2020-21 Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences Student Fellows
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Sydney K Hecimovich
Sydney is a third-year law student at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Sydney graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in Biology and a certificate in criminal justice. Her 1L summer, she worked as a law clerk at the Attorney General’s office in criminal appeals. Her 2L summer, she worked as a summer associate at Thorpe North & Western on their intellectual property litigation team. Sydney is passionate about promoting women in the legal field, particularly in male-dominated fields like intellectual property. She is active in the Univerisity of Utah’s Woman Law Caucus, among other student organizations. This year, she is excited about learning more about data use and privacy in her role as a fellow with the office of VP research. In her free time, Sydney enjoys walking with her dog, Baxter, and hiking in the mountains.
Darian M. Hackney
Darian is a second-year law student at the S. J. Quinney College of Law, and currently serves as the Vice President for the University of Utah’s First Generation Law Students Organization. She graduated from Utah Valley University in 2018 with a B.A. in Political Science with Minors in Russian Studies and Philosophy. Darian spent her 1L summer working as a law clerk for Stirba P.C., a trial and appellate practice law firm in Salt Lake City. Darian is interested in Intellectual Property, Immigration, and International Law. In her free time Darian enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, and traveling.
Ryan J. Jensen
Ryan is now part of the class of 2021 at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. Ryan studied philosophy and economics as an undergraduate student at the University of Utah. He has worked for four law firms, including one year devoted to medical malpractice. He is interested in business, real estate, and medical malpractice law. Ryan’s interests include rock climbing, mountain biking, basketball, and ping pong.
Diana Olmedo Alfaro
Diana is a second-year student at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2019 with a B.S. in Political Science and Psychology. Diana is involved with multiple organizations on campus like the Student Immigration Law Association and is a representative for If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice. She is a first-generation student and her interests are primarily in family law and legal and policy issues related to immigration. Outside of school, Diana enjoys spending with her niece and nephew, reading, and going to concerts.
Daniel Robinson
Daniel is a second-year law student at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 2018 with a B.S. in Public Health, with an emphasis in environmental and occupational health. He is involved in multiple student organizations including the Health Law club and the J. Reuban Clark Law Society. Outside of school, he enjoys cooking, roller blading, and playing guitar.
Kyle Schultz
Kyle is a third-year law student at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. He received a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. During his 1L summer, Kyle interned at the Utah Supreme Court with Justice Paige Petersen. Prior to beginning law school, Kyle worked as a bartender and a lab assistant at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research. He is interested in bioethics, intellectual property, and health law. Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife and two-year-old daughter, playing soccer and paddle sports, as well as bonsai. His fellowship is sponsored by the Utah Center for Excellence in ELSI Research (UCEER).
Karthik Sonty
Karthik is a second-year student at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. His research focus involves the legal and ethical framework surrounding emergent genetic biotechnology, clinical trial design, and medical data ownership. Before attending law school, Karthik served as the Senior Technical Writer for the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute. There, he designed clinical research protocols compliant with federal regulation and co-authored multiple papers in the treatment of high grade brain tumors. Karthik studied Philosophy and Religious Studies at Colby College. In his free time, Karthik enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and trail running with his golden retriever, Milly.