Steven is a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, and applied mathematics. He was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, where he attended University High School. From early on, Steven developed an interest in the molecular basis of life, yet sought to understand these processes at a deeper, mechanistic level. These interests led him to pursue undergraduate research in the biophysics lab of Professor Michael F. Brown in the UA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In Steven‘s research, he explores the biophysical roles of water and lipids in regulating cellular signaling, using the visual protein rhodopsin, found in the retina, as a model signal receptor. After his undergraduate studies are completed, Steven plans to attend graduate school to study biophysical chemistry, and eventually become a professor in order to follow his passions for research and teaching. In his free time, Steven enjoys hiking, reading, watching classic movies, and playing piano and the trombone.
