Do you want to hear about our student's experiences in the program? How they got to where they are? Feel free to reach out to our students below.
Aakarsh Kankaria
C/O 2024, Genetics, Genomics, & Development
Aakarsh is an international student from India. He is interested in health care from both micro and macro perspectives, from understanding how proteins can be used for therapeutic purposes to how lifesaving technologies can be made both affordable and accessible. He has worked at a radiation oncology lab at UCSF and is now working to develop novel CRISPR proteins to target Huntington’s disease at the Savage/Doudna labs in the Innovative Genomics Institute. Beyond that, he is also involved in Project RISHI, a developmental organization that spearheads health and infrastructure work in rural Indian communities. He loves all things reading and writing and you will probably find him curled up with a good book at some point. Aakarsh reached out to several people on this page who helped him decide if the program was right for him, so please reach out. His email is: akankaria@berkeley.edu.
Anushka Shah
C/O 2023, Cell & Developmental Biology: Medical Biology & Physiology
Anushka is from Anaheim, CA and is pursuing the LSBE program to eventually work in a biotech startup or in healthcare consulting. She is currently an RA in Martinez Commons and has involved herself in the Bio-Business Initiative, Theatre4Charity as well as ASUC as Director of Risk Management/Basic Needs. In her free time, Anushka enjoys exploring Berkeley‘s best food spots with her friends, hiking and working as a suicide crisis counselor. Her email is: anushka.shah@berkeley.edu.
Armaan Tiwana
C/O 2023, Genetics, Genomics, & Development
Prior to Cal, Armaan conducted genetic research at UCSF where she used CRISPR to study NAFLD mutations. There, she developed an interest in tackling the financial and technical barriers behind gene therapy solutions. She is the Co-Founder and Director of the Consulting branch at the Bio-Business Initiative. She also serves as a Senior Analyst for Phi Beta Lambda where she recently founded the Biotech Committee. Off-campus, she has interned with multiple startups and worked in an operations role at Pfizer. Her email is: armaantiwana@berkeley.edu.
Armaan Tourani
C/O 2023, Cell & Developmental Biology: Medical Biology & Physiology
Armaan is from Dubai, UAE. At Cal, he is pursuing his interests in consulting through strategy consulting clubs on campus where he gets to interact with clients amongst varying sectors including the life sciences. He hopes to dive deeper into the life sciences industry through exploring further opportunities in consulting and the buy-side of the healthcare sector of financial markets. He is also part of a non-profit on campus that helps serve the underprivileged in developing communities in India, which has a focus on health. In his free time, he loves listening to music, cooking, and playing tennis. His email is: atourani@berkeley.edu.
Audrey Cui
C/O 2024, Immunology & Pathogenesis
Audrey is from Riverside, CA. She is excited about progressing molecular therapeutics and global sustainability. In 2020, as one of her research experiments, she sent quinoa to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. She is currently a research assistant at the Innovative Genomics Institute, researching how CRISPR & molecular cloning can be used to combat fungal pathogens. She also coauthored a paper on child poverty and gender inequity with Harvard’s Economics department, which she presented to Senate offices at Capitol Hill earlier this year. Audrey is the Vice President of the Cal Equestrian Team and a national award-winning equestrian vaulter. In her spare time, she loves riding horses, skiing, ballet, and listening to Taylor Swift. You can reach Audrey at audreylynncui@berkeley.edu
Ayushi Balan
C/O 2023, Cell & Developmental Biology: Medical Biology & Physiology
Ayushi is from Palatine, IL. Her passions lie in pursuing medicine with a fresh perspective, blending an understanding of markets, regulation, and business principles with a commitment to improve the quality, access, and cost of healthcare. To further this goal, Ayushi engages in healthcare consulting through Phoenix Consulting Group, internships at various biotech startups (such as Pinpoint Science), and independently consulting for the Institute for Systems Biology. She also has accumulated years of wet lab and clinical-based research and is currently working on improving gender-based clinical care for MS patients at the Bove Lab based in UCSF. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading mystery and thriller novels, and swimming! Her email is: ayushib@berkeley.edu.
Britney Weng
C/O 2023, Cell & Developmental Biology: Cell & Systems Biology
Britney is from Milpitas, CA. In high school, Britney worked with the Stanford Blood Center and American Red Cross in hosting community blood drives. Since coming to Berkeley, she has taken part in research on ectopic olfactory receptors at UCSF and Bio1AL course instruction on campus. Britney is also an undergrad researcher with the Tjian + Darzacq Group and tournament director of Golden Gate Science Olympiad. She enjoys dancing with friends, traveling with family, and volunteering for local Science Olympiad tournaments. Britney’s email is britneyweng@berkeley.edu.
Catherine Zhu
C/O 2023, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: Biological Chemistry
Catherine is from Chappaqua, NY. Catherine doesn’t really know what she wants to do after college yet, but she’s perfectly happy going where the biology tides and the business winds take her. She’s interested in finding new ways to get medicines and treatments to those who are in need of them and serving as a bridge between the lab and the public. At Berkeley, she’s on the Outreach Committee of the Bio-Business Initiative and the Vice President of the Swim Club at Berkeley. She enjoys exercising, designing stickers, and watching TLC shows. Her email is: cazhu@berkeley.edu.
