Hi there

I’m Kayla – a scientist and artist passionate about making science and data more accessible through visual storytelling, and creating experiences that empower people to engage more deeply with research and the world around them.

Currently, I’m a NIMH NRSA fellow finishing up my PhD at UCLA, studying the neural circuit mechanisms of prosocial behavior in mice in the lab of Dr. Weizhe Hong. I’m part of the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Program. I'm also a fellow with the UCLA-CDU Dana Center for Neuroscience and Society, an interdisciplinary initiative where we work to develop a practice of community-partnered neuroscience.

Originally from Singapore, I received my B.S. in Neural Science and B.A. in Psychology from New York University in 2018, where I completed my undergraduate honors thesis work with Dr. Chiye Aoki.  During my time at NYU, I studied how early life trauma alters amygdalar anatomy in a collaborative project with Dr. Regina Sullivan. When I wasn’t in lab, I spent my time in the dance studio running and performing with NYU Dancers/Choreographers Alliance as Co-President. After graduating, I stayed in New York and spent time in the lab of Dr. Nicholas Stavropoulos where I worked on understanding mechanisms that control sleep in fruit flies.

I am passionate about exploring the intersections between science and equity, policy, education, and public engagement. I’m especially interested in how design and storytelling can help translate complex scientific topics into narratives that inform, empower, and provoke curiosity. When not in the lab, I can probably be found designing, illustrating, or working on a host of projects with the Science Policy Group at UCLA and others. When I’m not busy with one of the above, I also enjoy dancing, being in nature, and hanging out with my cat Bunsen.