From the Canal to Chemistry

The first three episodes of Become A Researcher introduces Juan Castillo, Ph.D.

He is an alumnus of San Francisco State University’s NIH-funded undergraduate research program SF BUILD. He has a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from SFSU and a PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of California, Davis. Castillo currently works as a research scientist for Gilead Sciences, where he focuses on small molecule therapeutics to help people with life-threatening diseases.

Castillo grew up in the Canal neighborhood in San Rafael, California, a low-income immigrant community where he experienced the presence of violence and drugs. To keep him out of trouble, Castillo's mother signed him up to an after school program at a bicycle shop that taught kids how to fix bikes. His interest in math and science began in high school, where he started connecting lessons from physics class to his real-world experiences riding his bike.

In his episodes, Castillo talks about how his late mother inspired him to pursue his education and embrace the ups and downs of his journey. He signed up for community college after his mother passed away and ended up becoming a top student in his classes.

After he graduated from SFSU, he went to Mexico where his mother is buried, and placed a sticker on her tombstone that said “SFSU mom.” Years later, Castillo returned, placing another sticker that read “UC Davis mom.”

“My mother was a huge part of my journey and is the backbone of who I am today," Castillo said. "It's an incredible feeling to share my mother's story and give the viewers my reason for pursuing an education. I did it for her.”

Castillo said he wants to inspire others and be a role model. He likes to participate in outreach programs as an authentic role model and share educational experiences with historically underrepresented students in science.

“I hope with these videos I can inspire others who look like me to pursue a career in science and they too can obtain a higher education degree in anything they set their minds to,” he said.