Theresa Nguyen: Shaping the Future of Science and Health

Theresa Nguyen is a senior at the University of San Diego on the Pre-med track with a major in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Throughout college, she has partaken in many research opportunities which have guided her and shaped her academic and professional journey.

 

Over the course of her academic journey, Theresa has developed a diverse skill set that includes laboratory techniques such as pipetting, creating cultures, and computational tools like PyMOL. She has also gained experience in scientific presentations and collaboration within research teams. In addition, she holds First-aid and CPR certification (2022), reflecting her commitment to both technical proficiency and preparedness in the healthcare field.

 

Theresa has completed several prestigious internships and research fellowships, including the Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), where she contributed to the California Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Alert Program (HABMAP). During her time at Scripps, she presented research on harmful algal bloom events and gained experience in coding with RStudio. Her project focused on studying harmful algal blooms, particularly the microscopic marine algae *pseudo-nitzschia*, which produces the neurotoxin domoic acid. This research is significant due to its potential impacts on marine ecosystems, as the neurotoxin can cause illness and death in seabirds and marine mammals and lead to amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans.She has also been involved with the University of San Diego PURE Program, where she worked on anti-viral protein research, and has been an active ambassador for the Ocean Discovery Institute since 2016, advocating for climate action and STEM education.

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Following graduation in Spring 2025, Theresa plans to pursue a master’s or doctorate degree with the goal of becoming a traveling doctor or conducting medical research within the public health sphere. Her passion for science, combined with her extensive experience, positions her for success in making a significant impact on healthcare and environmental science.