Lala L.

Forrest
Undergraduate Research Fellow
Physiology and Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego
address: 4910 Longford St. #3 San Diego, CA 92117
email: forrestlala14@gmail.com
phone: 858-688-4139
______________________________________________________________________________
Career Objective:
I am an adaptive undergraduate with aspirations to become a physicianscientist. I am currently interested in marrying molecular biology with
translational research in order to improve diagnostic capabilities and
therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders
______________________________________________________________________________
Research Interest:
My primary focus is investigating the effects of soluble amyloid-beta
oligomers toxicity on receptor-mediated endocytosis during early stage of
Alzheimers disease in vitro.
______________________________________________________________________________
Education:
B.S. Physiology and Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego
In progress, expecting June 2016, GPA: 3.5
______________________________________________________________________________
Research Experience:
Summer Intern, Department of Neuroscience, University of California,
San diego, June 2015-Present
http://neurosciences.ucsd.edu/research/labs/mobley-lab/Pages/default.aspx
(Research Advisor: William Mobley; Md, PhD)
Examined the activity of the small GTPase Rab5 in neurons after
soluble A oligomers treatment. We found Rab5 activity and
endosomal size was elevated in response to the said treatment.
Summer Intern, Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, University of
California, San Francisco, June 2014-October 2014
http://gladstoneinstitutes.org/scientist/finkbeiner
(Research Advisor: Steve Finkbeiner; MD, PhD)

 Completed a direct differentiation of motor neurons derived from

human induced pluripotent stem (iPSCs) in amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis versus controlled patients to investigate the effect of
oxidative stress on TDP-43 cellular localization through treatment
with hydrogen peroxide.
Research Assistant, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience,
Scripps Research Institute, November 2013-October 2014
http://www.scripps.edu/research/faculty/chun
(Research Advisor: Jerold Chun; MD, PhD)
The lab focuses on implementing new ways to understand the brain
by examining lysophospholipid receptor signaling and their role in
neural development and disease.
Research Assistant, Cognitive Science Department, University of
California, San Diego, June 2013-August 2013
http://bci.ucsd.edu/Home.html
(Research Advisor: Jamie Pineda; PhD)
Investigated the relationship between the mu frequency band and
mirror neurons over the prefrontal cortex by measuring EEG
voltage fluctuations in response in congruent and incongruent
images
______________________________________________________________________________
Clinical Experience:
Clinical Research Coordinator, ALS Clinical Research Program, UC San
Diego Medical Center, December 2014-Present
http://als.ucsd.edu/Pages/default.aspx
(Clinical Research Advisor: John Ravits; MD, PhD)
Experience with clinical research methodology and coordination of
clinical services
Connects patients with appropriate community resources as well as
providing information and instruction to ALS patients and family
members
Under-doctor, Indian Health Council (IHC): Valley Center, CA, June
2013-September 2013
http://www.indianhealth.com
(Clinical Advisor: Dan Calac; MD)
Clinical exposure to Diabetes Clinic and Well Child Clinic
Analysis of EKGs

Medical Volunteer, International Health Collective (IHC): University of

California, San Diego, October 2013-Present
http://www.ihealthcollectiveucsd.com
Primary goal is to assist underprivileged communities with free
medical care, medicine, and health education in order to improve
prevalent illnesses seen in underdeveloped communities
______________________________________________________________________________
Teaching Experience:
Educational Talent Search Lecturer, College OPTIONS: Redding, CA,
June 2012-September 2012
http://www.collegeoptions.org
(Teaching Advisor: Chris LaMarr; JD)
Strengthen the college-going culture in the North State by
increasing opportunities for students to pursue postsecondary
education and ensuring that all students can make informed
decisions about their education and their future
______________________________________________________________________________
Indigenous and
Native American Activism:
Chair, Native American Student Alliance (NASA), University of
California, San Diego, May 2013-2014 & September 2015-2016
http://nativestudents.com/
Organize annual UCSD Powwow
On-Campus Native Student Retention Programs
Tribal Community Outreach Programs
Four Directions Native American Community Coordinator, University of
California, San Diego, September 2012-April 2013
http://spaces.ucsd.edu/
Coordinated access and retention events and programs that reflect
the needs of Native students in higher education such as:
mentorship, tutoring, cultural workshops/events, community
advocacy.
UCSD Student Representative, California Native American Day
Committee, University of California, San Diego, January 2012-Present
Mentor, California American Indian Research Center for Health, January
2012-Present

http://www.indianhealth.com/narch.htm
(Principal Investigator: Dan Calac; MD)
______________________________________________________________________________
Awards and Fellowships:
STARS Research Fellowship, June 2015-August 2015 ($5,000)
Honorable Mention Award, CAMP Symposium, February 2015
UC San Diego Diversity and Affirmative Action Award, January 2014
NIH Minority for Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate
Research Fellowship, October 2013-Present ($25,000)
AMGEN Scholar Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco,
June 2014-August 2014 ($4,000)
UCSD Leadership Recipient, California Alliance for Minority
Participation in Science, June 2014
California Alliance for Minority Participation in Science Leadership
Prize, 2013-2014
UC Scholars Research Fellowship, June 2013-August 2013 ($5,000)
McConnell Foundation Scholarship, September 2011-Present ($40,000)
College OPTIONS Scholarship, May 2011-Present ($10,000)
Redding Rancheria Scholarship, October 2013-June 2014 ($1,000)
Provost Honors Winter Qtr 2012, Winter Qtr 2013, Winter Qtr 2014, Fall
Qtr 2015, Winter Qtr 2015, Spring Qtr 2016
______________________________________________________________________________
Editorial Experience:
Editor, IMPULSE Journal, International Undergraduate Neuroscience
Research Journal
http://www.impulse-ucsd.com/
(Editorial Advisor: Jamie Pineda, PhD)

 Reviewed and edited submitted manuscripts from

undergraduates in the neurosciences.
______________________________________________________________________________
Presentations:
Oral Presentation Investigating the Effects of Naturally Secreted
Amyloid-beta Oligomers on Endocytosis? Undergraduate Research
Conference, University of California San Diego, August 2015
Poster Presentation Modeling the Effects of Oxidative Stress on TDP-43
cellular localization in human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived
motor neurons from ALS Patients West Coast Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Research Conference, Point Loma Nazarene University,
April 2015
Poster Presentation Modeling the Effects of Oxidative Stress on TDP-43
cellular localization in human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived
motor neurons from ALS Patients CAMP Symposium, UC Riverside,
February 2015
Poster Presentation Modeling the Effects of Oxidative Stress on TDP-43
cellular localization in human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived
motor neurons from ALS Patients SACNAS National Research
Conference, Los Angeles, October 2014
Oral Presentation Modeling the Effects of Oxidative Stress on TDP-43
cellular localization in human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived
motor neurons from ALS Patients Summer Research Conference,
University of California San Francisco, August 2014
Poster Presentation Modeling the Effects of Oxidative Stress on TDP-43
cellular localization in human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived
motor neurons from ALS Patients Summer Research Conference,
University of California San Francisco, August 2014
Oral Presentation Mu suppression & Mirror Neurons: event-related
potential correlation in response to visual action sequences and action
sentences Undergraduate Summer Research Conference, University of
California San Diego, August 2013.

Oral Presentation Mu suppression & Mirror Neurons: event-related

potential correlation in response to visual action sequences and action
sentences Native American Research Symposium, University of
California San Diego, November 2013.