College of Natural Sciences
Student Ambassadors

Kayla Lum

Hello! I am a junior at UH Mānoa and the president of the Natural Science Student Ambassadors! Besides NSSA, I am a medical education committee member in the Pre-Medical Association, a laboratory assistant at the Prišić Lab, a COPE Health Scholar and training coordinator at Adventist Health Castle, and a student leader of InterVarsity Hi-Light. Other things I've done include studying organic chemistry at University College Dublin with the Study Abroad Center and working as a Health Career Summer Intern at Hawaii Pacific Health.

Rey-Joseph Dinulong

Hello there! I'm RJ and I'm the Vice President of NSSA, as well as the Director of Student Relations for the Pre-Medical Association. I'm currently working on a papaya gene editing project in Tian lab. Aside from school, I really like hanging out with my friends since school can be very stressful. Another way that I destress is by doing retail therapy, but unfortunately, my bank account isn't able to keep up! I try my best to bake since I have quite the sweet tooth, but I really don't like doing the dishes!

Leigh Antoinette Medina

Hi there! Outside of NSSA, I’m also in the Pre-Medical Association at UH! Outside of school, I’m a Bristol Hospice volunteer. I’m a barista at my local Starbucks in Moanalua Shopping Center. My current obsessions are native flora, Starbucks chocolate chip cookies, and anything honey flavored!

Mohammad Aljohani

Hi! I’m Mohammad. I am a Bahr lab alumni, I worked with Dr. Bahr on the proton flux hypothesis this summer. I enjoy freediving and going on hikes! I also work as a camera operator at the stan sheriff center! Come to the games and I might put you on the big screen!

Wilmer Agpaoa

Hi! I'm Wilmer and I am currently a third year undergraduate majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology! I love going to the beach, eating sushi, and flying on Hawaiian Airlines. I am currently working as a research assistant at the UH Cancer Center and will be the president of the Pre-Medical Association for the upcoming academic year.

Vanessa Barcena-Alvarez

Aside from school, I am an adventurous person! I like to go to the beach, hiking. Finding new bakery shops is my hobby. I am a big cookie monster. Any free chance I have when I am back in LA I go to Universal Studios and Disneyland. I also enjoy dancing my favorite styles are contemporary and tap. I am also a bookworm and love reading. I work on campus as an office assistant in the ITC building. I am a licensed-certified phlebotomist technician back in California. Back in high school, I did the UCLA-TURNER allied health internship where I got to shadow different professionals and mentors and now I am a mentor to high school seniors to help them and hope to help first-generation students like myself continue to pursue higher education.

Janna Celeste Bautista

Besides being a full time student, I do enjoy being social with the peers around me. I am currently in Pre Pharmacy Association and I also devote myself on the weekends to being a pharmacy technician. When I am not at school or work I enjoy going out with friends to try new restaurants or going to the mall. I recently picked up running and I want to one day participate in the Honolulu Marathon.

Brenna Burk

My name is Brenna and I am a senior this year! I love reading and napping at the beach. I also love hiking, yoga, and going to the gym! I love to eat and cook! I work as a general chemistry tutor for student athletes at UH, and I also am an ACE Peer Mentor! I also love walking and hanging out with the dogs at the Humane Society!

Ju-Ling Chen

I am a 4th-year international student from Japan studying Biochemistry and Psychology, planning to pursue medicine after graduation. Under scholarship funds from UROP, I have been dedicating time to a computational chemistry lab to study proteins that mediate small molecule permeation. Alongside research, volunteering, and working or studying, I like to hang out with friends, swim at the beach, go on late night drives, and explore nice cafes.

