2026 ViSUR Program Cohort

We are pleased to welcome five new students to this year’s Vision Science Undergraduate Research (ViSUR) program: Lucia Cisneros, Alex Lersten, Ketaki Mijar, Sophia Tsai, and Nicky Tran. ViSUR is an 8-week intensive summer program in which undergraduate students are given the opportunity to work in a vision science lab with a faculty advisor on a research project. In addition to a $5,000 stipend, all housing and travel expenses are coordinated and provided by UC Berkeley.

Get to know each ViSUR student by reading their profiles below!

Lucia Cisneros

Home Institution: UCLA
Major: Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

"My name is Lucia Cisneros, and I am a rising fourth-year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major with a minor in Biomedical Research at UCLA. I am originally from Turlock, California, a city in California’s Central Valley.

This summer, I will be working in the Fleiszig Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Fleiszig and Dr. Abboud, researching contact lens-related bacterial infections. Through this experience, I hope to learn new skills, gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the eye, and contribute to research that informs patient care. I look forward to carrying this foundation with me into a future career in optometry and vision science."

Alex Lersten

Home Institution: William & Mary
Major: Neuroscience and Public Health

"I am a rising junior at William & Mary majoring in Neuroscience and Public Health. I am very interested in researching the intersection of vision science, eye care accessibility, and pediatric eye health. This summer, I will be working in Dr. Harb’s lab researching pediatric myopia, specifically treatment outcomes and the use of wearable technologies in optometric research.

I look forward to learning about how clinical research can be translated into meaningful improvements in patient care and how the myopia control treatment process can vary among patients."

Ketaki Mijar

Home Institution: North Carolina State University
Major: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

"I am a rising sophomore at North Carolina State University studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. This summer, I will be working in the Wildsoet Lab, focusing on myopia and the environmental factors that contribute to its development and progression. I look forward to gaining experience in vision science research and learning more about the mechanisms underlying ocular disorders."

Sophia Tsai

Home Institution: UC Berkeley
Major: Bioengineering

"Hello! My name is Sophia Tsai, and I’m a rising junior from Tucson, Arizona. I am currently studying Bioengineering at UC Berkeley, and I look forward to learning more about amacrine cell function. I am excited to learn new laboratory skills with Professor Taylor in the Retina Lab!"

Nicky Tran

Home Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Major: Neuroscience

"My name is Nicky Tran, and I am from Boston, Massachusetts. I major in Neuroscience at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a minor in Information Technology, and I am a member of the Honors College. This summer, I have the pleasure of working with Dr. Jorge Otero-Millan and Dr. Meng Lin on a pilot study within the Ocular Motor Lab on the intersection between eye physiology, engineering, and neuroscience through using technology to learn more about the possibilities of novel quantifications of blink behavior. I am also honored to be named a CIVO Junior Fellow!"

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