Yukie earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science and neuroscience from Pomona College in Claremont, California. During her undergraduate years, she received several notable honors, including being named a Grew Bancroft Scholar (2021–2025), an Amgen Scholar (2023), and a Pomona College Scholar (2022). In recognition of her academic excellence and contributions to the department, she was awarded the 2025 Senior Prize in Neuroscience, given to the top graduating senior in the field.
At Pomona, Yukie conducted neurobiology research on stress and memory with Dr. Jonathan King. As a 2023 Amgen Scholar at the National University of Singapore, she contributed to cryo-EM projects in Dr. Tan Yong Zi’s lab, focusing on the intersection of structural biology and artificial intelligence. In 2024, she worked with Dr. Yurui Gao and Dr. Bennet Landman at Vanderbilt University School of Engineering to study white matter changes in Alzheimer’s disease using functional MRI.
These diverse research experiences deepened Yukie’s passion for studying Alzheimer’s disease through imaging techniques, ultimately leading her to pursue a PhD in Imaging Science at Washington University in St. Louis.
Outside of academics, Yukie enjoys exploring new places, staying active, and spending quality time with her friends and family.