Brieann entered college interested in linguistics “drawn by how language reflects cognition and human behavior.” As she began to explore neuroscience she “became fascinated by the biological mechanisms underlying these processes,” leading to her current double major.

Her realization of “how deeply communication shapes healthcare” has been a driving force behind her volunteer work, research, and career goals. Her work as a volunteer in the Emergency Department at UCSD Health has strengthened her ability “to communicate with empathy and remain composed in fast-paced clinical environments.” She also works with the International Health Collective, where she supports clinic operations.

At the Salk Institute, Brieann works in a wet lab environment studying peptide signaling and neural circuitry. Before that she was a student trainee in a cognitive neuroscience lab and focused on studies in bilingual language processing.

She believes that these experiences have taught her to “think across scales, from molecular mechanisms to human cognition.” Brieann plans on a career as a physician/scientist in a way that “integrates service, science and advocacy.” She is enrolled in Revelle College.