Department

Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Weaver

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

Yes, research was definitely one of my goals in attending undergraduate school, and I entered Wake knowing that there were many opportunities to mentor with professors.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

I actually learned about URECA on one of my student-led tours before I entered Wake Forest. Last summer my roommate conducted research in coordination with the Richter Scholarship, which encouraged me to pursue my own project this year.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

I wanted to pursue research because I am interested in going to Graduate School for Psychology, and I knew research would better prepare me for my future academic endeavors.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

My mentor constantly provides me with opportunities to analyze data and write papers so that I can have authorship and experience in research. She has also helped me design my own project so that I could present at the SNCURS Conference this weekend.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

URECA has given me excellent experience for Graduate School. It was great affirmation to be acknowledged by the university center and to be able to present my research at the state level.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

I highly encourage students to reach out to professors and faculty members for mentorship. I have worked in three different labs and am so encouraged by their active involvement in students’ lives.

Department

Faculty Mentors: Morna O’Neill and Jake Ruddiman

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

No, I actually did not anticipate or seek the opportunity to pursue mentored research when I first entered Wake as a freshman.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

My faculty advisor Morna O’Neill informed me about the URECA Center my sophomore year.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

I wrote my first research paper the first semester of my freshman year, and I actually really enjoyed it. I found myself spending time with books in the library, compiling and analyzing information, and learned that I love research.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

I have a very close relationship with Dr. Morna O’Neill. She is really open and so much fun to work with! I always look forward to talking with her and Dr. Jake Ruddiman. Dr. Ruddiman taught me how to analyze big picture information and structure my writing to best convey a specific message.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

URECA has had a very positive impact on my scholarship. It made me realize that I am definitely a scholar at heart, and it inspired me to develop ideas about my future at a very crucial time, the summer before my senior year. I am very interested in working in an art museum researching future exhibitions and presenting history to the public in an interesting way.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

Mentored research is a fantastic opportunity that is very unique to Wake Forest. It is indicative of the scholarly atmosphere on campus because it encourages faculty-student collaboration in a way that ignites new passions in a student’s studies.

Department

Faculty Mentor: Steve Giles

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

Yes, the opportunity to pursue research was a major quality that drew me to Wake, and the availability of funding and scholarships was especially attractive.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

I actually did not find out about URECA until after I had started my research project. Fortunately, my professors and advisors heavily promoted the center, and I took their advice to look into the program.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

I have a lot of questions, which is why research is so appealing to me. My proposal looked at how the socio-economic environment in Nicaragua affected the availability of health care. I worked with an organization, AMOS, to inform community members how to implement positive health tips in everyday life.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

I met one the faculty members, Professor Giles, during a pre-orientation program at Wake my freshman year. He was very helpful in finding me connections in Nicaragua and facilitated conversations about community health and eating behaviors, topics I am extremely interested in.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

I have learned to take more advantage of the professors at Wake and the wisdom they have to offer. Ironically, the project actually made me unsure of what I want to do in the long run. I am currently on the track for medical school, but I am more open to working hands-on with community members on an international level.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

Some thing I learned through my experience was not to have one specific goal set in mind. Rather than following my original proposal, the research took a completely different approach and opened up my mind to new possibilities regarding scholarship and work.

Department: Chemistry

Faculty Mentor: Patricia Dos Santos

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

I knew the option was available, but it did not really excite me as a first year student. I became interested when I learned about the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and to gain a deeper understanding of chemistry topics through research.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

I had a couple of friends who participated in summer research projects the year before, and studying chemistry seemed like a better way to spend the summer than waiting tables at a retirement facility back home. URECA offered a great opportunity to become more involved in Wake Forest and the community as a whole.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

A component of the Chemistry major requires students to conduct a semester of research for credit. After the spring of my junior year, I decided to continue my project during the summer and into my senior year.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

It has been a great experience working with Dr. Dos Santos. She encourages independent thought in experiments while also maintaining high expectations. She drives a very motivated group of students and provides a fun atmosphere in the lab. I have learned how much value can be placed on an education that you seek out for yourself. You gain such a deeper appreciation for science when you actually investigate it rather than simply read about it in a textbook.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

Having the ability to focus on a single topic for an entire summer and make progress on a project has inspired me towards a future career in which there is a less of a balancing act between academics and extracurricular activities. I am excited to be able to focus all of my energy into a project I am passionate about.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

Looking back to when I was applying to college four years ago, I do not think it would have been possible to conduct undergraduate research at this level at any other school. One of the greatest qualities of Wake Forest is the opportunity to work personally with mentors. The professors are eager to work with students, and I truly feel the Wake Forest family in the lab and in the community at large.

