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Aaliyah Balangue (she/her/ella)

Undergraduate Student at the University of California, Santa Cruz

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student, scientist, & explorer

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As a first generation woman of color pursuing STEM, I have felt the constant pressure to not only match the achievements of many of my peers, but exceed them. After constantly being labeled as a "diversity pick" or "mediocre," my overall goal is to reinvent what it means to be a scientist.​

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I want to aid in paving the way to make the STEM field more equitable and accessible for all, regardless of their identity.

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In addition, I have dedicated nearly four years to research, including writing research papers and creating research posters that were then presented at scientific conferences. I hope to continue pursuing research regarding the topics of biotechnology, neurological disorders and diseases, and addressing biases within STEM academia.

Research Interests

Ethics of Biotechnology: I am interested in exploring the negative social byproducts of introducing biotechnology such as CRISPR-Cas9. Recently, I wrote a paper on its applications on those with sickle cell disease, and how the social hierarchy in the United States affects the possible impact of this form of treatment.

Neurological Disorders and Diseases: I have dedicated nearly three years to researching different neurological disorders and diseases such as treatments for conduct disorder, major depressive disorder in women, neurotransmitters and its relation to anxiety, NF-1 genes in relation to gliomas and glioblastomas, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Biases within STEM Academia​: Through personal and shared experiences of being a woman of color in STEM academia, I realized the lack of representation, increased micro and macroaggressions, and general bias and discrimination faced by those who are not part of the United States' dominant culture. I want to tackle the root of these problems by conducting research and meshing it with my original anti-bias curriculum with the intent of presenting it and incorporating it in different institutions.
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Personal Research Work

Treating Sickle Cell Disease with CRISPR-Cas9 and the Concerning Social Byproducts (2022)

NF-1 Gene in Relation to Gliomas and Glioblastomas (2020)

Como las Altas Temperaturas Afectan el Cultivo de Frijol en Nicaragua (2019)

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