José (he/him) is a senior in the Honors Program and University Scholar Program pursuing a dual degree triple major in Molecular and Cell Biology, Allied Health Sciences, and an Individualized Major in Biochemical Systems in Health and Disease, on the pre-dental track. On campus, he serves as a Learning Assistant for courses including Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry I and II, and the laboratory portion for Biology I, where he leads review sessions, supports exam preparation, and helps students build confidence in foundational sciences.

José’s research journey began in his sophomore year summer in the Kienzler Laboratory, where he works at the intersection of synthetic organic chemistry, cellular signaling systems, and photopharmacology. His independent project focuses on designing photoswitchable versions of ML-9, a known inhibitor of calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels, which regulate store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). By attaching light-sensitive molecular switches to ML-9, José is developing compounds that can be activated and deactivated with specific wavelengths of light, enabling reversible and precise control over CRAC channel function. His work involves both the organic synthesis and purification of these molecules as well as their biological testing in cultured cells. This project, which bridges chemistry and cellular physiology, earned him funding through the IDEA Grant program and selection into the University Scholar Program. He has presented his findings at the Big East Undergraduate Research Symposium, the Randolph T. Major Lecture Series, and the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Exhibition, and was awarded Best Short Talk at the American Chemical Society Undergraduate Research Symposium. Later this year, he will present as a travel award recipient at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists in San Antonio.

Outside of research, José is a certified dental assistant and has worked at Columbia Dental since high school, gaining extensive experience in dentistry and patient education. José also works as an oral surgery dental assistant and travels across various offices in Connecticut and New York, gaining a wide perspective on clinical practice. Dedicated to expanding access to care, he volunteers at large-scale outreach programs such as the Connecticut Mission of Mercy and Remote Area Medical, where he assists providers in delivering free dental services to underserved communities and serves as a Spanish-English Translator for patients. Additionally, he also volunteers in the Duffy Research Group, helping deliver interactive nutrition and oral health lessons to children in Connecticut schools.