Department: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Patricia Wilson

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I came with anticipation of doing research here. I hadn’t even thought that research was something that I would be interested in pursuing. However, during my freshmen year at another institution I picked up a TIME magazine about a piece on Regenerative Medicine and how they researchers had just created an artificial heart from stem cells. It really caught my interest, and I began looking more into this field and realized that Wake Forest had a renowned program. When transferring schools, I took this into consideration. Once here, I was really impressed with Dr. Wilson and Dr. Atala and the Institute of Regenerative Medicine and this really fueled all the work I have done here.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

I have had connections with the URECA center for the past two summers. I did a Richter fellowship after my sophomore year in Nepal where I studied the influence of the caste system on health care services.  Also, after my junior year, I did the faculty mentor fellowship to study the properties of multinucleated amniotic cells. I learned about the Richter fellowship and the URECA center from a friend who had been previously involved with the center.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

I never thought that I would be interested in research but the Institute of Regenerative medicine at Wake is incredible. I specifically had an interest with neuronal regeneration, which led me to Dr. Wilson. I read many of her published papers and met with her and we really connected well. She has been an incredible mentor and I can attribute all my accomplishments in research to her and her patience.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

The relationships I have had with faculty members have been invaluable. The most important thing that I’ve learned is to not be afraid to ask challenging questions. My interaction with Dr. Dan Johnson at Wake Forest specifically has made an influence on the way I think and process information. His class on the Biology of Aging and Cancer biology rekindled my passion in the future of medicine and how we must always be asking questions and challenging assumed theories to move forward in science.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

URECA has really helped me capture the essence of what it means to attend a liberal arts institution. I’ve been able to partake in the humanities through my research in Nepal and delve in the sciences through work in Regenerative medicine. Through URECA, I have become a more globally aware person, as well as a more inquisitive person. It’s expanded the way I think about the world and academia. It’s also made me much more passionate in pursuing a career centered on the combining of research and clinical medicine.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

I’ve had such an amazing time at Wake Forest and I can’t thank URECA enough for providing them for me. I’m going to Duke this weekend to present at SNCURCS and I couldn’t be more proud to be a Demon Deacon!

Department: Chemistry

Faculty Mentor: Christos Constantinidis

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

Yes, I very much looked forward to pursuing undergraduate research, but I did not think that I would have the opportunity so early in my studies.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

I actually found a research position second semester freshman year. I met my mentor, Christos Constantinidis, through my work study position at Baptist. I also had friends who conducted research the summer after freshman year, which encouraged me to apply the summer after sophomore year.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

I plan to attend medical school after Wake Forest, and I knew I wanted to conduct research as an undergraduate. My research in neuroscience consists of studying the structure of neurons in the brain and short term memory in monkeys and humans.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

Christos Constantinidis is a professor at the medical center of neuroscience and has been extremely supportive. He allows me to exercise creativity and is always willing to provide feedback. The post-doctoral students I work with have also been very helpful. For example, one taught me how to code our department’s computer programs.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

URECA granted me a summer stipend that enabled me to pursue research while living on campus. I appreciate that the center encourages independence and provides resources for its students.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

I highly recommend everyone to pursue research, regardless of subject matter. It is a great opportunity to partner with a faculty mentor and learn the tricks of the trade!

Department: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Miriam Ashley-Ross

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

No, I actually did not know about undergraduate research opportunities at Wake Forest until Sophomore year.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

Sophomore year my academic advisor informed me about the opportunity to work with the URECA center. I began conducting research fall of my junior year and received a stipend the summer after to further pursue my project.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

In order to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology, you have to take a course in research methods. It was during this class that I met my faculty advisor, Dr. Ashley-Ross. I wanted to conduct a study in biology and loved working with animal test subjects. Currently, we are studying a rare type of fish that is able to breathe and walk on land for up to three weeks.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

Dr. Ashley-Ross is very easy to talk to; I meet with her at least once a week, if not more. I also worked very closely with a graduate student over the summer, and he and I still see each other two to three times a week. They have both taught me a lot about patience as well as the basics of conducting scientific research.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

URECA funded my research over the summer, which made me feel that what I was doing mattered. Although I performed studies during the semester, being offered a stipend gave meaning and inspiration to my work.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

It has been a great experience. Wake Forest provides many resources through URECA for students to pursue research. I am actually flying out to San Francisco in January to present my findings at the SIFB National Conference.

Department: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Bill Connor

When you entered Wake Forest as a first-year student, did you anticipate being able to pursue research with a faculty member?

No, I actually was not even expecting to be a science major let alone perform research as an undergraduate at Wake Forest.

How and when did you learn about mentored research and the URECA Center?

After my freshman year science class with Dr. Bill Connor I decided to pursue biology. I heard students talking about URECA from the very beginning, and professors promoted the center in the classrooms.

What led you to become involved in research as an undergraduate?

I was very interested in what I learned in biology class, and I saw the summer stipend as a great opportunity to see if research was something I wanted to incorporate in my future career plans.

Can you describe the relationship you have had with some of your faculty members?  What did you learn?  How did you learn that?

I have a really great relationship with my faculty mentor, Bill Connor, and I know I can talk to him about my own life as well as academia. He taught me how to design an experiment, and I discovered a new-found love for research. I spent the summer in a lab investigating treatments for a form of autism.

How has URECA influenced your ideas about scholarship and your life passions or work?

URECA helped me realize that I want research to be a part of my career and future plans. I am currently learning about higher methods of research in my senior biology classes, and participating in my own studies this summer has helped me get more out of the courses.

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience doing mentored research?

It is a great opportunity to discover something you are passionate about. After graduation I am taking a gap year to conduct additional research while applying to medical school.