Tritons heading for the top tier: UOG alumni begin doctorates and post-docs
Tritons heading for the top tier: UOG alumni begin doctorates and post-docs
Tritons heading for the top tier: UOG alumni begin doctorates and post-docs
11/18/2021
This semester marked the start of the highest level of education in their fields
for several 91快播 alumni.
In their pursuit to advance the global body of knowledge through research and teaching
in their subject areas, UOG alumni are beginning doctoral as well as post-doctoral
programs around the globe this semester 鈥� from New York to New Zealand.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always excited to see the paths that our Tritons embark upon and are especially
proud of their acceptance into such distinguished schools and programs,鈥� UOG President
Thomas W. Krise said. 鈥淭ritons want to make a difference in the world, and we鈥檙e proud
that UOG has provided the foundation and the direction for so many to pursue a career
in research and teaching.鈥�
Following completion of their degree programs, which range from two to six years,
many have plans to return home to Guam to serve the community and produce research
within their subject areas.
Among UOG alumni beginning doctoral programs are:
Christopher Andrada Christopher Andrada
UOG degree: 鈥�19 B.S. in Health Science - Exercise Science & Health Promotion Current program: Doctor of Physical Therapy School: University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (Fla.) Expected completion: April 2024
Christopher Andrada is pursuing his doctorate in physical therapy at the University
of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Having been part of the UOG ROTC program, he
has also been selected, among a small number of other ROTC graduates across the nation,
for the Army Medical Department Internship Program, where he will work under the direct
supervision of an Army provider. He hopes to eventually complete a neurologic physical
therapy residency program and then return to Guam to work as a neurologic physical
therapist specialist.
Eduardo B. Biala Jr.Eduardo B. Biala Jr.
UOG degree: 鈥�17 B.S. in Biology Current program: Doctor of Medicine School: University of Hawai`i at M膩noa John A. Burns School of Medicine Expected completion: May 2025
Following his completion of the year-long 鈥業mi Ho鈥樑峫a Program post-baccalaureate program
earlier this year, a rigorous 鈥渕edical school boot camp鈥� at the John A. Burns School
of Medicine at the University of Hawai`i at M膩noa, Eduardo Biala is now pursuing his
Doctor of Medicine at the same school. He was one of five students selected this year
for the four-year Queen鈥檚 Health Systems 鈥業mi Ho鈥樑峫a Scholarship. Upon completion of medical school, he hopes to pursue a residency program
in internal medicine and, given the lack of certain specialists in Guam, he hopes
to also complete a fellowship in gastroenterology to eventually serve the people of
Guam and Hawaii.
Jezreelyn BulaklakJezreelyn Bulaklak
UOG degree: 鈥�21 B.S. in Chemistry Current program: Doctor of Medicine School: F. Edward H茅bert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University (Md.) Expected completion: May 2025
Jezreelyn Bulaklak has begun medical school at the F. Edward H茅bert School of Medicine
at the Uniformed Services University. She is the first in her family to go into the
field and was influenced to do so through the military by her brother, an ROTC cadet
at UOG. At UOG, she was involved in the NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance program
and the Health Opportunities & Medical Exposure (HOME) Program, through which she
shadowed a surgeon one summer. After completing her education and service commitment
with the Air Force, she plans to return home to the Marianas to serve in the health
care sector.
Joseph CasilaJoseph Casila
UOG degree: 鈥�19 B.S. in Biology, 鈥�19 B.S. in Chemistry, 鈥�19 B.S. in Mathematics Current program: Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering School: University of Pennsylvania Expected completion: May 2025鈥�2027
After graduating from UOG with three bachelor鈥檚 degrees in order to mirror an undergraduate
bioengineering program of other universities, Joseph Casila is now pursuing a doctorate
in bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university, on
a full-ride fellowship package. He will focus his degree on tissue engineering and
regenerative medicine with the goal of coming back to Guam to give back and teach
and mentor students. He also hopes to lead his own research team in Guam.
Mari Deinhart
Mari Deinhart
UOG degree: 鈥�20 M.S. in Biology Current program: Ph.D. School: Griffith University (Australia) in collaboration with the Australian Institute of
Marine Science
Mari Deinhart expects to begin a doctorate program early next year through Griffith
University in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Under
the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program at AIMS, she will be researching the metabolic
pathways of crustose calcifying red algae (CCRA) species that induce coral larval
settlement or are avoided by larvae for settlement under various light and nutrient
levels. In the future, Deinhart hopes to continue researching the roles of CCRA in
marine environments by unraveling their unique chemical fingerprints and microbiomes.
Tamarie Fegurgur
Tamarie C. Fegurgur
UOG degree: 鈥�14 BAE in Elementary Education; 鈥�16 M.Ed. in Reading Current program: Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction School: Capella University (Minn.)
Jean MacalinaoJean Macalinao
UOG degree: 鈥�12 B.A. in Psychology, 鈥�17 M.S. in Clinical Psychology Current program: Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology School: Saybrook University (Calif.) Expected completion: Spring 2027
Jean Macalinao began a five- to six-year doctoral program in clinical psychology this
semester at Saybrook University, an endeavor she credits to Dr. Iain Twaddle and the
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program at UOG. She aspires to become a licensed
clinical psychologist serving the Guam community in practice or as a professor.
Trevor Orot
Trevor J. Orot
UOG degree: 鈥�21 B.S. Chemistry, Minor in Biology Current program: Doctor of Pharmacy School: University of California, San Francisco Expected completion: Summer 2024
Trevor Orot began his pursuit toward a doctorate in pharmacy in July at the University
of California, San Francisco, the No. 2 ranked pharmacy school in the nation by U.S.
