Mikaela M. Rojas

Mikaela is a first-year Doctoral student in Health Behavior Research at the University of Southern California-Keck School of Medicine. Her research includes youth development and adolescent mental and behavioral health.

This interest stems from her experience navigating adolescence's challenges and witnessing many in the community experiencing similar struggles. Through her personal experience and research, she has become particularly interested in how youth develop adaptive coping skills and how resilience can be fostered and positively impact health trajectories, especially among vulnerable populations. As a research assistant on Project SHARE for 4 years, her research on youth development has deepened her commitment to understanding risk and protective factors.

During her free time, Mikaela loves to travel, spend time with her soul dog Daisy, try new restaurants, and attend concerts.