2025 Fellowship Recipients

Alara Berkmen is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (Molecular-Cellular) and a Masters of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine. She is currently under the mentorship of Dr. James Amatruda at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she researches the metastatic progression of Ewing sarcoma, a rare pediatric disease, in zebrafish models. She also receives mentorship from Dr. Senta Georgia and Dr. Francesca Mariani as a CIRM COMPASS Fellow. She previously worked in the Laboratory for Medical and Analytical Devices with Dr. Maral Mousavi, where she developed devices for women’s health and diagnostics, and co-authored two publications. Beyond her research, she currently serves as the president for the Society of Women Engineers and the Director of Community Outreach for the USC Helenes, and works as a course producer for BME101: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering. She also co-founded and previously served as the president of USC Nexus Biobusiness. After graduation, Alara is considering an MD/PhD in Regenerative Medicine, and she hopes to lead a lab in an academic hospital developing advanced pediatric cancer models that uncover novel therapeutic targets and improve treatment strategies.

Juliana Maitenaz is a graduate student in the Master of Public Diplomacy program and a Cowan Scholar at USC Annenberg, from Brooklyn, NY. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Juliana completed a Fulbright research grant in São Paulo, Brazil, developing her research on the transformation of percussion from an instrument of military force to one of cultural diplomacy, primarily focusing on how percussive elements in the Brazilian traditions of Carnaval and samba schools are instrumental to the country’s statecraft and national identity. She plans to return to Brazil on a Boren Fellowship to continue her Portuguese language study and further develop her research. 

Yvette Castañeda will graduate May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, & Law and a minor in Education Policy. Yvette won an English Teaching Assistant Award in Spain and plans to learn from Galicia’s trilingual education system to help multilingual students in the U.S. After Fulbright, Yvette plans to attend law school and pursue a career in education policy and public service. 

Josey Cuthrell-Tuttleman will graduate May 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production with a minor in Law & Social Justice. She won an Open Study/Research Award to Germany where she plans to research, then write a screenplay centered on the years Isadora Duncan lived and taught young girls in Berlin. Following Fulbright, Josey will continue pursuing a career in the film industry as a writer, director, and producer.

Joseph Douglass will graduate May 2025 with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Classical Guitar Performance from the USC Thornton School of Music. He received an Open Study/Research Award to Brazil to conduct neuroscience research on how brain regions interconnect during the learning of music and computational thinking. After Fulbright, Joseph plans to pursue a career as a professor, musician, and scholar.

Laura Findlay graduated in May 2024 with an M.A. in Visual Anthropology, a B.A. in Archaeology, and a Cinematic Arts minor. She won an Open Study/Research Award to Jordan, where she will combine her documentary filmmaking and anthropological research skills to understand and document how community archaeology projects in Jordan can encourage public ownership and involvement in heritage. After Fulbright, Laura plans to use visual storytelling to foster heritage appreciation and cross-cultural understanding and respect.

Blanca Godoy will graduate May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Social Work and Juvenile Justice. Blanca won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Mexico and looks forward to learning about Mexican local issues and furthering the recent educational reforms that prioritize culturally sustaining pedagogy. After Fulbright, Blanca plans to attend law school and pursue a career in civil rights and criminal defense. 

Jonathan Hayden will graduate May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing) and East Asian Languages and Cultures. Jonathan won an English Teaching Assistant Award in Taiwan and plans to use their experience with literature, visual art, and music to teach language through culture. After Fulbright, Jonathan intends to pursue a graduate degree in English with a focus on cultural studies, continuing their research on language, culture, and the arts.

Raegan Lusk will graduate May 2025 with a BA in International Relations and a minor in Human Rights. She will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in South Korea, combining her four years as a preschool teacher through the Americorps Jumpstart program with her research on Korean soft power and public diplomacy. After Fulbright, she plans to attend law school and continue her public service career advocating for international justice.

Melody McBride graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a Bachelor of Art in East Asian Languages and Cultures. Melody won an English Teaching Assistant Award to Taiwan and looks forward to deepening her understanding of Taiwanese culture and strengthening cross-cultural communication skills. After Fulbright, Melody plans to apply to medical school and hopes to integrate insights from this experience into a career as a culturally responsive physician.

