Student Experience
Life Beyond the Redwoods: Owen Moosman at UC San Francisco
One year after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Owen Moosman (Stevenson ’25, molecular, cell & developmental biology) is working as a research associate in the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department at the University of California, San Francisco.
Owen Moosman graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2025 with a degree in molecular, cell and developmental biology.
Owen Moosman (Stevenson ’25, molecular, cell & developmental biology) chose to attend UC Santa Cruz for its recognition in genomics and RNA research. As a student at the university, Moosman was heavily involved in undergraduate research opportunities, providing him with the tools he needed to continue research after graduation.
Now one year after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Moosman is working as a research associate in the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department at the University of California, San Francisco.
In his current role at UCSF, Moosman performs experiments and analysis to investigate human autoimmune responses. He says he enjoys working in a dynamic environment, constantly interfacing with scientists, doctors, and students alike.
“My favorite part is that I am always working on something different, and that there are always a million questions to answer,” Moosman said. “It is satisfying to always be asking questions and expanding on my knowledge to try to answer them.”
Moosman credits his undergraduate research experience with helping him gain hands-on experience outside of the classroom that prepared him for his career. Moosman was part of the Treehouse Undergraduate Bioinformatics Immersion group (TUBI), a dedicated training initiative that engages early undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds in pediatric cancer bioinformatics research. He was also part of Joanna Kelley’s lab in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, researching the adaptation of fish to extreme environments.
“I was exposed to diverse research experiences during my time at UC Santa Cruz. This not only helped me decide what kind of career I wanted to pursue, but also taught me invaluable skills that made me a competitive candidate for future prospects.”
In addition to his research experience, Moosman was a peer advisor at the Stevenson College Advising Office, helping fellow students navigate general university processes, course enrollment, GE requirements, and connect with campus resources.
Looking forward in his career, Moosman plans to one day pursue a Ph.D. and continue in healthcare research.
Life Beyond the Redwoods features 10 Class of 2025 alumni who share how their time at UC Santa Cruz prepared them to launch their careers one year after graduation.