Celebrating 15 years of providing University of Florida students with access to superior undergraduate research and professional development opportunities, preparing them for their next steps.
“Celebrating Mentorship at CUR”
Congratulations URSP Graduates: Selected Spotlights
Vicki FreedmanAfter graduating, I plan to begin dental school in August at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, where I will spend the next four years. I am very excited for this next step in my journey to becoming a dentist! I am also hoping to continue doing research during dental school.My CUR class from the spring semester of my freshman year was such an important experience for me during college, and ultimately led to me finding my research mentor, Dr. Mathews, and working with her lab for the next three years. It was so transformative to learn about research and deepen my interest in nutritional sciences and community access to food/nutrition. Plus, the first project I worked on involved the oral microbiome, which helped fuel my interest in pursuing dentistry. I never knew how many factors could impact people’s food decisions nor how food could so immensely impact people’s lives.
Julia LancasterAfter graduating, I plan to take a gap year dedicated to gaining hands-on experience in healthcare. I will be volunteering at a free medical clinic in north Georgia. During this time, I will also be preparing for and applying to medical school, with the goal of beginning my studies in 2026.My CURE class was my first exposure to the world of research, and changed the trajectory of my college career. The focus of my CURE class was nutrition, with particular emphasis on the ketogenic diet. This class opened my eyes to the world of nutrition, a field I had not previously considered, and ultimately resulted in a decision to change my major to nutritional sciences. I love this major and I cannot imagine myself in any other field. Although it is with a different lab, I also now conduct research into the effects of the ketogenic diet, something I never would have known I had such strong interest in were it not for my initial experience in my CURE class.
Elizabeth RiottoAfter graduation, I hope to stay in Gainesville a little while longer to pursue a master’s in Research and Evaluation Methodology at UF. After graduation, I plan to work as a program evaluator to contribute data-driven solutions to organizations across the country. It’s my hope to work primarily with informal educational institutions like museums, aquariums, zoos, and science centers to help make informal learning experiences accessible, enriching, and meaningful for public audiences. As for long-term goals, I might go back to school for my PhD after gaining a few years of industry experience, after which I’d like to start my own evaluation firm that specializes in qualitative educational evaluation.The highlights of my URSP experience are the opportunities I was afforded because of URSP and the fact that I get to share those experiences with other students. Taking courses like Research and Creativity and my CURE course in my first year at UF gave me the confidence I needed to apply for my first research experience, which serendipitously culminated into an incredible array of other opportunities that contributed to my academic, professional, and personal growth over the last three years. Being able to share the ways URSP and research have completely changed the trajectory of my life with prospective and current URSP students, especially as a non-STEM researcher, is, without a doubt, my favorite part of URSP. There’s nothing I love more than connecting with new people and sharing how URSP truly has been the catalyst for so many of the amazing experiences I’ve had in college. It’s been a privilege to give back through outreach and leadership on the URSP Board, and I’m looking forward to seeing the ways the program will continue to evolve, grow, and serve students in the future.
Serena HubertyAs of right now, I am not sure what my post-graduation plans are; I hope to go to grad school and applied to marine and terrestrial biology/ecology graduate programs but am still waiting to hear back from them. My long-term goal is to get a PhD in an ecology- or zoology-related field so that I can become a wildlife biologist/zoologist/ecologist and do research, preferably in tropical or subtropical ecosystems. In the future, I would like to become a professor, so that I can mentor students, but I am also open to working for a governmental agency or non-profit.The highlight of my URSP experience was my CURE class, Research Methods in Marine & Estuarine Ecology, that I took Spring semester of my freshman year. Not only was this class a lot of fun and one of my favorites that I took at UF, but it was also informative and equipped me with crucial research skills and hands-on experience. Moreover, it awakened my interest in ecology, especially marine ecology. I truly believe that this class was essential in paving the way for the rest of my time at UF and allowed me to attain other opportunities throughout my college career. I especially want to recognize the instructor of my CURE class, Adam Searles, for his unending support and guidance as a mentor throughout my four years here.
Matthew SelfI will be moving to Tucson, AZ in June to start working as a full-time Validation Engineer at Texas Instruments. I was an intern there during the past two summers.
Valentine BaredesAfter graduating as a junior, I plan to spend my senior year as a gap year working as a medical assistant in Miami. This will provide me with valuable clinical experience and deepen my understanding of patient care. During this time, I will also be applying to medical schools, with the goal of beginning my medical education immediately after graduation. I aim to pursue a career in surgery, and I’m excited to continue gaining hands-on experience while preparing for medical school. Long-term, I hope to specialize in pediatric surgery and work to improve healthcare access for underserved communities.Weijie has been an invaluable mentor throughout my research journey, starting from my freshman year. As a PhD student in our lab, he has provided constant support and guidance on my project, helping me navigate the complexities of research and ensuring that I understand the bigger picture. Weijie’s approach is both patient and insightful, always taking the time to explain concepts and offer constructive feedback. His dedication to his own research and his genuine interest in my growth have inspired me to push my own boundaries. His mentorship has played a key role in shaping my passion for research and has reinforced my desire to pursue a career in medicine, particularly surgery, where continuous learning and mentorship will be crucial.