Sara Mendoza will graduate May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, Bachelor of Art in Art History, and Master of Science in Global Medicine. Sara won an Open Study/Research Award to Denmark, where she plans to research the ability of rhythmic musical interventions to promote prosocial behavior via neural synchrony. After Fulbright, Sara will matriculate to Boston University School of Medicine, where she will pursue an MD-PhD to become a physician-scientist. 

Connor Morgan will graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Connor won an Open Study/Research Grant to Germany, where he plans to research epigenetic changes in leukemias at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin. After Fulbright, Connor plans to pursue an MD-PhD to become a pediatric oncologist.

Claire Oberle will graduate May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and minors in risk management and cultural diplomacy. Claire won an English Teaching Assistant Award in Cambodia, where she plans to integrate media, public speaking, and journalism into the classroom. Additionally, she will work with Remade Cambodia and expand her research on sustainable fashion. After Fulbright, she plans to pursue a career in public affairs and corporate social responsibility.

Alexandra Stanczak will graduate May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a minor in Healthcare Studies. Alexandra won a Open Study/Research Award to Poland, where she will study the physiological effects of intergenerational trauma in pregnant women. She will also contribute to an ongoing study on stress biomarkers in Ukrainian refugees while volunteering at a local pediatric hospital. After Fulbright, she hopes to attend medical school in the U.S. 

Maylian Wu will graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in NGOs and Social Change. Maylian won an English Teaching Assistant Award in Taiwan and plans to integrate her experience in outdoor education to share a love and appreciation for the environment outside of the classroom. She will also work on her medical Mandarin with the hopes of attending medical school and pursuing pediatric medicine after Fulbright.

Nicholas Kim is a junior at USC pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Geroscience. As an undergraduate researcher in the Irimia Lab at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, he applies deep learning to brain imaging data to uncover patterns of brain aging in neurodegeneration. He has first-authored a publication on genetic insights into brain morphology using T1-weighted MRI and co-authored an article on resting-state fMRI in traumatic brain injury. He has presented his work at five international conferences, including meetings in Cartagena, Colombia; Seoul, South Korea; and London, UK. Beyond research, he serves as the president of Southern California Healthcare Outreach, a student-led organization dedicated to expanding health insurance access in Los Angeles through free counseling and enrollment assistance with Covered California. He is also the Vice President of Health for USC’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program and works as a learning assistant for organic chemistry. After graduation, Nicholas is considering pursuing a PhD, an MD, or both but remains committed to using deep learning and neuroimaging to advance the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.

Catcher Salazar is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, in addition to a minor in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Catcher found his passion for biological research while in high school, working at Johns Hopkins University. As a freshman, he joined Professor Leonardo Morsut’s lab at USC Stem Cell, where he currently leads a project researching gastrulation–a critical embryonic developmental process that leads to the formation of the three cell types of the body–using genetic engineering and stem cell models. He also is a part of Professor Adam MacLean’s lab, where he performs computational analysis on single cell RNA sequencing data. On campus, Catcher is mentored by Dr. Francesa Mariani and Dr. Senta Georgia as a CIRM COMPASS fellow and also serves as a Learning Assistant for Professor Rebecca Broyer’s Organic Chemistry B and General Chemistry classes. After graduation, Catcher will pursue a PhD in Systems and Developmental Biology, after which he hopes to become a professor and lead his own research lab. 

Jason Toliao is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. His early interest in neurosurgery and brain imaging motivated him to begin research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles under the mentorship of Dr. Peter Chiarelli and Dr. Pradip Chaudhari as a freshman. Since then, Jason has led multiple research studies focused on improving pediatric brain neuroimaging. Most recently, he presented his work on the use of rapid brain MRI in the emergency department at the Trauma Association of Canada 2025 Annual Scientific Conference in Quebec. His ongoing research explores innovative approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and traumatic brain injuries in children. On campus, Jason is the founder of Conversations Without Borders, an international exchange initiative designed to connect USC students with Latin American students to foster cultural understanding and provide English lessons. He is also an instructor for Keck School of Medicine’s Medical Spanish course, the Director of Outreach for Troy Philippines, a Learning Assistant for Organic Chemistry, and a liturgy intern for the USC Caruso Catholic Center. Outside of academics and research, Jason is an active member of USC men’s club beach volleyball team. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and continue conducting research at the intersection of clinical practice and neuroimaging.

