My journey to the field of scientific research began when I entered my first semester of college at Northern Arizona University (NAU). As a freshman I was eager to chase any opportunity that could potentially help expand my scientific skillset. During this search, I encountered an NIH funded program known as the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD). This opportunity was geared to minority students who were interested in gaining lab experience while getting paid for the research they conducted. After applying and getting accepted, I found myself practicing cell culture with a PhD student at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM) lab under the mentorship of Dr. Kellar.
After joining the TERM laboratory, I was assigned to a project that focused on arsenic contamination and its impacts on wound healing. Little did I know this project would help develop my entire professional skills in and outside of the lab. Over the years of working on this project I was able to gain valuable skillsets such as learning how to conduct independent research using human dermal fibroblasts (hDFn) for various cell-based assays. In addition to skills inside the lab, outside of the lab I was successfully presenting my work to the scientific community nationally and internationally.
The craving to expand my knowledge led me to an opportunity that gave students the chance to investigate health disparities in a variety of countries. The Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT) program gave me the resources to travel to the Philippines and conduct research within the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). During my time at IRRI, I conducted molecular work in order to determine the genetic susceptibility different rice crops were experiencing from the bacterium Philippines Xanthomonas. After the duration of the program, I came back home with a growing interest in the area of health disparities and communities with limited resources.
That interest continued to grow and I eventually found myself applying for another NIH funded program where I could obtain my master’s degree while getting paid for the research conducted. After being accepted, I decided to go back to my roots and expand the project that I had originally worked on into a totally new direction. That brings us to the present day where instead of analyzing how arsenic impacts the role of wound healing, I am looking at the effects of both arsenic and uranium water contamination on zebrafish behavior and early development.
After joining the TERM laboratory, I was assigned to a project that focused on arsenic contamination and its impacts on wound healing. Little did I know this project would help develop my entire professional skills in and outside of the lab. Over the years of working on this project I was able to gain valuable skillsets such as learning how to conduct independent research using human dermal fibroblasts (hDFn) for various cell-based assays. In addition to skills inside the lab, outside of the lab I was successfully presenting my work to the scientific community nationally and internationally.
The craving to expand my knowledge led me to an opportunity that gave students the chance to investigate health disparities in a variety of countries. The Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT) program gave me the resources to travel to the Philippines and conduct research within the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). During my time at IRRI, I conducted molecular work in order to determine the genetic susceptibility different rice crops were experiencing from the bacterium Philippines Xanthomonas. After the duration of the program, I came back home with a growing interest in the area of health disparities and communities with limited resources.
That interest continued to grow and I eventually found myself applying for another NIH funded program where I could obtain my master’s degree while getting paid for the research conducted. After being accepted, I decided to go back to my roots and expand the project that I had originally worked on into a totally new direction. That brings us to the present day where instead of analyzing how arsenic impacts the role of wound healing, I am looking at the effects of both arsenic and uranium water contamination on zebrafish behavior and early development.
Interested in Learning More? Check Out My CV!
Link to CV: orl_cv_v6_2020.pdf