Cesar Arcasi-Matta • Analytical Chemist

I am an

ANALYTICAL CHEMIST

Cesar Arcasi-Matta

Presented by Illumina

MY LIFE

MY PATH

MY WORK

FOR YOU

Featured

Music & Dancing.

I grew up surrounded by music and can dance to absolutely anything. My favorite kind of dancing is salsa and anything with a Latin American flare. Once I was invited to dance a traditional Peruvian dance for a cultural event at the House of Peru in Balboa Park, San Diego.

Fashion.

My mom worked multiple jobs, one of which was as a seamstress. I became interested in fashion after the many times she would use me as her mannequin growing up. I use fashion to express myself and love learning about current trends.

Cooking.

I love cooking and can whip up anything from scratch. I also like to draw inspiration from Peruvian cuisine, which has lots of spices and bold flavors.

Sports.

I have been playing sports since a young age. In high school I played for my school’s badminton, soccer, and football teams. Sports have always been a way for me to make friends.

Socializing.

I love hanging out with friends and family. A lot of the activities that I am drawn to have a social aspect to them. From dancing to playing sports or sharing a meal with others, I enjoy being a part of different communities.

A Little About Me

I want to help solve society's problems by connecting social and natural sciences.

I developed a stutter when I moved to the US, which inspired me to learn more about how our biology interacts with our environment.
I was the first person in my family to go to college.

As a first-generation college student, I often had to navigate higher education on my own. My family was always supportive of me, but I had to become resourceful and independent.
I’m originally from Peru and grew up deeply connected to my family's culture.

When I was five years old, my parents came to the United States and I had to transition to a whole new country, culture, and language.

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MY ADVICE

“Don’t get too comfortable. As soon as you get comfortable, you stop learning, and you stop being at the forefront of your craft."

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WHO I AM

People describe me as..

Caring

I care deeply about my friends, family, and community. I’m always looking out for their well-being and showing support where I can.
Driven

To gain more research experience, I applied myself at Illumina. I started in a part-time position but worked my way to a full-time research position.
Meticulous

As a scientist, I am responsible for making sure things are done correctly. It’s my responsibility to pay close attention to detail and strive for the best outcome in an experiment.

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My accomplishments:

B.A. in Anthropology with Highest Distinction from University of California, San Diego

MS in Chemistry from University of California, San Diego

My job:

Pronouns: He/Him

Title: Scientist II

Institution: Illumina

Expertise: Analytical Chemistry; Materials Science; Molecular Biology; Biological Anthropology

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Where to follow me:

LINKEDIN →

“Once you get into the sciences, it changes your way of seeing the world completely. Or at least it did for me."

— CESAR ARCASI-MATTA

MY PATH →

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tchanavia Lastie • Illustrator: Eira Gemanil

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I am an

ANALYTICAL CHEMIST

Cesar Arcasi-Matta

I want to help solve society's problems by connecting social and natural sciences.

“Don’t get too comfortable. As soon as you get comfortable, you stop learning, and you stop being at the forefront of your craft."

WHO I AM

Caring

My accomplishments:

My job:

Where to follow me:

“Once you get into the sciences, it changes your way of seeing the world completely. Or at least it did for me."

Looking for teacher resources?