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FundingPublications & Presentations

Research Experience

National Institutes of Child Health and Development (NIH/NICHD) | Bethesda, MD
Behavioral Neurogenetics Lab | August 2022 – June 2024 | Dr. Harold A. Burgess
Post Bac Research Fellow
  • Discovered and characterized neurons responsible for arousal response in zebrafish post-flow response
  • Proposed and implemented a classifier-based machine learning model from established literature as a method to differentiate disease vs wildtype brains.
  • Developed a spatial model of the zebrafish brain, exploring relationships between brain region distances, covariation, and disease phenotypes, ultimately contributing to the understanding of functional relationships between brain regions’ communication and uncovering anatomical and functional relationships between brain regions.
  • Optimized confocal microscopy techniques for precise brain imaging and targeted ablation, shedding light on neural circuits and mechanisms linked to waking arousal and startle behavior.
  • Established innovative protocols for combining chemical and light-based ablation methods to achieve cell-specific ablations associated with arousal behavior without tissue damage.
  • Produced and documented new strains of genetically modified zebrafish with CRISPR techniques, ensuring data integrity and visibility through a national database.
  • Utilized a diverse set of techniques and skills, including IHC, ISH, PCR, HCR confocal microscopy, fluorescence, data analysis and modeling using R, brain registration, fish mounting for imaging, breeding and genetic screening, behavioral experimentation, data collection, scientific writing, interdisciplinary scientific communication, meticulous record-keeping and fostering productive inter-lab communication, among other tasks.
Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, Lowe | Boston, MA (Remote)
Florez Cancer and Health Disparities Laboratory | July 2023 – April 2024 | Dr. Narjust Florez
Post bac Research Assistant
  • Conducted in-depth data analysis to contribute insights to research projects addressing women with lung cancer, focusing on understanding disease patterns and treatment outcomes.
  • Utilized advanced statistical methods to uncover disparities in cancer health outcomes, particularly among marginalized communities, informing efforts towards more equitable healthcare practices.
  • Investigated the intersection of social justice issues and medical education through data analysis, aiming to promote inclusivity and diversity within academic research environments.
Loma Linda University Medical Center | Loma Linda, CA
Frankis Alamaguel Theranostic Lab | July 2021 – June 2022 | Dr. Frankis Almaguel, Dr. Daisy De Leon
Undergraduate Research Assistant
  • Isolated biomolecules involved in prostate, breast, and brain cancer cell metabolism for the purpose of targeting Enolase proteins with antigens and radioisotopes.
  • Quantified the effects of a novel inhibitor to target and destroy cancer cells.
  • Optimized protocols relating to cell culture, protein quantification analysis, and MTT assays
  • Involved in academic writing and presentation of relevant data.
  • Techniques and skills utilized: cell culture, handling of human cellular, tissue, and liquid samples, florescent antibody technique, sterile technique, cell fractionation, centrifugation, western blot analysis, enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL), total protein analysis, protein assay, light microscope, staining and immunohistochemistry, dark room equipment, incubation, data analysis.
La Sierra University | Riverside, CA
Le Dantec Cognitive and Behavioral Lab | April 2019 – June 2023 | Dr. Christophe Le Dantec
Undergraduate Research Assistant
  • Techniques and skills learned include: installation of Electroencephalogram (EEG), transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS) with analysis of data through SPSS and creation of tasks using Neurobehavioral Systems platform, Python3, Presentation Control Language (PCL), and physical creation of a large Faraday Cage.
  • Assisted in building Faraday cage and running behavioral trials. Responsible for attaching hardware to participants, designing working scripts for various behavioral tasks (NeurObs), writing preliminary drafts for two academic papers, and presenting four projects to the Western Psychological Association based on current works.
La Sierra University | Riverside, CA
Trueblood Marine Biology Lab | April 2019 – June 2022 | Dr. Lloyd Trueblood
Undergraduate Research Assistant
  • Techniques and skills utilized include spectrophotometry, titrations, performing simple surgical procedures, maintaining and evaluating animal records, administering medication, collecting blood and tissue samples and performing animal autopsies with the highest standard of care according to the United States and European Union regulations on animal research. Maintained sterile operating areas, created custom surgical equipment, and utilized established and emerging surgical techniques to collect data on the oxygen-binding properties of Hemocyanin in Octopus rubescens in California and Washington.
  • Assisted in 3D printing and handcrafting original experimental surgical and blood analysis equipment. Maintaned high standard of care for the participants, discovered effective techniques to perform blood draws and collect, label, and maintain tissue and liquid samples.
  • Spent an academic quarter at Rosario Beach actively performing animal husbandry, tissue and specimen collection, while troubleshooting methods to measure hemocyanin in octopus and crab blood. Additionally, we were the first team in the world to successfully extract blood from a living Muusoctopus leioderma and perform various blood analysis experiments.
La Sierra University | Riverside, CA
SEA-PHAGES | Janurary 2018 – June 2018 | Dr. Arturo Diaz, Dr. Arun Muthiah, Dr. Natasha Dean
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
  • SEA-PHAGES: Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science. A fairly unique research-based two quarter course with La Sierra being one of six schools in California offering the program. The two quarters are divided into first collecting soil to find and identify bacteriophage.
  • Techniques included: pipetting, electron microscopy, maintaining and purifying phage, preparing and assaying bacteriophage lysates, media preparation, sterile technique, bacteriophage isolation, and dilutions. Genome annotation and bioinformatic analysis was then performed to characterize and classify the bacteriophage.
  • Responsible for writing the Introduction of the published paper.

