Stanford Biology Preview Program (BPP): Navigating the Stanford Biology PhD application process

Eduardo is a PhD candidate in the Cellular,Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the Stanford Biology department. He is a first-generation college student, born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, where he received his bachelor and teaching degrees in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo. His PhD thesis focuses on understanding how protein synthesis is regulated when cells are exposed to environmental stress, such as heat shock and nutrient starvation. Eduardo has been one of the organizers of the Stanford BPP since 2020

 Lauren is a PhD candidate in the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the Stanford Biology department. Lauren was raised in Tampa, FL, and attended Brown University for her undergraduate degree, before spending two years as a Research Assistant at Rockefeller University in NYC. Lauren is currently based at Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey, CA, where she studies evolution and development of marine invertebrates specifically in complex life cycles. Outside of lab, Lauren loves baking, reading, beach volleyball, and spending time at the beach.

Ben is a PhD candidate in the Ecology and Evolution (Eco/Evo) track in the Stanford Biology Department. Ben grew up on a dairy farm in Minerva, OH, before attending Northeastern University for his undergraduate degree in Marine Biology. At Stanford, he has studied how human impacts on the environment can cause hybridization between freshwater fishes, and how maladaptive genetic interactions can lead to dysfunctional mitochondria in the resulting hybrids. In his free time, Ben enjoys getting outdoors in general, and plays the trombone and sings.

Weaverly is a PhD candidate in the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track. Weaverly grew up in the Philippines and obtained her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. She now works in Scott Dixon’s lab and is investigating novel therapeutic strategies and non-apoptotic cell death pathways in glioblastoma. Outside the lab, Weaverly is an avid scuba diver and volunteers at the California Academy of Sciences.

Nim is a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolution (Eco/Evo) track in the Stanford Biology Department. Nim grew up in El Paso, TX and is first-generation, low-income, and Latine. They received their undergraduate degree from Brown University in Geology-Biology in 2018, where they studied marine community ecology. They now study the evolution of hybrid incompatibilities and their role in the speciation process in Molly Schumer’s lab. Outside of the lab, they enjoy listening to musical theater and playing the violin badly.

Tris is a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolution (Eco/Evo) track in Stanford Biology. He grew up in Oakland, California, and did his undergrad in Biology at Carleton College in Minnesota. He was then a technician at U.C. Berkeley, where he studied genetics of adaptation and domestication in plants. Now as a 4th year graduate student in Molly Schumer’s lab, Tris studies the genetics and evolution of pigmentation traits in swordtail fish. Outside of science, he enjoys running, eating, and catching lizards.

James is a PhD student in the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the Stanford Biology Department. He is a FGLI college student, and grew up in rural Indiana. He received a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, then worked for three years as a research analyst at Indiana University School of Medicine while taking undergraduate science courses. He is in Kristy Red-Horse’s lab, and studies the development and remodeling of blood vessels in the uterus and placenta throughout pregnancy. Outside of lab, he enjoys reading, making pottery, and spoiling his pets.

Nadia is a PhD candidate in the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the Stanford Biology department. She grew up in sunny San Diego, California, and spent most of her summers playing soccer. Now, Nadia is broadly fascinated by the genetics underlying pigmentation traits and studies these in swordtail fish. You can commonly find her backpacking, tidepooling, or petting dogs!

 Isabel is a PhD candidate in the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the Stanford Biology department. She grew up in Bethesda, MD and did her undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at UCLA. She is now in Max Diehn’s lab, where she is studying molecular predictors of radiation toxicity.

Claire is a postdoctoral scholar in the Stanford Biology Department. She grew up in Loma Linda, CA and received her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. She earned her PhD in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she conducted research under the mentorship of Gary Pielak. She is now in the lab of Naima Sharaf, and focuses on the characterization of bacterial membrane proteins.

Nabor is a PhD candidate in the cellular, molecular, and organismal biology track. Nabor grew up in Highwood, Illinois before attending Lawrence University. He graduated with a Bachelors in Arts in Biology. Then he was a research associate in Dr. Daniel Colón-Ramos’ lab at Yale. Currently, his thesis tries to uncover molecules that lead to a unique microtubule organization during development in Dr. Jessica Feldman’s lab. Nabor tries to foster a welcoming environment and is passionate about diversifying STEM. He works with different organizations to recruit and promote STEM to high school/undergraduate students of underrepresented backgrounds. Outside of the lab, you can find Nabor playing soccer, taking nature walks and watching superhero movies/TV shows.

Meghan is a PhD candidate on the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the Biology Department at Stanford. She is a first-generation college student who received associate's degrees in Biology and Chemistry from the College of San Mateo before transferring to UC Berkeley, where she received a bachelor's degree in Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Environment and Human Health. Meghan is part of the Sarafan ChEM-H Chemistry/Biology Interface (CBI) training program; her work in the Jacobs-Wagner lab applies chemical biology and cell biology to investigate lipid trafficking in the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Meghan was in the first cohort of BPP participants and has been a member of the organizing team since 2021.  

Carly is a PhD student in the Cellular, Molecular, and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the Stanford Biology Department. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, they received their bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Cruz. They then worked as a Forensic Autopsy Technician before returning to academia to obtain a master’s degree in Molecular and Microbiology from San José State University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Bree Grillo-Hill, their research at San José State explored the role of pH dynamics in cell proliferation and cell death. Currently, their research interests include how nuclear mechanotransduction affects chromatin states across normal and cancer cell processes. Outside of the lab, they can be found at one of the Bay Area’s many skateparks doing aggressive roller skating with friends.

Amanda Muñoz Meneses  (She/Her) is a PhD candidate on the Cellular, Molecular and Organismal Biology (CMOB) track in the O’Connell Lab. Amanda grew up in Colombia and is a FLI, non-traditional student who received a biology degree from the University of Cauca, and a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolution and Systematics from the University of Munich. She studies the host-pathogen interactions of chytridiomycosis using poison frogs as a model to understand how this disease affects organisms with chemical defenses in their skin. Outside of lab, Amanda loves spending time with her son, traveling, and working on her family business. Amanda was part of the first cohort of BPP in 2020, and has been part of the organizing team since 2022.

Naima Gabriela Sharaf (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Stanford University. Her laboratory focuses on utilizing biochemical and biophysical tools to study proteins within bacterial membranes, such as lipoproteins and membrane proteins. Born in Quito, Ecuador, Naima lived in Australia before immigrating to the United States at the age of twelve. She earned her B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, where she worked under Dr. Angela Gronenbron. She completed her postdoctoral research in Doug Rees's lab at Caltech. Outside of the laboratory, Naima enjoys playing chess, listening to music, and spending time with her husband and two sons.