The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation established the Curci Scholars program in 2021 to provide full scholarships and living expenses for the first two years of PhD programs for six students at each of three universities: UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, and University of Washington. In 2022, the program was expanded to include UCSF, University of Utah, and University of Colorado Boulder.
The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation PhD Scholarship at UCSF — established with a generous gift of $1.75M — is dedicated to supporting basic science research in the life sciences. The scholarship supports incoming PhD students in the basic sciences for the first two years of their degree program, with a special emphasis on increasing recruitment of international students. Learn more about the Curci Foundation.
2025-2026 Awardees
Elionel Botello-Cornejo
First Year Student, Tetrad PhD Program
Elionel began his undergraduate studies at Riverside Community College after a disappointing undergraduate admissions cycle. He believes that the freedom of navigating a range of subjects in community college without being confined to a specific major allowed him to discover the world of science. He then transferred to UC Irvine where he received his BS in Biological Sciences. In his first research experience as an NIH Bridges to the Baccalaureate scholar under Dr. John Chaput, he focused on obtaining and analyzing structures of engineered polymerases that recognize synthetic nucleic acids as substrates. He then became an NIH MARC U-STAR Fellow heading into his next summer research experience under Dr. Florentine Rutaganira at Stanford University, where he studied the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, in Salpingoeca rosetta. Following these experiences, he was inspired to study protein interactions within the cell using high-resolution techniques and interaction-based analysis. As an incoming UCSF PhD student, Elionel is excited to explore how proteins control and react to the immediate molecular environment to streamline a cellular response.
What it means to be a Curci Scholar:
I feel incredibly honored to have been selected as a Curci Scholar. This continues to increase my motivation to join and lead efforts towards scientific discovery. Having grown up without role models involved in science, I find this an opportunity to become one for those who were in my position. My dream of becoming a professor started in Nuevo, California and takes its next step with this support at UCSF. I was involved in several programs that encouraged underrepresented groups to pursue research careers, but unfortunately these programs have been halted. I am grateful to the Curci Foundation for supporting the scientific community and upholding inclusion in the life sciences.
Jocelyn Chavez Rios
First Year Student, Biophysics PhD Program
Jocelyn has always been fascinated with understanding the molecular underpinnings of life. She initially planned to pursue genetic counseling, but her first research experience unlocked a series of doors she didn’t know existed. Jocelyn attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for her undergraduate studies in biochemistry and also began her scientific journey in the lab of Dr. Eduardo Robleto. Her work focused on elucidating the roles of the structural domains of the transcription repair coupling factor, Mfd, in promoting bacterial adaptation to stress. Jocelyn eventually grew interested in how amino acid substitutions might affect Mfd’s overall structure and subsequent protein-protein interactions. Such curiosities led her to seek out a protein design internship studying how different thermal stabilities play a role in the self-assembly of enzymatic protein complexes under Dr. Alena Khmelinskaia. Jocelyn also interned with Dr. Willow Coyote-Maestas to study transmembrane protein substrate specificity and effects on its transport mechanism by confirming prior results that paired thousands of genetic perturbations with functional data. As an incoming PhD student, Jocelyn is elated to have the opportunity to further understand how proteins recognize signals in their chemical environment and orchestrate a cellular army of macromolecules to adapt.
What it means to be a Curci Scholar:
To be a Curci Scholar is of great significance because it reminds me of what I value about research: its purpose is to advance human knowledge. Being a Curci Scholar reassures me that, even in the face of adversity, I have the support to continue doing what I love and inspire others to do the same in my journey towards becoming a principal investigator someday. I strongly believe, as a woman and first-generation student, that the world of research needs to adapt to and embrace their next generation of scientists. Brilliant ideas do not come from genius alone but rather from collaboration, mentorship, and increased representation of minoritized individuals in leadership positions. Being a Curci Scholar means all of this to me and more.
Sirawit Lertwiriyapiti
First Year Student, Chemistry and Chemical Biology PhD Program
I am originally from Thailand and earned my undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. During my time there, I joined Professor Tina Wang’s lab, where I used a phage-assisted evolution platform to discover cyclic peptide inhibitors targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This early exposure to innovative screening technologies sparked my deep interest in therapeutic development and strengthened my passion for drug discovery and chemical biology.
After graduating, I transitioned into cancer drug discovery as a research technician in Professor Jack Taunton’s lab. In this role, I focused on the structural biology of a novel cancer drug target to better understand its function and mechanisms relevant to cancer progression. My work contributed to ongoing efforts to identify small-molecule inhibitors against this target. This experience further solidified my commitment to leveraging chemical biology for cancer therapy development —both during my PhD at UCSF and in my long-term academic career.