Rishika CherukuruAfter graduation, I will be attending medical school in the fall and am in the process of finalizing my decision in the coming months. Before beginning this next chapter, I plan to travel and explore new places this summer. I look forward to the opportunities ahead and am excited for the journey into healthcare!Finding a mentor in URSP truly changed the trajectory of my undergraduate career. Being able to talk with a leader on the advisory board and understand how research played an impact in her journey motivated me to take a more active role in the Center of Undergraduate Research and become an ambassador. Additionally, I was able to connect with my research lab in the Cancer Center through my mentor and am completing my Honors Thesis. Several of my accomplishments, including research presentations and awards, can be credited to the amazing friends, teams, and opportunities offered through URSP and I am proud to have had it play such a great role in my undergraduate journey.
Zaid SyedAfter graduation, I plan on working as a Certified Nursing Assistant and an Emergency Medical Technician in Gainesville in order to gain hands-on clinical experience. These experiences will sharpen my ability to remain calm under pressure and make critical decisions in high-stress environments. During this gap year, I will also shadow physicians across various specialties and dedicate time to study for the MCAT. Shadowing will give me valuable insights into the daily routines, challenges, and rewards of being a physician. Ultimately, my goal is to become a dermatologist so that I can provide compassionate care to patients suffering from chronic skin conditions.The highlight of my URSP experience as an undergraduate at the University of Florida was serving as a URSP Peer Mentor in both 2022 and 2023. Mentoring not only allowed me to guide first-year students through their journeys as undergraduate researchers, but it also led to significant personal growth. More specifically, it gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges that new students face in the program and inspired me to become a member of the Student Advisory Board. Serving as a member of the Events Committee was an extremely insightful experience for me, and gave me the opportunity to regularly collaborate with like-minded scholars while simultaneously bridging the gap between research and service.
Brianna McDonaldI will be working as a financial analyst in Tampa.The highlight of my URSP experience was the time I spent working in a neuro-oncology lab at UF Health researching immunotherapy treatment of glioblastomas.
Ellen ForehandI was accepted to chemistry PhD programs at the University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Texas-Austin, and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. I am looking forward to starting that process for the next few years of my life. I would like to be a professor because I think that chemistry education has so much opportunity to be improved and is important in our increasingly technological world. I also want to be a PI because I am passionate about organic materials research, especially in the realm of sustainable polymers. I think that academia is a space that can use change and creativity, and I want to contribute to this as both a teacher and a researcher.Getting to work in a lab in my freshman year really showed me that I wanted a PhD instead of going to med school, so it completely changed my goals and plans for my education.
Brooke SeftonAfter graduation, I will be moving to New York City to start my career as an investment banking analyst.I’m most grateful for the friends I made in research and creativity summer B. It was my first class at UF, and I still keep in touch with my group members. I was also able to be a TA for research and creativity my sophomore year, and it was so rewarding being able to act as a mentor for first-year students.
Melanie GonzalezI was accepted to the UF Medical Honors Program and will be continuing my professional training at the UF College of Medicine with the goal of receiving my M.D. The Medical Honors Program is a combined B.S./M.D. 7 year program that provides an accelerated track for students seeking admission to medical school. I am currently in the process of completing my first year of medical school at the UF College of Medicine, and after graduation, will be completing my first academic year at UF COM. Additionally, over the summer I will be participating in the UF COM Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) where I will continue to expand on my research skills in the clinical and translational setting. I aspire to become a neurologist in the future.
Ashley GuarinoAfter graduation, I will be pursuing a Master of Science in Public Health degree. I am planning on attending the University of South Florida’s MSPH program in the Fall with a dual concentration in Epidemiology and Global Communicable Disease. There, I will work on publishing my Master’s Thesis on the incidence and distribution of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. Ultimately, I am working toward a career in infectious disease research and epidemiology with a specialization in antimicrobial resistant microorganisms.Attending and presenting at monthly Research Seminars have been the highlight of my URSP experience. As an eager freshman insecure in my abilities, the presenters at my first Research Seminar gave me incredible advice that I used to find my own research position. When I presented at my own Seminar, I tried to be that mentor for the room full of first-years that I was speaking to. It was incredibly rewarding when some of those students came up to me during that year’s Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium and thanked me for my advice!
Emerson ParksAfter graduation, my primary goal is to pursue a PhD in immunology, as I am deeply passionate about exploring the mechanisms of the immune system and their implications for human health. In the long term, I am committed to advancing my studies in immunology and contributing to groundbreaking research that could lead to innovative therapies for immune-related diseases, especially in the context of autoimmune disorders. I aim to collaborate with leading scientists in the field, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to better understand immune system dysfunctions. Ultimately, I hope my work will help improve patient outcomes and lead to novel therapeutic approaches.The highlight of my URSP experience was participating in research at the UF Diabetes Institute, which had a profound impact on my academic and professional trajectory. Working in the Brusko Lab not only helped me refine my research skills but also instilled in me a deep sense of confidence in my ability to contribute to the field. I gained invaluable experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication, all of which have shaped my future aspirations in research and academia.
