2026 Fellow: Andrew White

Andrew is a fourth year PhD candidate in BMSE at UCSB. He graduated from California Lutheran University with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in music. Following his PhD, Andrew wants to pursue a postdoctoral position with the ultimate goal of becoming a tenure-track professor at an R1 University. During his undergraduate career, he worked under Dr. Shawn Steen to better educate women on the risks associated with contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) surgery, as well as Dr. Daniel Leung at the University of Utah, where he focused on mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell activation as a way to design vaccinations against cholera and other intestinal infections that affect third-world countries. Through his numerous research experiences, he has gained an appreciation for active mentorship as a means to build confident and independent scientists.

As the 2026 CSEP Mentor Leadership Fellow, Andrew is dedicated toward building more immersive and interactive workshops for first-generation students as a way to make research opportunities more accessible. His numerous mentorship positions, not only within his own lab, but across numerous departments and programs, highlights his continued commitment to enhancing modern mentorship practices, with the ultimate goals of improving mentor-mentee communication, creating lasting relationships, and making research enjoyable!

In his free time, he loves to meet new people, share crazy stories about his friends and family, and make music! He's also super funny.....and talkative.....just saying.