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Fred was the first member of his family to complete high school, college, and advanced post-graduate education. Fred obtained his Masters in Biochemistry at the California State University, Northridge, where his thesis focused on studying the interplay between auxiliary proteins, polymerases, and distinct DNA structural intermediates required to adequately maintain genomic repair mechanisms.
He then moved to the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, studying critical components of cytoskeletal dynamics and turnover, where he leveraged single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and complementary biophysical and biochemical studies to elucidate regulatory mechanisms governing cell migration—a process that is compromised in metastatic cancers—focusing on the multisubunit Arp2/3 complex, a foundational component of branched actin networks ubiquitously utilized for various key cellular processes such as vesicular transport, endocytosis and membrane dynamics. His thesis work uncovered a novel regulatory hotspot on this complex, providing an additional layer of understanding of the mechanisms governing the metastatic cascade in cancer.
Fred is also involved in outreach efforts, giving yearly virtual panel talks at his undergraduate institution to inspire the next generation of underrepresented scientists and being a member of non-profit organizations such as the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and Latinos in Bio. He has also been a research mentor to high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students and continues to seek similar mentorship opportunities.
Fred is currently a Scientist on the Platform Team at General Proximity, where he leverages his expertise in cryo-EM to provide structural insights in protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions to aid in characterizing the biochemical and biophysical properties of these interactions and accelerate GP’s translational development of novel induced-proximity modalities to the clinic. Outside the lab, Fred enjoys exploring the city for great restaurants and breweries, running, lifting weights, climbing, and attending concerts and diverse music events.