Stephen Gulley

I enjoy reading, playing piano, ukulele, and guitar, working out, and I am trying to learn how to draw

Mona Hirose

I was initially part of the nursing program but upon realizing I enjoy lab work, I changed my path to pursue a degree in molecular cell biology instead. I am heading into in my fourth year and I’m still in the process of figuring out what career suits me best. I enjoy being in the lab, but I also enjoy interacting with patients and connecting with others. I completed a UROP project previously under the guidance of Dr. Prisic and since then transferred to the Matsui. I also work as a medical assistant in a neurology clinic and volunteer at a Japanese internal medicine clinic on the weekends. At school I’m involved with molecular cell biology club and NSSA. During my free time I enjoy going to cafés and spending time with my cats.

Chase Kane

I am now in my fourth and final year at UH Mānoa! I love going to the beach, going to my friendsʻ houses, studying late at night on campus, and drinking absurd amounts of boba. I am a part of the Pre-Medical Association and a few scholarship-mentorship programs as well. I am going to be a CREATE intern at the UH Cancer Center for Summer 2023 and hope to continue my research during the AY2023-2024 in pathways involving chronic inflammation. I have had the opportunity to work under a wonderful PI for the past three years and will hopefully spend my senior year doing more independent research, volunteering, and working at UHCC or Queen's!

Kiersty McKee

Aloha! My name is Kiersty McKee and I am from Papakōlea on the island of Oʻahu. I am a B.S. Biology major and am interested in attending Pharmacy school after I complete my bachelor's degree. Throughout my time at UH Mānoa, I have been involved in the Pre-Pharmacy Association, the Pre-Medical Association, and the UHM Study Abroad Center as a Mānoa Peer Advisor and a participant in the Dublin, Ireland Organic Chemistry program. Besides academics, I enjoy traveling, gardening, lei making, trying new restaurants, and buying K-Pop albums & squishmallows. While I am sad that my time at Mānoa is coming to a close, I am excited to embark on a new journey in hopes of being able to come back to Hawaiʻi and give back to my local community through my practice. Mahalo nui loa a mālama pono ʻoukou!

Chelsea Nguyen

Outside of NSSA I run a club called SWITCH: Supporting Women in Technology and Computing Hawaii, our mission is to encourage both women and young girls to feel comfortable considering a career in STEM. I also work as a grader and learning assistant for the UHM math department. This coming summer I will be researching AI for community outreach at UCLA. Outside of academia, I enjoy cooking and spending time with my cat!

Amanda Nitta

Some of my hobbies are lei making, and volunteering in the Okinawan community.

Sophia Shea

Aloha! I recently this past year did and internship with Dr.Shepard Maingano at Queens in town, and through my basic training, was able to get Phlebotomist certification. In the last year, I have been working short stints for the queens system, and a part time position at Castle Hospital in Kailua. It has been such a joy and experience to do hands on healthcare. Outside of school and work, I am an avid writer and reader. Words for me has always been a very calming creative outlet, as is writing and playing music/other forms of poetry. Like jam session! :)

Olivia Turner

My name is Olivia and this is my second year as a marine biology major at UHM! I have a special interest in coral conservation and some of my other favorite marine organisms include mantis shrimp and firefly squid. I enjoy painting, scuba diving, watching TWD, and going out to eat with my friends. Besides being a part of the NSSA, I am also lucky enough to be a member of the Marine Option Program (MOP). I’m looking forward to this upcoming year because I plan on attending MOP events, going on more dives, and applying to the QUEST program!

Caroline Smith

I love being outside in my free time whether that be swimming, hiking, running, or catching up with friends. I also am currently an intern at the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology where I analyze acoustic data focused on vocalizations of the Hawaiian monk seal.

Marina Smith

Outside of school, I love hanging out with my friends and going to the beach! I also love hiking and doing anything else in nature. When I'm not doing one of those things, I can normally be found working at a restaurant in Waikiki. As far as my academic interests go, I love learning more about the human body and how it works. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to shadow a PA for a few days in the OR, which just confirmed my fascination with anatomy and physiology. Due to my love for the ocean, I also have interests in marine biology and the conservation of our planet that I plan on pursuing more in my upcoming years at UH.

Samantha Yamamoto