Desiree has always been inquisitive and interested in science and observing nature since she was a child. At age 12 she read about a study that had people of various levels of familiarity guess the height of the same hill. It turned out that people with closer relationships saw the hill as less of an obstacle than strangers did. This made a powerful impression on her that grew into her “interest in the interdisciplinary cognitive science field, where our understanding of the mind reaches into physical space.”

Her extra-curricular activities have focused on science and learning as well. She volunteers at Kaiser, where she greets families and helps them navigate the facility. On campus, Desiree was a Triton Science Olympiad Regional Event Supervisor. As a student trainee at the Salk Institute. she worked with mice on deep learning AI models. However, she tends to find opportunities for learning essentially everywhere. During high school, instead of sports or music, she worked at her parents’ restaurant. She found the work fun, exciting and mentally stimulating.

In addition to a Neuroscience major, Desiree is pursuing a minor in General Biology. With a goal of obtaining an MD/ PhD, Desiree has “become intentional about research” and “hopes to bridge the gap between developing treatments and directly facilitating people’s autonomy over their bodies.” She is enrolled in Sixth College and serves on their Board.