NCPC Tobacco Endgame Cohorts

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 NCPC Tobacco Endgame Interns

William Duenckel | wduenckel@ucmerced.edu

B.A Psychological Sciences 

William is a third year psychology major who is excited to be working with the Nicotine and Cannabis Policy center on tobacco research in the San Joaquin Valley. Since the time he was 10 years old and living in the Burbank area, William has been interested in a career helping others, and he is currently a premedical student at UC Merced. Along his journey, he has observed the regional health disparities present across California and hopes to work with others to improve health care research, policy, and access for those most in need.

Mia Estrada | mestrada35ucmerced.edu

B.S. Bioengineering, Technology Emphasis

Minor in Chemistry 

Mia Estrada is a first-generation college student majoring in Bioengineering with an emphasis in Technology and minoring in Chemistry at UC Merced. She is passionate about pursuing a career in women’s health, with an interest in maternal and reproductive care for underserved communities.

Mia’s interest in pursuing a medical degree strengthened during her medical shadowing internship with Dr. Pinkerton, a family practice physician, where she gained exposure to patient care through observation, patient history taking, and assisting in physical examinations. She has also interned with CollegeCorps, where she engaged in academic activity planning, youth development, and food distribution.

Natali Fuentes  | natalifuentes@ucmerced.edu

B.A Public Health

Minor Business Management 

Natali Fuentes is a proud Mexican-American college student. She is currently a third-year student majoring in Public Health and minoring in Business Management at the University of California, Merced. Natali was born and raised in sunny Southern California. After she finishes her undergraduate studies, she hopes to continue her education and pursue a master’s degree in Public Health. Natali has a passion and drive to help rural communities that do not have access to or the knowledge of healthcare. 

Aida Hassani  | aidahassani@ucmerced.edu

B.A Psychological Sciences

Aida Hassani is a Muslim Moroccan-American from the Bay Area. She is a third year undergraduate student at UC Merced majoring in Psychology and is interested in human behavior and decision making, while also focusing on mental health disorders. Currently she is working with Epperson Lab as a research assistant on a College Health study that is looking into academic anxiety in relation to different demographics. With NCPC she will assist a Public Health Center in the San Joaquin Valley and contribute to public health research as a Tobacco Endgame Intern. Her goal is to continue behavioral psychology research into graduate school, as well as work towards a career in psychology-focused documentary filmmaking.

Evan Martin | emartin268@ucmerced.edu

B.A Health Psychology

B.S. Human Biology

Evan Martin is a fourth-year student at UC Merced, double-majoring in Health Psychology and Human Biology, originally from Escondido, California. He is a pre-medical student with strong interests in health equity and community service. Evan is engaged in research on maternal and infant health, serves in student government, and works in the emergency department as a medical scribe. He hopes to combine his academic, research, and clinical experiences to build a career dedicated to improving patient care and access in underserved communities. 

Camila Sainez  | csainez@ucmerced.edu

B.S. Biological Sciences

Minor in Public Health

Camila Sainez a first-generation Mexican American. She is currently a third-year majoring in Biological Sciences with a human emphasis and minoring in Public Health. Camila plans to graduate in Spring of 2027 and peruse a masters in Biological Sciences strengthen my understanding of human development of human bodies before attending med-school. Camila is driven to work within the healthcare system because of her passion to give back to communities and making a meaningful difference in people’s lives as a provider both physically and mentally. Coming from an underprivileged background, her biggest goal is to make a difference within underprivileged communities and unite the gap in healthcare access and equity. Camila hopes to be seen as a trusted and compassionate presence for individuals within underserved communities and to increase their opportunities and resources available to those who have been overlooked historically.

Jacob Shobel  | jshobel@ucmerced.edu

B.A Psychological Sciences

Jacob is a fourth-year psychology student at the University of California, Merced, from San Francisco, California. His interest in public health issues started when he worked as a research assistant in Dr. Linda Cameron’s Health Communication and Intervention Lab. Here, he learned the effects that childhood adversity had on the health of an individual that could persist throughout their entire lives, with nicotine use being one of the major coping mechanisms.  In the future, he aims to pursue a graduate degree in health psychology and gain experience working with individuals who struggle with addiction and research better methods of coping with hardship and stress.

Sonja Andrews Soto  | sandrews7@ucmerced.edu

B.S. Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

Sonja is a third-year Critical Race and Ethnic Studies major currently on a premedical pathway at UC Merced. She is a first-generation college student enthusiastic about pursuing a career serving her community as an OBGYN. Through her position as a research assistant with the NCPC, she explores race-based health disparities across the Central Valley. She also serves as the Treasurer for the Black Student Coalition, contributing to student advocacy and community-building on campus.

In her free time, she enjoys working out, reading, and doing arts and crafts. Her overall goal is to provide equitable healthcare in her community, specifically focusing on improving Black maternal and infant health outcomes. A fun fact about her is that she goes on an annual camping trip with her family every Fourth of July.