Dr. Rana grew up in the California central valley and moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA as an undergraduate. A former first-generation college student, Rana is a triple Bruin now. After earning her B.S. and M.S. in Physiological Sciences (PHYSCI), Rana completed her doctorate in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology at UCLA while conducting spinal cord injury research. She went on to investigate glioblastoma development at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, then joined the Life Sciences Core Education Department to teach introductory biology and physiology courses. When Rana is not working, she likes to stay active, usually in the great outdoors, connecting with nature. On campus, you might see her DIYing at the Makerspace or gardening (more like playing with dirt) at the Healthy Campus Initiative Community Garden at Sunset Recreation. Off-campus, she loves visiting the Getty Center, exploring various Los Angeles museums, and indulging in her somewhat unhealthy habit of escape rooms.