About Me
Hi, I'm Erika—welcome to my website!
I care about people, precision, and possibility. I am passionate about science that changes lives, photographs that hold onto memory, and stories that tell reality. Whether in the lab, behind a camera, or talking into a mic, I always return to the question: Who is this for? To me, science and humanity are inseparable. They share a common hope: that discovery respects dignity, and that medicine truly helps the people it's meant to serve.
Photography
Photography was my first way of paying attention. I started with a toy camera—plastic, bright pink, nothing fancy. But it made me look. Still, it wasn't until I stepped into a darkroom that I began understanding what it truly means to see.
Nothing is instant there. You wait. You trust. Every image depends on chemistry, patience, and precision—the qualities I love about science. It's a fascinating connection between art and all aspects of humanity, using the scientific principles that govern how we see the world.
Science, Research & Medicine
I'm fascinated by the brain—how it remembers, how it forgets, and how we might be able to help it heal. In the Tsai Lab at MIT, I research Alzheimer's disease [and Down syndrome], not just out of curiosity, but because it's personal. My twin sister has Down syndrome. She's the reason I started asking tough questions. And she's why I won't stop at just understanding. I want to help find a cure for this devastating disease. From this came Portraits of Alzheimer's and What Memory Leaves Behind, a photo-narrative project using photography to preserve what the disease threatens to erase. The science is powerful. But what always stays with me is the people—their faces, their stories behind the data.
Podcast
The Endless Pursuit—Equitable Science and Medicine is my podcast dedicated to closing the gap between discovery and access. Far too often, life-changing breakthroughs stay out of reach for those who need them most. I believe science shouldn't be a privilege. On the podcast, I talk with doctors, researchers, advocates, and experts about what it truly takes to make healthcare more equitable. We talk about the science, the systems, the challenges, and the real work needed to move ideas into action. My ultimate goal with this podcast? To inspire listeners to become advocates for change.