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Nikki Huynh
Nikki Huynh
Nikki Huynh is majoring in biomedical sciences at UCF and is on the molecular microbiology track for her major. She currently researches Clostridium Difficile under the mentorship of Dr. William Self. The project entails utilizing an antimicrobial that is secreted from corals, Pupenhenone, to see its potency on the bacterium, C. difficile. Using different concentrations of the antimicrobials, the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) can be identified for the targeted Clostridium Difficile. In the future, Nikki will pursue a master’s degree in microbiology or food sciences. She hopes to have a career in biotechnology or a food related industry.
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Miguel Jimenez
Miguel Jimenez
Miguel Angel Jimenez pursues a major in molecular biology and microbiology, and a minor in medieval and Renaissance studies. He has worked in basic science labs on cancer and neuroscience research and is currently completing a thesis on brain tumor biology. Along with his oncology research, Miguel studies the philosophical and theological aspects of early modern Spanish literature. He has received numerous scholarships and research awards, plays the flute, is fluent in Spanish, volunteers at a health clinic for the uninsured, and founded a registered student organization to fight child sex trafficking. After graduation, Miguel hopes to attend a top-tier medical school, where he will pursue a career in academic medicine. He plans on becoming a neurosurgeon at a teaching hospital, where he can contribute to medical education and lead groundbreaking research in neurological diseases.
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Jeslin Kera
Jeslin Kera
Jeslin Kera came to the United States at 14 years of age. She is majoring in biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida in hopes of becoming a medical doctor. She volunteers regularly in nursing homes for senior citizens, making it her second home. Throughout her academic career, she has served as a Supplemental Instructions Leader for various classes, including human anatomy and organic chemistry courses. Her extensive experience in volunteering earned her a promotion as mentor to all UCF tutors. Jeslin has earned numerous scholarships and awards; she has interned in a surgical internship program under the mentorship of Dr. Lewis in Florida Hospital. She has been involved in research for more than two years.
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Nicholas Kosan
Nicholas Kosan
Nicholas is a sophomore at the University of Central Florida. His studies are focused in optics and photonics. His goal is to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Photonic Science and Engineering and to continue the study of Optics at CREOL. Nicholas has been conducting research with the Nanophotonic Materials Group since his freshman year. His research interests include the fabrication and characterization of nanophotonic devices. These devices include spatially variant photonic crystals and grated index lenses. Specifically, these devices are fabricated through multiphoton lithography – an advanced form of laser-based, 3D printing. In addition, he is an active member of the undergraduate Society of Optics Students.
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Mike Lopez
Mike Lopez
Mike is a driven undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida studying aerospace engineering. He is an accelerated sophomore and plans to graduate by the spring of 2019. Currently, he is conducting research in two dimensional materials. He is heading the research team and trains other undergraduates. Mike is an Eagle Scout and is determined to purse a Ph.D. in order to continue conducting research.
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Christopher Martin
Christopher Martin
Christopher Martin is from Tampa, Florida and majors in chemistry with a focus in biochemistry. His passion for biochemistry originates in high school and he hopes to earn a doctoral degree in a closely related field. During his time at UCF, Chris has participated in multiple research-oriented programs. The L.E.A.R.N program proved the genesis of his current connection with principal investigator, Dr. Chumbimuni-Torres. He has been a member of Dr. Torres’s lab since the Spring semester of 2016, where his work revolves around the development of an electrochemical sensor used for the detection of specific sequences of DNA/RNA. Chris wishes to pursue a Ph.D. somewhere in the wide range of the biological sciences. His future research interests include the identification and potential manipulation of enzymes in the treatment of disease, both infectious and genetic. Chris’s ultimate goal is to translate his education into a career in industry where he can perform valuable research in an area such as drug discovery or biotechnology.
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Abed Elrahman Naser
Abed Alrahman Naser
Abed Elrahman Naser pursues a major in biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida. He is a member of associations such as the American Society of Microbiology, Muslim Student Association, Pre-Professional Medical Society, and Students Organized for Syria (SOS). Abed participates in various research endeavors as a RAMP scholar. He intends to pursue a medical degree and specialize in orthopedic surgery. Thus far he as shadowed a gastroenterologist and orthopedic surgeon. He hopes one day to open his own clinic and open free clinics in developing countries that are in desperate need for quality medicine.
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Amna Naser
Amna Naser
Amna Naser pursues a biomedical science major at the University of Central Florida. Currently, she conducts research focused on Crohn’s disease and its interaction with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. She has presented her research in seven different research conferences and received two awards for her work. She participates in many on campus organizations including the Pre-Dental Student Association, Neuroscience Alliance, American Society for Microbiology, Hearts for the Homeless and several others. Fall 2017, she will begin dental school at East Carolina University and eventually open her own practice.
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Michael Navarro
Michael Navarro
Michael Navarro was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the health sciences. His passion for conducting research and acquiring knowledge has allowed him to stand out amongst his fellow colleagues. Michael is currently researching the synthesis of few-layer graphene fuel cells under the guidance of Dr. Richard Blair. He plans to obtain his M.D. and open up a practice some day in the South Florida region. Upon graduating in Spring of 2017 he plans to get a master's degree in biomedical sciences to fill his gap year while working on his medical school application.
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Christine Nguyen
Christine Nguyen
Christine is a third-year student at the University of Central Florida majoring in biomedical sciences with minors in chemistry and sociology. She has a strong interest in medicine and aspires to become physician. She is a member of UCF’S Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students and previously served as the Volunteer Director.
