DePaul SACNAS Chapter

2013 Undergraduate Chapter of the Year

Executive Board Members and Advisors

Advisors: Rhonda Harley and Dr. Jesus Pando

Jesús Pando is the DeSACNAS faculty advisor and has been since the DeSACNAS chapter was founded.

A member of SACNAS since 1999, Dr. Pando earned his PhD in Physics in 1997 from the University of Arizona under Li-Zhi Fang.  He was then awarded Chateaubriand and NSF International Post-Doctoral fellowships to study the Cosmic Microwave Background at the Observatoire de Strasbourg, Strasbourg France. He has been at DePaul University since 2001 and currently serves a chair of the Physics department.  His current research is in the dynamics of large scale structure formation in the universe, and has expanded his research agenda to include secondary protein structure.  

He has mentored dozens of undergraduate and graduate students as they progress through their career by involving them in his research. Dr. Pando has also continually worked to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the sciences by working with professional minority science organizations like SACNAS, and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists. For latter, he serves as Treasurer. 

President: Maria Sanchez

My name is Maria Sanchez, past president and current president of the DePaul SACNAS Chapter. I am a senior at DePaul pursuing a major in Health Sciences with a Bioscience concentration. I am first generation Mexican-American and the only woman in my family to pursue a career within medicine. I will be applying to medical school Spring of 2015 and would like to pursue a career in clinical pathology or infectious disease. I love microbiology!


Currently, I work in a medical microbiology lab at DePaul alongside Dr. Joanna Brooke, where we study Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. We study the bacterium's ability to form biofilms and resistance to antibiotics.


I have had several internship experiences and love to help others find their own! I am also a peer health sciences advisor at DePaul, so if you have any questions reach out to me! 


                                                                                                            Fun fact: I have a DNA tattoo on my right foot! 

Vice President: Pedro Rebollar

 

Secretaries: Stephanie Pacheco and Maya Navarro

 

Treasurer: Emily Franz

 

Liaison: Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith, a aspiring future doctor, is a Chicago native who is a premedical biology student at DePaul University Chicago. His greatest professional skills deal with giving back to the community with an understanding of  the functional philological body and world.  He is developing into a professional with highly regarded knowledge of biological sciences. Joshua is always putting others before himself understanding that before honor comes humility. He believes that his purpose on this earth to to service others. Joshua's work ethic is off the charts while still maintaining a life with balance. Driven with a burning fire from the inside he stays determined to be focused to always improve upon his skills. Joshua is also a quick learner that upholds great standards of value, who does not let anything throw him off course always staying motivated.