Crystal Luu
C/O 2023, Cell & Developmental Biology: Medical Biology & Physiology
Crystal is from San Francisco, CA. She is pursuing a pre-med path, while also integrating her interests in consulting and biotechnology. She wants to become an OB/GYN someday, and also hopes to run her own clinic. At Cal, she is a part of Consult Your Community consulting organization, Sigma Omicron Pi, and Phi Delta Epsilon medical fraternity. In her free time, you can catch her playing basketball, rock climbing, and learning how to cook with her friends! Her email is: crystalluu@berkeley.edu.
Eden Chun
C/O 2023, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: BMB
Eden is from Honolulu, HI. Eden’s professional interests lie generally in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and non-profit work; she is exploring her passions further through research at UCSF on membrane transporters and their mechanisms on drug actions. She has also helped to found Sewtogether, a service organization, which is in the process of filing for 501c3 status. On campus, Eden is involved with Phi Beta Lambda, SENDforC, and the Peer Review Board. When not in the lab, you can find Eden at karaoke, swinging from a lyra, or dancing on Lower Sproul! Her email is: ekchun@berkeley.edu.
Felicia Tan
C/O 2023, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: BMB
Felicia is from Irvine, CA. Having found her interest in healthcare in high school through acting as a makeshift nurse at a summer camp in rural China, Felicia finds joy in both helping and healing people. At Berkeley, Felicia has served as an Health Worker for UHS and was lucky enough to meet a few fantastic mentors who guided her towards the direction of business and finance. Through this, she began exploring the industry by working as an investment banking intern at Momentum Cyber, a strategy consultant at Ford, and a finance intern at Cisco Systems. Next summer, Felicia will be interning at Goldman Sachs in the healthcare investment banking division, but not before enjoying plenty of traveling, photography, film, coffee, pasta-making and an abundance of other adventures. Her email is: feliciatan@berkeley.edu.
Gloria Zhang
C/O 2024, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: BMB
Gloria is from Sunnyvale, CA. At Berkeley, she is pursuing a minor in data science, conducting research in the Tjian + Darzacq lab, and is a part of Berkeley Consulting. Her professional interests lie somewhere between research and life sciences consulting although she is still exploring. Outside of school, she loves to hike, ski, swim, and do anything outdoors! Her email is gloriazhang@berkeley.edu.
Joanne Wang
C/O 2023, Cell & Developmental Biology: Medical Biology & Physiology
Joanne is from San Diego, California. Her time as an undergrad has been led by a curiosity to understand what drives the biotech industry, from both a scientific and business perspective. Building off her research experience in a lab on campus, she began to explore therapeutic development through her coursework and research internship at a biotech company discovering immunotherapies for cancer. Most recently, Joanne spent the summer as a Corporate Development intern at GBT where she saw how growth strategies and partnerships can drive significant impact. Looking ahead, Joanne hopes to continue uncovering new perspectives of the industry that will guide her career. In her free time, she likes to paint, cook, learn new songs on the piano, and relax outdoors! Her email is:joannewang@berkeley.edu.
Justin Oh
C/O 2024, Cell & Developmental Biology: Medical Biology & Physiology
Justin is from Norwood, NJ – a suburb of New York City. Justin has strong interests in the intersection of cancer biology, health economics, and entrepreneurship. He has several previous work experiences in the biotech and biopharma industries, working at Eisai within Regulatory Affairs, Roche within Sequencing Marketing, and Merck within Global Market Access. Next summer, Justin will be an investment banking summer analyst at SVB Securities in New York working in their biopharma coverage team. At Cal, you can find Justin pursuing research in cancer at UCSF and being involved in Phi Beta Lambda, where he founded the Biotech Committee. In his free time, Justin enjoys going on spontaneous trips around the Bay Area, doing photography, and trying out new restaurants with family and friends! His email is ohjustinoh@berkeley.edu.(opens in a new tab)
Michael Ni
C/O 2024; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: BMB
Michael is from Beijing, China. Michael founded and attempted to run a biotechnology startup aiming for UN Sustainable Development Goals during his 1st year at Cal, but he left the company after noticing that he wanted to pursue formal training in research and development as a scientist before pursuing entrepreneurship. Right now, Michael is on his journey as a no-life premed who advocates for sustainability in medicine for his two years ahead at Cal. He intends to attend an MD-PhD program after graduation while exploring the intersection of biology, data science, and business by continuously attempting to make startup ideas into reality. Besides being in the lab torturing plants/mice or arguing with others during meetings for iGEM at Berkeley and TMSCA, Michael commonly appears at Caffe Strada, various karaokes or badminton courts, or just at his apartment watching Rick and Morty. His email is: michael.ni@berkeley.edu
Rajit Agarwal
C/O 2023, Immunology & Pathogenesis: Infectious Disease
Rajit is from San Diego, CA. Raj is very interested in the intersection between Biology and Business. He feels that the LSBE program provides students with the unique opportunity to learn about the applications of science in a real world setting. At Berkeley, he delves into these areas through the HealthCare Consulting Group (HCG), his non-profit co-led with students across the country, as well as the upper division courses he’s taking. His future goals include attending medical school as well as working in the biotech industry. Outside of school, Raj enjoys watching football, playing piano, as well as surfing. His email is: rajitagarwal@berkeley.edu.
Sena Gul
C/O 2024, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: BMB
Sena is from Ellicott City, MD. She conducted stem cell research at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases for infection optimization. Sena believes there is a crucial value in exploring research and application beyond the lab to achieve and maintain drug accessibility. At Berkeley, she is part of the Bio-Business Initiative, BioethiCAL, and is also part of on-campus research. She enjoys spending time with friends, photography, painting, and traveling in her free time. Her email is: senagul@berkeley.edu.