Grace Peterson

Biography

Grace Peterson earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Biological Sciences, cum laude, from the University of California, Irvine. Her undergraduate research focused on peptide chemistry and biochemistry, including evaluating peptide sequence effects on the stability of peptide-heme bonds using alanine scanning methods at the UCI Samueli School of Engineering. She also contributed to neurodiversity research projects at Stanford University School of Medicine, supporting initiatives such as the Adult Autism Phenotype Project and the DIVERSE Project Neurodiversity at Work Program.

Peterson received the UCI Physical Sciences Advancing Inclusive Excellence Award for organizing a UCI Neurodiversity Conference, and was a recipient of the Nika Nikopour Foundation Scholarship for her neurodiversity advocacy work. She has presented her research at multiple conferences, including the UCI Department of Chemistry SoCal Undergraduate Research Symposium and the UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Beyond her academic and research work, Peterson has accumulated extensive clinical experience, logging over 600 hours as a COPE Health Scholar at Hoag Hospital across multiple departments including labor and delivery, oncology, and the Sub-ICU. She holds a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential and Basic Life Support certification through the American Heart Association, continues to volunteer at UCI Health, and completed her CNA clinical training at French Park Nursing Home in 2025.

Education

• B.S. in Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 2025
• B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, 2025

Distinctions

• UCI OC American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award, 2025
• UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Fellowship, 2024-2025
• UCI Physical Sciences Office of Inclusion Fellowship, 2024
• UCIAA OC Scholarship Recipient, 2022
• Hoag Hospital Jr. Auxiliary Julie Jacobson Scholarship Recipient, 2020
• UCI Tau Sigma Honor Society, 2022-2025
• UCI Dean's Honors (8 quarters)
• Nika Nikopour Foundation Scholarship Recipient, 2024