Emergency Medicine Research Associates
Oscar De La Rosa
Oscar De La Rosa graduated from UCLA with a Bachelors of Science in Human Biology and Society in 2021. He joined EMRA in the Fall of 2018 and during his time in the program he was an active participant in the Mentorship Committee and Research Committee. Beyond EMRA, he was a medical scribe/translator for a family medicine clinic, a research apprentice for Carceral Ecologies, a program focused on analyzing autopsies of decedents from L.A. County Jail and creating a database to measure the frequencies and severities of inconsistencies, and a research assistant for the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), a program which resulted in an oral history of the Mixteco people published in UCLA’s Oral History Library. He also has a research publication detailing the nuanced experience of undocumented Latinos in California during the COVID-19 pandemic which was awarded UCLA Library Prize for Undergraduate Research, Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences 1st Prize, in 2021. Oscar also served as the Student Engagement Director for the UCLA Office of the President, where he strived to improve accessibility to and transparency of UCLA’s Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC), and drafted legislation voted into UCLA’s bylaws to ensure that mission remains a priority. In his free time, Oscar enjoys listening to 80s and 90s music, watching horror movies, and dancing.
Julia Vargas
Julia Vargas is a first generation Latina college graduate who obtained a BS in Biology and a minor in Spanish from UCLA in 2019. She joined the Emergency Medicine Research Department at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in 2020 as a staff research associate. Prior to this, she was a study coordinator in the Emergency Medicine Department at Olive View - UCLA Medical Center from 2018-2020. Julia has also served as a management assistant for ASUCLA in the UCLA store, where she strived to create a great customer experience and assisted in several projects within the department. During her time there she was awarded ASUCLA’s “2018-2019 Exceptional Student Performance Award”. Outside of her commitments as a staff research associate, Julia is a mother of one and enjoys spending her free time with her daughter and family, watching television and traveling.
Hena Sihota
Hena Sihota graduated from UCLA with a BS in Neuroscience in 2021 and joined EMRA in Spring 2018. She became a coordinator in Winter 2020 and spearheaded the ASTER study, Mentorship Committee, and EMRA Alumni Program. As a general member, Hena was actively involved in the Research, Mentorship, and Whole Blood Committees. Outside of EMRA, she served as the finance coordinator for SCOPE, a member of Patient Health Advocates, and one of the founding members of All Brains, a program dedicated to creating an inclusive space on campus for neurodiverse students. Hena was also a driver for the Bruinaccess van, a service that provides students and faculty with disabilities rides to and from their academic/work commitments. In her free time, Hena enjoys exploring the LA food scene with her friends, traveling, watching her favorite television shows, reading, rediscovering old music, and thrifting.
Shivam Rana
Shivam Rana graduated from UCLA in Spring 2023, completing his B.Sc. in Physiological Science and minor in Entrepreneurship. Shivam joined the coordinator team in the Summer of 2021. He has been a part of EMRA since Spring 2020, and currently leads the program in shaping its day-day-to-day activities and outlook for the next few years as well. Outside of EMRA, Shivam spends his time researching in the Cramer Neural Repair Lab and as an adult leader for the local Boy Scout troop. During his free time, he enjoys working out, watching TV, and cooking for his friends.
.jpg)
Sara Sandri
Sara Sandri is a third-year Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology major at UCLA. She has been a part of EMRA since Fall 2020 and joined the coordinator team in Summer 2022. She currently co-heads the Bruins Against Fentanyl project and is involved in the Mentorship, Education, and Marketing Committees. Outside of EMRA, Sara is involved in Project VFC in MESH (Medical Experience through Service and Healthcare) and is in a lab which focuses on Neurofibromatosis Type 2. In her free time, Sara enjoys cooking Italian food (specifically focaccia bread), browsing wikipedia, and working out (sometimes with her gym mom Julia).
.jpg)
Carl Rosenthal
Carl is a fourth year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major at UCLA. He joined EMRA in Fall 2019 and joined the coordinator team in Winter 2023. Over the years, he has been an active member of Research Committee and has trained 5 generations of EMRAs. He now heads the ASTER-BUNCH study and directs the New Member Training Committee. Outside of EMRA, Carl scribes at a private practice cardiology clinic, works as an MCAT instructor, and is heavily involved with UCLA Club Badminton. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, scenic backpacking, and shooting macro photography.
Mursall Mostamand
Mursall Mostamand is a third-year Neuroscience major at UCLA. She joined EMRA in the Spring of 2022 and joined the coordinator team in the Winter of 2023. During her time in EMRA, she has been involved in the Research and Mentorship committees. Outside of EMRA, Mursall is involved in the United Afghan Club and Speak Out for Surgery on campus. She also currently works as an undergraduate research associate for the Neural Dynamics Group, researching astrocyte reactivity in ALS models. In her free time, Mursall enjoys running her event planning business alongside her sisters and spending time with her family and friends.
.jpg)
Elsa Kronen
Elsa Kronen is a third-year at UCLA, joining EMRA in Spring of 2021 and the coordinator team in Winter of 2023. As a general member, Elsa was involved primarily in the Research Committee, as well as the Marketing Committee and New Member Training. She is transitioning to lead the Research Committee and the AbdCT Study. Outside of EMRA, Elsa is in a lab investigating surgical outcomes. She also works as a Peer Learning Facilitator at UCLA. In her free time, Elsa likes to go to the beach, play with her dog, occasionally run, and find things to eat, either in her kitchen or at a new restaurant in LA.
Phillip Ma
Phillip Ma is a second-year Physiological Science major at UCLA, joining the coordinator team in the Winter of 2023. He joined EMRA in the Fall of 2021 and has been involved with Mentorship, Education, and Marketing Committees. Outside of EMRA, Phillip is a lead volunteer for organic chemistry tutoring and is a co-director for Project Hearts in MESH (Medical Experience through Service in Healthcare). Phillip enjoys playing tennis, badminton, watching the NBA, and bothering his roommates.
Frederick Jimenez
Frederick Jimenez graduated from UCLA with a BS in Biochemistry in Summer 2022. He Joined EMRA in Spring 2021 and became a coordinator in Winter 2023. As a general member, he was involved in Research, Marketing, Mentorship, and New Member Training As a coordinator, he co-heads the Fentanyl study, Research Committee, and EMRA recruitment. Outside of EMRA, he is a Postbaccalaureate researcher in structural biology.
Eduarda Martins Diniz
Eduarda Martins Diniz is a third-year Biochemistry major at UCLA. She joined EMRA in Fall 2022 and became a coordinator in Summer 2023. She has been involved with Marketing, Education and Research committees and is now part of the leading team of the Health Literacy and Outreach Committee (former Marketing Committee). Outside of EMRA, Eduarda is a coordinator for the Brazilian Student Association at UCLA, is involved with Bruin Surgical Undergraduate Society, and volunteers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. During her free time she likes working out, talking on the phone with her family in Brazil and hanging out with her friends. She loves discovering new cool places and beaches in LA.
Megan Wei
Megan Wei is a fourth year Psychobiology Major at UCLA. She joined EMRA in Spring 2022, became a coordinator in Summer 2023, and is currently involved in the Mentorship and New Member Training committees. Outside of EMRA, Megan is dedicated to research with the Dumont-UCLA Transplant Center, volunteers with the Mobile Clinic Project, and works as a tutor for School on Wheels. During her free time, she enjoys reading, gaming, and good food.
Anil Chaganti
Anil Chaganti is a fourth year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at UCLA. He joined EMRA in Spring 2022 and became a program lead in Summer 2023. He has been extensively involved with Marketing, Education, and Research committees and is now part of the leading team of the Health Literacy and Outreach Committee (former Marketing Committee) along with being a co-head for Bruins Against Fentanyl OD. Outside of EMRA, Anil is the External Vice President of Indian Student Union at UCLA, Co-Founder of Pediatric Research Organization at UCLA, works at the Jacobs Lab, and is a medical assistant. During his free time, he enjoys cooking new pasta recipes, going on hikes with his friends, and enjoys riding roller coasters at local theme parks. He loves exploring new dessert places and catching the LA sunsets on rooftops.
Ellen Tahmasyan
Ellen Tahmasyan is a fourth year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at UCLA. She joined EMRA in Spring 2022 and became a program lead in Summer 2023. She has been happily involved with Mentorship, Marketing, and Research Committees and is not part of the leading team of the Mentorship Committee. Outside of EMRA, Ellen is the President of UNICEF at UCLA, Co-Founder of Princess Harmonics Acapella Group, Treasurer of Armenian Students Association, Secretary/Publicity Chair of Alpha Gamma Alpha, is a Research Assistant for the Rissman Lab, is a medical intern at a dermatology clinic, and works for Student Success Agency. During her free time, she enjoys listening to her record collection, reading, trying pilates, carpool karaoke sessions, spontaneous boba runs, and hanging out with family and friends.