News and World Report. After his program, he plans to further his education by attending
a residency program and becoming a clinical pharmacist. He then hopes to return to
Guam to contribute to the narrowing gap in health care, find solutions in health disparities,
and serve the community that has provided him with so many opportunities for growth.
Tristan PaulinoTristan Paulino
UOG degree: 鈥�19 B.S. in Tropical Agriculture, Minor in Chemistry Current program: Ph.D. in Anatomy School: University of Otago (New Zealand) Expected completion: 2024
Tristan Paulino began his doctorate in anatomy this summer at the University of Otago.
Under a full fellowship funded by a research grant from the Royal Society of New Zealand
Te Ap膩rangi, he will be researching the genetic pre-disposition of Micronesians to
gout, a condition that hasn鈥檛 been researched in Guam for more than 50 years, and
other metabolic conditions. Upon completing the program, he hopes to continue his
work on gout and other metabolic diseases on Guam as a professor at the University
of Guam.
Aubriana PerezAubriana Perez
UOG degree: 鈥�17 B.S. in Biology Current program: Doctor of Medicine School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (Mich.) Expected completion: Spring 2025
Aubriana Perez is pursuing a Doctor of Medicine on an institutional merit award at
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. She recently completed her
Master of Public Health during the global pandemic, specializing in epidemiology,
at Emory University (Ga.). She hopes to have a career in academic medicine while continuing
her research on racial/ethnic disparities in chronic disease and eventually plans
to return to Guam.
Karim Primov
Karim Primov
UOG degree: 鈥�20 M.S. in Biology Current program: Ph.D. in Integrative Biology School: The University of Texas at Austin Expected completion: August 2026/2027
Karim Primov is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in integrative biology at The University
of Texas at Austin. He will be working under the advisement of Professors Mikhail
Matz and Mark Kirkpatrick on a dissertation related to coral genomics and their adaptation
to climate change. Primov plans to eventually pursue a post-doctoral program and work
as a research scientist in the private or public sector or for a nonprofit organization.
Maia L. RaymundoMaia L. Raymundo
UOG degree: 鈥�09 B.A. in Biology, 鈥�14 M.S. in Biology Current program: David H. Smith Conservation Research Postdoctoral Fellowship School: Princeton University (N.J.) Expected completion: October 2023
Having recently earned her doctorate in ecology from The University of Queensland
(Australia), Maia Raymundo has begun a postdoctoral fellowship through Princeton University
in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the Guam Department of Agriculture.
The work for her project, 鈥淟oss of a key frugivore disperser: Assessing effects on
ecosystem structure and identifying priority areas for restoration鈥� will be based
in Guam. As a UOG student, she gained valuable lab and field research experience through
the National Institutes of Health RISE program. She aspires to continue to be involved
in the restoration of Guam's ecosystems moving forward and hopes to help create space
for more voices from Asia and the Pacific to be heard in matters of conservation.
William SablanWilliam Sablan
UOG degree: 鈥�21 B.S. in Mathematics Current program: Ph.D. in Mathematics School: University of California, Riverside
William Sablan has begun his doctorate in mathematics at University of California,
Riverside, which he chose for its supportive and friendly graduate student community.
He was awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a five-year
fellowship that includes an annual stipend. In addition, Sablan was also awarded the
Eugene Cota Robles Award that includes a stipend.
Chellette San NicolasChellette San Nicolas
UOG degree: 鈥�21 M.Ed. in Secondary Education Current program: Ed.D. School: Gonzaga University (Wash.)
Chellette San Nicolas is back with her undergraduate alma mater of Gonzaga University
in Washington to complete her Doctor of Education. She began the program in an online
format in July.
Elliot UntalanElliot Untalan
UOG degrees: 鈥�19 B.S. in Criminal Justice, 鈥�21 Master of Public Administration Current program: Ph.D. in Public Administration School: Liberty University (Va.) Expected completion: Fall 2026
Elliot Untalan has begun his doctorate in public administration this fall. As a military
veteran, Untalan chose Liberty University, which is a military-friendly school. Untalan
will complete the program online while continuing to work as a firefighter with Andersen
Fire & Emergency Services. He hopes to advance his leadership abilities and give back
to his island community.
Other alumni beginning doctorates
Karen Bacalia UOG degree: 鈥�21 B.S. in Chemistry, 鈥�21 B.S. in Agriculture & Life Sciences 鈥� Nutrition
& Food Current program: Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences School: Rutgers University鈥揘ew Brunswick (N.J.)
Edward Leon Guerrero UOG degree: 鈥�20 M.A. in Micronesian Studies Current program: Ph.D. in Political Science School: University of Hawai`i at M膩noa
John Palacios UOG degree: 鈥�18 B.S. in Mathematics Current program: Ph.D. in Systems Modeling and Analysis School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Alymark Portacio UOG degree: 鈥�16 B.S. in Mathematics 鈥� Secondary Education, 鈥�20 M.Ed. in Secondary
Education Current program: Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction School: American College of Education (Ind.)
Vanalyn Quichocho UOG degree: 鈥�17 B.A. in English/Psychology, Minor in Writing; 鈥�20 M.S. in Clinical
Psychology Current program: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology 鈥� Rehabilitation Psychology School: Illinois Institute of Psychology Expected completion: Spring 2026
Emmanuel S. Santos UOG degree: 鈥�21 B.S. in Chemistry 鈥� Chemistry-Biology Current program: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry School: Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.)
Jongkeon Enoch Shin UOG degree: 鈥�18 B.S. in Chemistry Current program: Ph.D. in Biochemistry School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine (N.Y.)
