I AM A SCIENTIST

Cesar Arcasi-Matta •  Analytical Chemist

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I am an

ANALYTICAL CHEMIST

Cesar Arcasi-Matta

Presented by Illumina
MY LIFE
MY PATH
MY WORK
FOR YOU
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Music & Dancing.

I grew up surrounded by music and can dance to absolutely anything. My favorite kind of dancing is salsa and anything with a Latin American flare. Once I was invited to dance a traditional Peruvian dance for a cultural event at the House of Peru in Balboa Park, San Diego.

Fashion.

My mom worked multiple jobs, one of which was as a seamstress. I became interested in fashion after the many times she would use me as her mannequin growing up. I use fashion to express myself and love learning about current trends.

Cooking.

I love cooking and can whip up anything from scratch. I also like to draw inspiration from Peruvian cuisine, which has lots of spices and bold flavors.

Sports.

I have been playing sports since a young age. In high school I played for my school’s badminton, soccer, and football teams. Sports have always been a way for me to make friends.

Socializing.

I love hanging out with friends and family. A lot of the activities that I am drawn to have a social aspect to them. From dancing to playing sports or sharing a meal with others, I enjoy being a part of different communities.

A Little About Me

  • I want to help solve society's problems by connecting social and natural sciences.

    I developed a stutter when I moved to the US, which inspired me to learn more about how our biology interacts with our environment.

  • I was the first person in my family to go to college.

    As a first-generation college student, I often had to navigate higher education on my own. My family was always supportive of me, but I had to become resourceful and independent.

  • I’m originally from Peru and grew up deeply connected to my family's culture.

    When I was five years old, my parents came to the United States and I had to transition to a whole new country, culture, and language.

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MY ADVICE

“Don’t get too comfortable. As soon as you get comfortable, you stop learning, and you stop being at the forefront of your craft."

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WHO I AM

People describe me as..

  • Caring

    I care deeply about my friends, family, and community. I’m always looking out for their well-being and showing support where I can.

  • Driven

    To gain more research experience, I applied myself at Illumina. I started in a part-time position but worked my way to a full-time research position.

  • Meticulous

    As a scientist, I am responsible for making sure things are done correctly. It’s my responsibility to pay close attention to detail and strive for the best outcome in an experiment.

My accomplishments:

B.A. in Anthropology with Highest Distinction from University of California, San Diego

MS in Chemistry from University of California, San Diego

My job:

Pronouns: He/Him

Title: Scientist II

Institution: Illumina

Expertise: Analytical Chemistry; Materials Science; Molecular Biology; Biological Anthropology

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Where to follow me:

LINKEDIN →

“Once you get into the sciences, it changes your way of seeing the world completely. Or at least it did for me."

— CESAR ARCASI-MATTA
MY PATH →

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tchanavia Lastie • Illustrator: Eira Gemanil

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