Nic was born in Santiago, Chile and immigrated to Los Angeles, California when he was 7 years old. After bouncing around the west coast, his family settled down in Beaverton, Oregon. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, where he studied Biology, Chemistry, and Economics. Upon joining Dr. Diana Libuda’s laboratory, Nic studied DNA repair during sperm and egg development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Working directly under the then postdoctoral fellow Dr. Cori Cahoon, Nic explored how elevated temperatures affect sperm cell development in male C. elegans. Following graduation, he then joined the Malik lab in 2024 as a post-baccalaureate researcher. In the Malik lab, Nic has had the chance to work on several projects under the mentorship of lab manager Aida de la Cruz. He leads his own research project on centromere biology, using the fruit fly system Drosophila melanogaster. Nic is interested in studying the genetic conflicts at centromeres to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying evolutionary arms races. Outside of lab, Nic enjoys a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities. When relaxing at home he enjoys cooking, playing video games, and watching sports games. He also loves hiking with friends and going to the gym.