Sarai Tapia is an intern via the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). She earned her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. Her previous work, under the mentorship of Dr. Jenny Cappuccio, focused on characterizing the cellulase enzyme to develop efficient biofuels from agricultural waste. Her current research focuses on developing stem cell–based drug delivery systems for the treatment of pediatric cancers.