ABE-LA Career Corner Interview (Amaar S.)
From Saturday Workday to UCLA Researcher: Amaar’s Journey in STEM
By: Samantha Leano
Balancing part-time tutoring with the demands of being a full-time student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Amaar Siddiqui exemplifies dedication, curiosity, and purpose. Currently majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics at UCLA, he is conducting research in organic synthesis in the laboratory of Professor Neil Garg.
The Garg laboratory is internationally recognized for challenging long-standing paradigms of chemical reactivity and developing innovative strategies in organic synthesis. Beyond these core areas, the lab collaborates across disciplines such as natural product biosynthesis, green chemistry, solar cell technologies, medical chemistry, and fundamental reactivity studies, an environment that has deeply enriched Amaar’s academic development.
But Amaar’s path to UCLA began years earlier.
His passion for STEM was sparked in the 11th grade at Cleveland Charter High School, where a chemistry course first ignited his fascination with the molecular world. Captivated by the logic and creativity of chemical reactions, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in the field.
He went on to earn his associate degree in biotechnology at Los Angeles Pierce College, where he met Dr. Aron Kamajaya, a pivotal mentor in his journey. In October 2024, Dr. Kamajaya invited Amaar to volunteer at a Saturday Workday through the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) program. That experience would prove transformative.
“I felt inspired and amazed the first time I attended a Saturday Workday,” Amaar recalls. “The mentors were so passionate about their work in biotech. Seeing that made me realize I wanted to inspire others in the same way.”
What began as a volunteer opportunity quickly evolved into deeper involvement. Amaar assisted with teacher workshops, setting up laboratory demonstrations and conducting quality control on reagents to ensure smooth and effective hands-on experience. His reliability and enthusiasm led the Program Coordinator, Samantha Leano, to invite him to serve as a backup mentor for Saturday Workday sessions. Before long, he had become a full mentor, guiding and encouraging students just as he once had been guided.
“What really solidified my decision to stay,” he explains, “was the community of mentors and the ABE program’s mission of making science, especially biotechnology, accessible and affordable to high school students. It drives the hunger for STEM.”
For Amaar, mentorship is about visibility and possibility. “I like seeing new faces and reaching as many students as possible. I want them to know there are so many pathways in STEM, and that their passion can take them further than they imagine.”
Now at UCLA, Amaar hopes to pursue a Ph.D in organic synthesis, continuing to refine his technical expertise under Professor Garg’s mentorship. His research experience has not only strengthened his scientific skills but also affirmed his long-term goal of contributing meaningful discoveries to the field of chemistry.
When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Amaar offers wisdom shaped experience:
“Try harder in your classes, and don’t rush or compare yourself to the people around you. It only hinders your ability to see what you’re truly capable of.”
From a high school student captivated by chemistry to a UCLA researcher and mentor inspiring the next generation, Amaar’s journey is a testament to what happens when curiosity meets opportunity, and when mentorship turns inspiration into impact.