UC Merced doctoral students Brianna Aguilar-Solis, Vanessa Sanchez and Nora Shamoon have been awarded the 2026-2027 UC President's Pre-Professoriate Fellowship, a University of California Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative award that supports promising scholars from California Hispanic-serving institutions as they pursue careers in academia.
Each will receive a full year of support, allowing them to focus full-time on their research.
Modeling Matter Under Extreme Conditions
Aguilar-Solis, a Chemistry and Biochemistry Ph.D. candidate working with professors Aurora Pribram-Jones and Hrant Hratchian, is developing computer models that help scientists study matter under extreme conditions, with applications in fields such as astrophysics and fusion energy.
“I feel extremely honored to receive this fellowship, as it will allow me to focus on my dissertation work and provide me with funds for professional development opportunities,” said Aguilar-Solis, who plans to graduate in summer 2027 and pursue a postdoctoral fellowship before seeking a tenure-track position at a primarily undergraduate institution. “It will also give me the time and support to explore opportunities related to teaching, such as developing my pedagogical skills.”
Researching the Biology of Alcohol Tolerance
Sanchez, a Quantitative and Systems Biology Ph.D. candidate in Professor Fred Wolf’s lab, studies how the brain responds and adapts to alcohol using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model. Her research aims to understand the biological processes behind alcohol tolerance and how early adaptations to alcohol use may contribute to alcohol use disorder in humans.
“I am very fortunate and honored to represent this fellowship as a first-generation Latina student,” Sanchez said. “Receiving this fellowship represents not only the sacrifices and barriers I had to overcome, but also the individuals who believed in me.”
Sanchez anticipates graduating in summer 2028 and plans to build a career in academia at a Hispanic-serving institution.
Fueling Research on Fungal Infections
Shamoon, a Quantitative and Systems Biology Ph.D. candidate in Professor Clarissa Nobile’s lab, is studying Candida, a group of fungi that are the most common cause of potentially life-threatening yeast infections.
“I use an innovative planarian flatworm model that enables us to study fungal infection in a living organism while rapidly evaluating potential therapeutic targets. My goal is to identify the genes and biological mechanisms that are essential for infection. By uncovering these ‘make-or-break’ factors, we can help identify new targets for future antifungal therapies,” Shamoon said. “Because Candida can develop resistance to every major class of antifungal drugs currently available, developing new treatment strategies is an urgent public health priority.”
Receiving the fellowship is one of the most meaningful recognitions of Shamoon’s graduate career.
“It reinforces my commitment to building a career dedicated to scientific discovery, mentoring future scientists, and improving human health through research,” Shamoon said. “This fellowship recognizes research excellence, leadership and a commitment to advancing higher education — values that have shaped me as a scientist. I believe education is one of the most powerful ways to empower individuals and strengthen communities.”
Shamoon plans to graduate in spring 2027 and continue advancing biomedical research to bridge fundamental discoveries with real-world applications that improve human health.
“I aim to build a career that contributes to our understanding of infectious diseases, translates discoveries into better treatments and fosters the next generation of scientists,” she said.
Brenda Ortiz
Senior Public Information Representative
Office: (209) 228-4203
Mobile: (209) 628-8263
