Cesar Arcasi-Matta •  Analytical Chemist

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I am an

ANALYTICAL CHEMIST

Cesar Arcasi-Matta

Presented by Illumina
MY PATH

How I became a dancer, fashion designer, and analytical chemist.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My Mom

    While my stutter made school challenging at times, I was lucky to have a few big advocates in my life, like my mom.

  • Peruvian Culture

    My world-view is deeply rooted in my Peruvian culture. The food, dance, and cultural norms that I am drawn to are often Peruvian.

  • Community Service

    I drew a lot of inspiration from volunteering in Peru. To this day, most of the work that I do centers around serving my community.

Science was never a big thing in my family growing up.

In high school, I cared a lot more about soccer, friends, and fashion (and still do!). The older I got, the more I started paying attention to myself and the community and issues around me, and the more questions I had.

Major Milestones

Returning to Peru

After high school, I went on a missionary trip back to Peru where I saw poverty and health inequalities. When I returned, I was determined to help my home country and decided to start by learning as much as I could. My first step was enrolling in community college.

Pursuing Biological Anthropology

I decided to pursue becoming a scientist and a professor of Biological Anthropology after realizing that I could combine the perspectives and insights of anthropology with biology or chemistry.

Working at Illumina

I got hired as a part-time lab aid where I started out doing small tasks like maintaining equipment. Working in Biotech has allowed me to learn from scientists who specialize in various fields of the natural sciences. This has focused my interest in Chemistry.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Challenges are learning opportunities.

    I was thrown into a completely new culture at a young age, worked through a stutter, and navigated being a first-generation college student. The challenges I’ve faced along my journey have been opportunities to learn about myself and develop new skills.

  • Creativity is a strength.

    I like finding the most creative way to get to an outcome. Whether it is in my scientific endeavors, the way that I cook, dance, dress myself, or approach a problem, I see my creativity as one of my greatest assets.

  • Service is very rewarding.

    Serving my community actually sparked my interest in science. I like approaching life with an attitude of service. It feels very fulfilling to have a positive impact on others.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tchanavia Lastie • Illustrator: Eira Gemanil

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