Stella Baldwin graduated in December 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences and a minor in Marine Biology. As an aspiring biological oceanographer, she was awarded the WAVE Fellowship at the California Institute of Technology in 2023 through the Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program. Here, she worked with Dr. Victoria Orphan on analyzing the ecology of deep-sea archaea in methane seeps. In 2024, she was awarded the Amgen Scholarship at the California Institute of Technology, working with Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai on studying the symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Stella officially joined the McFall-Ngai lab in 2025 as a lab assistant to examine molecular host-bacteria communication via nuclear proteomics. As an NSF GRFP awardee, she plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in marine microbiology with an emphasis in symbiotic relationships.

Ajay Srinivasan will graduate in May with a B.S. in Mathematics from USC. He’s conducted research at USC and the University of Chicago, focusing on algebraic geometry and mathematical physics. As president of the USC Math Club and board member of USC’s physics society, he organized events to bring together the STEM community like USC’s first integral bee and a USC physics bowl. Ajay will pursue a PhD in mathematics at the University of Michigan, studying birational and homotopical algebraic geometry.

Hannah Lee is an MD candidate at Stanford School of Medicine. Previously, she studied Human Biology and Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California.

Hannah co-founded and serves as CEO of Secure Remedy, a health equity start-up that is creating wearable tools to reduce medication theft for people experiencing homelessness. She helped raise over $70,000 for Remedy and oversaw efforts to launch pilot programs for 60 unhoused patients across three different cities in the US. During her time at the University of Southern California, she engaged in outreach work and served as Director of Operations for Trojan Shelter, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides temporary housing and wraparound services for USC students experiencing homelessness. She is currently working with a health technology company contracted with the California Department of Health Care Services to implement state-funded health equity projects.

Justin Kawaguchi is an advocate and young professional focused on the intersection of global health and business entrepreneurship. He graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Global Health and Health Administration. Currently a management consultant at Bain & Company, he previously completed a Fulbright Award in Taiwan, developed AI-powered care tools at the Keck School of Medicine, and led Okaeri, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit supporting queer AANHPI empowerment. Justin aims to learn from China’s leadership in health development and explore innovative ways to improve health outcomes through international collaboration. Justin is from the United States.

Angelo Mok is a Chinese Puerto Rican social and real estate entrepreneur, dedicated to advancing educational equity and cultural integration between Latin America, China, and the United States. A graduate of the University of Southern California, he received the Citi Service Year Fellowship award, which enabled him to fundraise over $1.3 million for underserved communities in New York City. Concurrently, he founded a real estate company, supporting over 35 native families through its affordable housing portfolio. Angelo aspires to collaboratively transform Puerto Rico’s development by leveraging his trilateral perspective to shape economic and social policies. Angelo is from Puerto Rico.

Xuwanqi (Charlotte) Wang is currently pursuing three degrees in the World Bachelor in Business program at the University of Southern California, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Bocconi University. A serial entrepreneur since high school, she founded Lone Ranger Consultants, providing strategic assistance for international partners; SparkLab Sharing Campus, supporting local students who couldn’t go aboard to study during the pandemic; and EDspresso, a networking platform fostering global youth exchange through coffee chats. In addition, Xuwanqi is a film and television director, producer, and independent musician, pursuing a minor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Xuwanqi is from China.

Khris Gonzalez Pebe plans to use data-driven methods and Geographic Information Systems to address issues such as illicit trade, human trafficking, and counterterrorism. Khris is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Master of Science in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence.

Andrea Salazar Lopez plans to focus on enforcing policies surrounding gender-based violence and protection to harness equity and inclusivity in health care. Andrea is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies.