UCSF’s innovative, collaborative approach to patient care, research and education spans disciplines across the life sciences, making it a world leader in scientific discovery and its translation to improving health.
Rituja Bhowmik earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and metabolic biology from UC Berkeley in May 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted wet-lab research and developed a passion for basic science, culminating in an honors thesis on transcription in the human placenta. She is dedicated to community health and previously worked as a bilingual community health worker, serving various patient populations in the East Bay, including at Highland Hospital.
Brianna has joined the Boxer Trials team as an assistant clinical research coordinator. She graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2022 and is originally from Orange County, California. Brianna brings valuable experience in neuroscience research, including studying the mechanisms underlying sleep in zebrafish, and previously worked at Genentech in the Protein Analytical Chemistry department. She is excited to be part of the clinical trials team at the Memory and Aging Center, where she aims to help advance access to treatments for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Maya earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in molecular and cell biology with a concentration in neurobiology from the University of California, Berkeley. She has joined the clinical trials team at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and plans to pursue a career in healthcare, specializing in neurology.
In her free time, Maya enjoys running, camping, and spending time outdoors.
Emma received a BS degree from the University of Miami, an MS degree from USC, and a DNP degree from the University of Hawai'i. She is a Research Project Manager supporting neurodegenerative disorder studies in the Boxer Lab.
Nicholas (Nick) Schwartz, MD, PhD, is a Behavioral Neurology Fellow at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. He grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and obtained a BS degree in Neuroscience and Philosophy at Duke University, where his research focused on using egg-laying behavior to model decision-making in fruit flies. He completed his MD and PhD degrees at the Stony Brook University Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), where his dissertation work focused on sphingolipid metabolism in neuropathy.
Allison graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and double minors in biology and urban education. She is passionate about rehabilitation sciences and plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.
Outside of the Boxer Lab, she enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and pickleball.
Whitney Walker is a dedicated Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist with over a decade of acute care experience at UCSF. Originally from Connecticut, she brings over 13 years of expertise in acute transitional and ICU clinical settings. Whitney previously held the role of Lead Clinical Trials Nurse at the UCSF Neuroscience Clinical Research Unit, where she honed her skills in clinical research and patient care.
Ms. Soppe is the PET Program Clinical Research Supervisor working directly with the Rabinovici Lab. She is deeply involved with both faculty and staff in monitoring operational issues, regulatory compliance, and project development. Besides project management expertise, Carol brings over 20 years of research experience spanning fields from basic immunology, metabolic diseases, and oncology to transplantation and autoimmunity.
Dr. Dietz is originally from Penticton, British Columbia. He studied physiology and physics at McGill University in Montreal, where his research focused on characterizing candidate mechanosensitive ion channels using single-cell electrophysiology techniques. While at McGill, he became interested in neurology, neuropsychology, and brain-behavior relationships after reading the classic works of Drs. Wilder Penfield and Brenda Milner at the Montreal Neurological Institute.