What it means to be a Curci Scholar:
Being a Curci Scholar is such an honor and an exciting opportunity. With this financial support, I will be able to fully focus on developing the skills necessary to become a strong and independent researcher, free from the burden of financial stress. This support also serves as meaningful recognition of my academic ambition and hard work, further motivating me to pursue my PhD with perseverance and dedication. Additionally, this award inspires me to uphold its mission of fostering an inclusive scientific community where everyone has the opportunity to participate and contribute to the field of biomedical science.
Anush Margaryan
First Year Student, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology PhD Program
Anush recently earned a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with a minor in Data Science and Statistics, from the University of Richmond, where she was a Richmond and Oliver Hill Scholar. Growing up in a small Armenian village, her backyard was her first laboratory. When her sister was diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), her early curiosity shifted toward understanding and treating human disease. While in Armenia, Anush joined the Sarvazyan lab at the Institute of Physiology to improve ex vivo cartilage cell growth, aiming to advance less invasive treatments for cartilage injuries. As an undergraduate student, she spent three summers in Dr. Diane Barber’s lab at UCSF, where she explored stem cell division, chromosome segregation, and the role of intracellular pH in zebrafish larval tail regeneration. During a semester abroad in Denmark, she also investigated pH regulation in cancer cell metabolism in Dr. Stine Pedersen’s lab at the University of Copenhagen. Beyond the lab, Anush founded the STEM for All organization in 2021, which created and continues to create hands-on scientific programs and mentorship opportunities for more than 600 students from marginalized communities, particularly refugees and women across Armenia. At UCSF, she aims to integrate regenerative medicine research with community impact, ultimately establishing Armenia’s first stem cell research center to improve organ transplantation for FMF patients and expand scientific opportunity in the region.
What it means to be a Curci Scholar:
I feel incredibly honored and grateful to have been selected for the Curci Scholarship, as it symbolizes the bridge that connects my identity with my aspirations. I am the first woman in my family to obtain a higher education degree, breaking the cycle of traditional gender roles and pioneering scientific opportunities for future generations. As a Curci Scholar, I will continue to foster equal opportunities in STEM, integrate scientific discovery and advocacy to empower others, while making organ repair and transplantation accessible to people like my sister who are affected by FMF.
Vianna Quach
First Year Student, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics PhD Program
Vianna did not always know what she wanted to do, but her place in life became apparent once she stepped into science. She completed her BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University. Her journey as a researcher began in Dr. Hideaki Yano’s lab, where she used molecular biology and biophysical approaches to study the role of dopamine D1 receptor-coupled G proteins in the functional selectivity of dopamine receptor agonists. Never one to limit herself, her diverse interests led her to pursue additional research opportunities. During her undergraduate studies, Vianna worked at Novartis as a bioanalysis co-op, where she developed pharmacodynamic assays. She also contributed to the development of an immunopeptidomics assay during her summer internship at Bristol Myers Squibb. While her experience has made her passionate about neuropharmacology and immunology, she always keeps an open mind and looks for opportunities to expand her knowledge. As an incoming PSPG PhD student, Vianna is excited to explore the pharmacological innovations taking place at UCSF.
What it means to be a Curci Scholar:
For me, being a Curci Scholar is an honor I would not have received without the guidance and support of many mentors and peers. As such, I hope to pay forward the opportunities I’ve been given. Alongside pursuing pharmaceutical innovations, I aim to bring attention to rare disease research — creating opportunities for this patient community to be heard, seen, and supported. To me, being a Curci Scholar means helping to represent the underrepresented, whether that includes our scientific peers or the patients working alongside scientists and doctors to find treatments for themselves and their communities.
Zimo Zhang
First Year Student, Biomedical Sciences PhD Program
Zimo received her BS from Peking University in China, where her interest in stem cells led her to join Dr. Yan Song’s lab. There, she used Drosophila as a model to study the regulation of transcription factors in neural stem cells. Fascinated by the elegant mechanisms of intracellular regulation, she became increasingly curious about the signals and crosstalk occurring outside the cell. After graduation, she moved to the U.S. and settled in the Bay Area, joining the lab of Dr. Andrew Yang at UCSF and the Gladstone Institutes as a research associate. Over the past two years, she has been investigating brain-body crosstalk — specifically, how brain-derived antigens are monitored by brain-resident immune cells and drained to the periphery. Now continuing at UCSF for her graduate studies, Zimo is excited to further explore neuroimmunology, with a particular focus on neural-immune interactions in brain diseases.
What it means to be a Curci Scholar:
Being a Curci Scholar is both an honor and a source of strength. This support enables me to fully dedicate myself to research, exploring the complex dialogue between the brain and immune system in health and disease. It empowers me to ask bold questions, stay curious, and pursue rigorous, meaningful science. As an international student, this recognition reminds me that science knows no boundaries. Along my research journey, I’ve been fortunate to receive kindness and support from many generous people, and this scholarship is a continuation of that encouragement. I’m committed to paying it forward — supporting others like me and helping build a more inclusive scientific community. I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and the values it upholds.