Christine has been heavily engaged research throughout high school and college. As a senior in high school, she spent half of a year in the Biological Sciences Department at the George Washington University, studying the role of endosymbionts in the immune function of Drosophila flies. Throughout college, she has continued to develop her skills at a researcher, studying neural tube defects at the Center for Neuroscience Research at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and mitophagy and cell death at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences at UCF. At UCF, she worked with a local non-profit to found Charisma Crayons, an organization that provides tutoring and mentoring to homeless kids in downtown Orlando, and she previously served as Fundraising Director for She’s the First, a club that sponsors girls’ education in third world countries.
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Jorge Nunez
Jorge Nunez
Jorge Nunez was born in Miami, Florida. Jorge attends the University of Central Florida where he majors in computer Science and minors in both Russian studies and secure computing and networking. Jorge has many academic interests, including cyber security, modern languages, and philosophy. His academic focus is currently occupied by computer science and the study of the Russian language. Jorge is currently conducting research on how to incorporate digital stories into a language-learning curriculum, but his research interests lie primarily with ethical hacking and security. It is his goal to work as a cyber security specialist or as a network penetration tester, and he is looking for opportunities to better protect the information and identity of patients in the medical health-care system by studying HIPPA Compliance guidelines.
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Keisha Persaud
Keisha Persaud
Keisha Persaud is a junior at University of Central Florida where she is majoring in biomedical science. She currently works for Dr.Hickman at the Nanoscience Technology Center where she works on the body of a chip project. Her research interests include neuroscience, pharmacology and biology; She is aspiring to get her Ph.D. in either of those fields.
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KeTaira Phillips
KeTaira Phillips
KeTaira Phillips was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She is majoring in biology at the University of Central Florida. KeTaira has always had a passion for the sciences, finding much interest in the areas of animal behavior and genetics across many species. Her research interests include mating and social behaviors, and most recently developmental biology. Under the mentorship of Dr. John Weishampel, KeTaira works in the Geospatial Analysis & Modeling Ecological Systems (GAMES) Lab. KeTaira now immerses herself in her research where she maps artificial nigh light trends on sea turtle nesting beaches in the state of Florida. She intends to pursue a master’s degree in biology. She has found this field of work interesting and fulfilling, and hopes to continue conducting research in the future. KeTaira hopes to inspire more people to conduct their own research and participate in STEM programs, wanting to share the same delight and fulfillment she feels with others.
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Michelle Prophete
Michelle Prophete
Michelle Prophete, currently pursues a bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences. Her research interests include infectious disease processes, as well as cancer biology. She is currently conducting undergraduate research on immunotherapeutic methods to combat cancer using natural killer cells. Her experiences and academic interests have prompted her to pursue a MD/Ph.D. degree after graduation. She hopes to conduct research and practice as a physician, providing crucial specialized care. She aspires to serve as a mentor to other students with similar goals and become a leader, promoting academic progress in her community.
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Yvelande Raymond
Yvelande Raymond
Yvelande Annie Raymond is majoring in biology with a minor in environmental studies at the University of Central Florida. She has many passions, including travel and environmental conservation. Currently she is conducting a study on the University of Central Florida’s’ landscape beds and their ability to support pollinator activity and diversity. Her research interests include observational studies about wildlife populations, human interaction and its environmental consequences, and pollinators. Her future goals are to become an environmental consultant and move on to work with the Environmental Protection Agency. Her professional interests include working in a wildlife sanctuary or at the EPA in the remediation of contaminated areas.
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Brenda Rivera
Brenda Rivera
Brenda Rivera is currently a Junior at UCF. She is majoring in biology with a minor in environmental studies. With this degree Brenda hopes to conduct molecular research concerning zoonotic diseases and find solutions for their effect on the human and animal populations of third world countries. She hopes to apply a One Health approach to the study of these diseases. Brenda will obtain a Master’s in Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Tufts University. She hopes to eventually obtain a Ph.D. in either infectious diseases and immunology or a D.V.M.
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Ariella Safalsky
Ariella Safalsky
Ariella is a Junior at the University of Central Florida, majoring in biomedical sciences. She currently conducts research in infectious diseases within Dr. Griffith Parks’ lab at the Lake Nona UCF Campus. Her collegiate goals are to finish her Honors in the Major project and take a lead role as a teaching assistant in the Microbiology Labs. Ariella hopes to enter a summer research program as an undergraduate and expects to enter a post-bachelorette research experience once she has graduated. Afterwards, she plans to earn her MD-PhD to become a well-rounded researcher.
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Renee Sahatdjian
Renee Sahatdjian
Renee Sahatdjian is majoring in psychology at the University of Central Florida. She has participated extensively in campus programs, such as the Summer Research Academy, Lead Scholars Campus Engagement Leadership Track, and the Research and Mentoring Program. Renee is a past recipient of the Aqua Foundation for Women’s Scholarship, and a current UCF Scholars Award recipient. She is a research assistant in the Applied Cognition and Aging Lab, as well the Attention & Working Memory Lab housed within the Department of Psychology.
Her research interests focus on visual cognition, specifically collision detection and visuospatial representations in working memory. She is working on an independent research project with Dr. Mark Neider, which examines how the presence of distractors affects the ability to detect collisions. Renee intends to pursue a graduate degree in either human factors psychology or human computer interaction. In the future, she hopes to work in industry or government, in order to conduct research that will improve society.
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