• What is your area of research or scholarship? I study dietary therapies for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, and the role of serotonin in their mechanism of action.
• In simple terms, why does this research matter? Dietary therapies such as the ketogenic diet can be very effective in people with drug-resistant epilepsy, and have fewer side effects than pharmaceutical treatments. Epilepsy patients have a high risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), so understanding the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of these diets may help us prevent SUDEP, and also lead to novel dietary treatments that are easier to adhere to.
• What is your degree program and expected graduate date? I’m in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Expected graduation date is 2021.
• Hometown: Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico
• Faculty mentor/advisor: George B. Richerson, MD, Ph.D.
• What are your career goals? Upon completion of my degrees, I intend to pursue a residency in adult or child neurology, followed by a fellowship in epilepsy.

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