Editorial Board for the Academic Year 2025-2026
Our editorial board is comprised of student researchers who embody the interdisciplinary spirit of the UCSB community.
The board brings together a range of expertise, spanning the Life and Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities.
Our editors are themselves active researchers currently investigating critical issues, including:
- Biomedical Innovation: Advancing cancer immunotherapies and exploring the genetic mechanics of cellular therapies.
- Sociological Inquiry: Utilizing mixed-methods and spatial analysis to study housing, education policy, and social movements.
- Cognitive Science & AI: Investigating the intersection of human intelligence and artificial agents through data science and psychological paradigms.
- Neuroscience & The Arts: Examining cortical circuits and the potential of dance as a rehabilitative therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.
As editors and dedicated researchers, our board is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative community. We bridge the gap between complex data and clear communication, ensuring that the URCA Journal serves as a showcase for undergraduate excellence.
Editor-in-Chief
Kathleen Zhang
Kathleen is a fourth-year student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, pursuing a dual degree in English (B.A.) and Cell & Developmental Biology (B.S.). She is passionate about advancing cancer immunotherapies by exploring how to best harness the immune system’s strengths in fighting cancer. Her research focuses on macrophage-cancer cell interactions, aiming to identify genetic targets that could enhance the ability of cellular therapies to infiltrate solid tumors. As a URCA Peer Mentor, she looks forward to fostering an inclusive and collaborative research community while contributing to the development of the URCA Journal.
Associate Editor of Physical and Computational Sciences
Shirley Qiu
Shirley is a third-year student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, pursuing a double major in Psychological & Brain Science and Statistics & Data Science. She is interested in exploring the cognitive differences between humans and AI, and the potential to augment human performance with AI. Her research focus includes developing novel paradigms for examining cognitive dynamics for intelligence agents. As a student researcher and associate editor for the URCA Journal, Shirley is passionate to support fellow students in their academic and research journeys.
Associate Editor for Social Sciences
Asher Rose
Asher Rose is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Sociology with a Minor in Jewish Studies interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociology. He is passionate about social science research on a variety of topics such as housing, social movements, and education. Over his time at UC Santa Barbara he has contributed to research on Mass Shootings, California Education Policy, Housing Perceptions, the Israel/Palestine Conflict, and more. He is interested in mixed-methods research and has experience in GIS/Spatial Methods, Interviews, Linear Regression/Statistical Methods, and Content Analysis.
Associate Editor of Health Sciences
Anniysh Sivakumar
Anniysh is an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is currently involved in neuroscience research, studying neurodenegeration through both clinical and genomic approaches. As a dancer, he is interested in researching the potential of dance as a form of rehabilitative therapy for patients with neurological diseases, and has previously conducted independent research on the differences in visuospatial cognition between dancers and nondancers. As a student researcher and peer mentor, Anniysh wants to continue exploring the intersections between neuroscience and the arts and foster a collaborative community that allows other students to explore their interests.