov 4–7, 2025, Matsue, Japan
- “Investigating Mice Cortical Neuron Dynamics Following Laser-Induced Shockwave and Carbenoxolone Treatment”
Poster Presentation — BMES Annual Convention, San Diego, CA, October 2025 — High School Expo Division
- “Disruption of Astrocyte Communication by Carbenoxolone During Shockwave Induced Stress” — Abstract Co-Author & Presenting Author

In Progress / Upcoming

First-Author Conference Proceedings & Oral Presentation – SPIE Optics and Photonics (San Diego, August 2026 — abstract accepted)
- “Discovering the Role of Carbenoxolone in Preventing the Second Stage of Traumatic Brain Injury Using Laser-Induced Shockwave”
Two-stage U-Net segmentation and CNN classification pipeline (current) — targeting conference presentations and first-author journal publication

JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) – Research Engagement

Dr. Art Chmielewski (JPL) | Spring, Sophomore Year

Conducted background research on the Emirati Mission to the Asteroid Belt and its key stakeholders in advance of a high-level meeting between JPL and the UAE team
Produced a briefing PowerPoint presentation delivered to Dr. Chmielewski’s JPL team as a preparatory resource for the meeting

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

Regeneron Science Talent Search – Project in Development

For the Regeneron Science Talent Search, an independent machine learning project is in development to classify ADHD and OCD from brain imaging data (fMRI/structural MRI), without relying on genetic or self-report measures. Using publicly available datasets — including ADHD-200 and the OCD Brain Imaging Consortium — the project is fully separate from OPALS lab work, and brings together computational image analysis skills developed there with deep learning techniques from self-study coursework.

ACTIVITIES & EXTRACURRICULARS

Self-Study & Independent Learning

Mandarin Chinese – Non-Native Self-Study (June 2024 – Present)
- Over 225 lessons completed on iTalki with professional tutors; HSK3 certified; targeting HSK4 by summer 2026
Machine Learning Specialization – Andrew Ng (Coursera) (Spring 2026)
- 3-course series: Supervised Machine Learning · Advanced Learning Algorithms · Unsupervised Learning, Recommenders & Reinforcement Learning
Harvard CS50 / edX – Introduction to Programming with Python (Fall 2025) — Self-study

Programs & Conferences

La Cañada Flintridge Sister Cities / JPL Space Academy (Fall 2025)
Johns Hopkins Global Health Leaders Conference (Summer 2025, upcoming Summer 2026)
Caltech WiSTEM (Summer 2025)

High School Clubs

Spanish Club — Treasurer (Freshman/Sophomore), Co-President (Junior)
Chinese Club (Sophomore / Junior)
Girls Who Code (Junior)
1000 Cranes Club (Freshman / Sophomore)

Other

Girl Scouts of America (2016 – Present)
Z Ultimate Martial Arts — American Kenpo Blue Belt Green Stripe
Recreational piano and vocal performance

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Student of the Quarter – World Language | Q3, Freshman Year
Student of the Quarter – Science | Q4, Freshman Year
Girl Scouts Silver Award – Leer Con Amistades
- Designed and led a bilingual reading curriculum for young children at a low-income social services facility
National Spanish Language Test – Silver Award
AP Scholar with Honors
California Scholarship Federation

LANGUAGES

Spanish — Fluent (completed AP Spanish as a Freshman)
Mandarin Chinese — Intermediate; HSK3 certified (see Self-Study for detail)
English — Native

TECHNICAL SKILLS