Degrees
Research
Biography
Rachel Alvelais is a writer, artist, and scientist born and raised in California. In 2018 she received her BS in chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was recognized as a University of California Undergraduate Research Ambassador for her work as a young scientist, as well as her dedication to increasing research access for first-generation, minority, and low-income students through her work with the Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships (CSEP). She is now pursuing a Ph.D. to add small molecule synthetic chemistry to her repertoire, in addition to her experience in materials and surface chemistry. She looks forward to a career that can apply her scientific background to her interests in art, history, and cultural representation. Outside of her labwork, she enjoys exploring fantasy worlds in Pathfinder tabletop RPGs and action-adventure videogames, and building her own stories as a writer and artist. When she's not hanging out with her trusty PhDoggo, LUMO, that is.
Why is science communication important to you personally?
For many years, I loved science but could not picture myself pursuing any specific STEM career, because all of the scientists I saw on television didn't look like me and acted like explaining their science was a bother. But my first undergrad research experience emphasized that scientists should in fact be able to explain their science to the public, and that many scientists are down-to-earth, diverse, and creative people. I think that good science communication, trust, and representation, go hand-in-hand with encouraging new generations of scientists, and creating a more educated and accepting world overall.