Rachel-

I was born during a snowstorm on December 11th, 1985 to my parents, Karen and Bob Downs in the now defunct automotive manufacturing town of Flint, MI. My older sister, April, waited at home for me with my grandparents. Three years later, my younger sister, Zanny, was born and our family was complete. I spent my childhood in Ortonville and Clarkston, Michigan playing in the woods and catching bugs and frogs.

In 1999, my family moved to San Diego California. I attended Muirlands Middle School for one year, and then went on to La Jolla High. In 2000 I began my first of many internships at Novartis. In 2004 I finished high school and began attending UCSB in the fall. I just recently graduated with a B.S. in Biological Science, and sure enough, I am back at GNF working as a Scientific Associate. Our research aim is to discover and develop new, more effective therapies for Malaria.

When not working in the lab I love cooking, playing with my two cats Copper and Bobbie, and camping.

Alex–

I was born in San Diego, California, on April 19th, 1984. I spent most of my childhood living in San Diego, but also traveled with my parents, Guillermo and Marianne, and my younger brother Zach. When I was 3 we lived in Barcelona, Spain, and when I was about 12 my mom took a sabbatical and we stayed in Viña del Mar, Chile for 6 months. I have traveled to many countries in Europe, South America & Central America, including France, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador & Chile.

I graduated from Rancho Bernardo High School in 2002, and went to the Laguna College of Art and Design. I graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Illustration and Fine Arts. I currently work at GNF as a machinist and assembly technician, and am considering going back to school for Engineering.

In my spare time I enjoy working on my ‘57 Chevy Bel-Air, raising all of my pets (two snakes and lots of cats), and traveling.