Jess is a first-year PhD student in Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Michigan, where she is researching obesity and diabetes. She was raised in Portland, OR and received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Union College in 2018. She worked as a research technician for two years at Oregon Health and Science University investigating neural mechanisms of obesity-related asthma before attending graduate school. A daughter of immigrants, Jess is proud of her Southeast Asian-American identity and works to foster inclusion and equity in academic spaces. She is passionate about STEM accessibility, especially in communities of color. Outside of the lab, she loves to bake sourdough bread, play tennis, explore new camping spots, and laugh with friends.