Publications

  • Miller G, Tran S, Abrahams R, Bazan D, Blaylock E, Choi J, Grewal S, Hernandez E, Kim D, Kim K, Lee Y. Genome Sequences of Bacteriophages KaiHaiDragon and OneinaGillian, Isolated from Microbacterium foliorum in Riverside, California. Microbiology resource announcements. 2019 Apr 11;8(15)

Conference Presentations

Oral Talks

National Institutes of Health | Bethesda, MD

  • Bazan D.C. (2023) “Investigating Structural Covariation, Brain Scaling, and Anatomical Imbalance in the Zebrafish Brain” Oral Research Presentation. National Institutes of Health Biological Informatics Core. Program Committee Selected.
  • Bazan D.C. (2023) “Investigating Structural Covariation and Anatomical Imbalance in the Zebrafish Brain” Oral Research Presentation. Mid Atlantic Regional Zebrafish Conference (MARZ). Program Committee Selected.
  • Bazan. D.C. (2023) “Elucidating the Neurons Responsible for the Arousal Pathway in the Zebrafish Brain” Oral Research Presentation. Post-bac Seminar Series.

La Sierra University | Riverside, CA

  • Bazan D.C. (2022) “Seeking a cure: Enolase Inhibitors as a Combined Diagnostic and Therapeutic Method for Glioblastoma Multiforme.” Oral Research and Paper Presentation Selected by Honors Research Faculty

Poster Sessions

Society for Neuroscience

  • Panlilio, J. M., Bazan, D. C., & Burgess, H. A. (2023). Neural circuits that regulate waking arousal in zebrafish. Society for Neuroscience (SFN 2023).

National Institutes of Health | Bethesda, MD

  • Panlilio, J. M., Bazan, D. C., & Burgess, H. A. (2023). Neural circuits that regulate waking arousal in zebrafish. National Institutes of Health Intramural Conference.
  • Bazan, D. C., & Burgess, H. A. (2022). Computational Mapping of the Brain: Investigating Structural Covariation and Anatomical Imbalance in the Zebrafish Brain. National Institutes of Health Intramural Conference.

Mid Adlantic Regional Zebrafish Conference | Bethesda, MD

  • Bazan, D. C., & Burgess, H. A. (2022). Computational Mapping of the Brain: Investigating Structural Covariation and Anatomical Imbalance in the Zebrafish Brain. Mid Atlantic Regional Zebrafish Conference (MARZ, 2022).

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) | Virtual Jan 2022

  • Bloody Interaction: The Effects of Elevated Ocean pCO2 Levels in Metacarnicus Magister

Western Psychological Assoction |

  • Le Dantec C, Bazan D. C. (2024). Examining the Interplay of Eccentricity and Duration: Insights into Event-Related Potentials Underpinning Duration Memory in Visual Stimuli
  • Le Dantec C, Bazan D. C. (2023). Effect of the Eccentricity and Duration of Simultaneous Visual Stimuli on a Prefrontal Event-Related Component in a Duration Discrimination Task.
  • Daniel C Bazan, Le Dantec, C., Gomez, M., Ward, P., Taff, J., Enriquez, E., Dimitri, A., Quiroz, D., Chiang, M., Leach, R. (2020). Effects of tDCS over Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital Cortices on Duration Discrimination.
  • Daniel C Bazan, Le Dantec, C., Gomez, M., Taff, J., Enriquez, E., Ward, P., Quiroz, D,. Leach, R., Mohamed, R. (2020). “The Eccentricity of Visual Stimuli Affects the Participants Performance and Event-Related Potentials Recorded During a Duration Discrimination Task.” Western Psychological Association.
  • Daniel C Bazan, Le Dantec, C., Gomez, M., Ward, P., Taff, J., Enriquez, E., Chiang, M., Dimitri, A., Conneen, M., Quiroz, D., Leach, R. (2020). Interference Between Word and Duration in a Visual Duration Discrimination Task: A Temporal Stroop Effect.” Western Psychological Association.

Loma Linda Medical Center | Loma Linda, CA Aug 2021

  • Krystal Santiago, Daniel Bazan, Astrid Álvarez de La Cruz, Bhaskar Das, Alfonso M. Durán, Carlos A. Casiano. Targeted glycolysis inhibition by novel enolase-1 Inhibitors causes cell death in chemo resistant prostate cancer cells

La Sierra University | Riverside, CA

  • Bazan D.C., Peruch J., Yonemoto G., Trueblood L., (2022). Bloody Interaction: The Effect of elevated ocean pCO2 levels on blood oxygen binding in Metacarnicus magister (First Place Winner)
  • Bazan D.C. (2022). Targeted Glycolysis Inhibition by Novel Enolase-1 Inhibitors Cause Cell Death in Chemoresistant Prostate Cancer Cells (Second Place Winner)
  • Yonemoto G., Peruch J., Bazan, D. C., Trueblood L., Crabs in a Pinch: Effects of Elevated pCO2 seawater on RMR and Pcrit in Dungeness crabs
  • Yu E, and Bazan D. C. (2018). The End of the Beginning: Bacteriophage host range assay; Seeking new paths for curing pathogenic bacteria infection.

Independent Research Projects

  • Bazan, D. Love: Familiarity and The Perception of Time (Poster and Paper Presentation) May 2019
  • Bazan, D. C. Emotional States and their Effect on Conscious Decision-Making (Paper Presentation) DEC 2020
  • Bazan, D. C. Developing a Model for Conscious A.I. (Paper Presentation) May 2021