Allison ComiteAfter graduation, I will begin applying to medical school. During my growth year, I am working as a scribe and medical assistant for an ophthalmology practice in South Florida. I am looking forward to gaining important clinical experience and continuing to pursue my goal of becoming a physician. Additionally, I plan to continue volunteering with Project Downtown South Florida where we provide warm meals and necessities to the homeless population of Fort Lauderdale. I am excited to embark on this next step and grateful for my experiences at UF and with URSP.The highlight of my time in URSP was giving me important research experience from the very beginning. In my freshman year, my CURE class was called Exploring Your Genome and was led by Dr. Jennifer Drew. After our project was completed, I was able to present our poster at the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium. Though at first it was nervewracking being a freshman and answering questions from respected researchers and fellow undergraduates, this experience ultimately gave me the confidence and skills necessary to pursue my further involvement in research. I was able to join the Moehle Lab and present our research posters at several Symposiums, eventually becoming a USP scholar with Dr. Moehle as my mentor. Being involved in research allows me to expand beyond my learning in the classroom, and the drive to spread this fascination with knowledge encouraged me to become an ambassador for the Center of Undergraduate Research. URSP helped to initiate these experiences and grow as a researcher.
Austin SteinI am hoping to work for a little bit before returning to grad school! In the long term, I am hoping to get a masters or phd in either applied mathematics or mathematical finance. Then, I hope to work in industry in any kind of field that merges applied math, data science, machine learning, and statistical analysis, whether that be in economics, finance, cybersecurity, etc. I am looking forward to applying everything I have learned at the University of Florida to my future career opportunities.I thoroughly enjoyed working with Dr. Bozia applying machine learning to the classics. We were lucky enough to get our work published in the Digital Scholarship in the Humanities under the Oxford University Press! Working in this research lab taught me so much about the process of taking research from the stages of ideation, planning, and data mining, all the way to writing up results and presenting at conferences. I am sure to take these skills to any job or future opportunity that I come across.
Lydia ChungI will be working full time as a hardware chip design verification engineer at Apple in Austin, TX. I plan to pursue a masters degree in computer engineering at the University of Texas at Austin because I will be working in the same city.My research was a unique experience that was hard to find in industry without years of coursework, and I was able to get that experience early in my undergraduate career. This helped me land internships and advance in my professional journey. When I did research with Dr. Prabhat Mishra, I learned to create testbenches for hardware modules used in security. This gave me experience in cybersecurity, cryptography, SystemVerilog, and other hardware concepts that were valuable to getting a job in this industry.
William SobczakI will be attending law school at University of California, Berkeley in the fall.The community that URSP introduced me to was a highlight of my college experience. URSP gave me the tools and guidance that I needed to do the things that I wanted to do as an undergraduate student in preparation for what would be to follow.
Madison ChubbAfter undergraduate I will apply to the next cycle of Medical school and be working during my gap year. I am working on my personal statement and deciding on my school list. Additionally I am studying for my MCAT which is in April of this semester. After I graduate I will be working and preparing for the medical school interviews. I will be applying to all the schools in Florida as well as those along the east cost, and a few on the west coast. My goal is to then start medical school in 2027 and graduate in 2031 with my MD.I really enjoyed my CURE class which is still the lab I continued to work in from freshman year all the way to graduation. I was able to meet a lot of people in the lab and learn so much information around the topic of microfluidics
Lauren EpsteinStarting this august, I am thrilled to be going to the University of Pennsylvania College of Dental Medicine. I have always had a long standing dream of becoming a dentist, and I knew that I wanted to move away from Florida to experience something new. Starting this august, I am thrilled to be going to the University of Pennsylvania College of Dental Medicine. I have always had a long standing dream of becoming a dentist, and I knew that I wanted to move away from Florida to experience something new.I think that my CURE course was the highlight. I took a cure course about nutrition and food and its use as medicine. It taught me so much about the importance of research in my future goals. Also, I have loved being able to do research with UF College of Dentistry, which has also greatly influenced my time here at UF.
Allison VolmerAfter graduating, I will begin medical school in my home state of South Carolina in the fall of 2025. While I remain open to the specialties I may pursue, I am eager to explore the diverse opportunities and discover where my passions and strengths align. I am forever grateful to the University of Florida for providing me with four unforgettable years filled with friendship and opportunities I could have never imagined. As I take this next step, I am excited to be closer to my family and continue pursuing my dream of becoming a physician.The highlight of my URSP experience was joining the Florida Recovery Center Laboratory, where I was fortunate to work alongside inspiring mentors who always believed in me. Their guidance and encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue every opportunity possible. I would not be the student, researcher, or person I am today without their support. Through my time in the lab, I not only honed my research skills but also developed a deeper passion for scientific discovery and its real-world impact. My experiences challenged me to think critically, approach problems with curiosity, and step outside my comfort zone. This journey reinforced my commitment to a career in medicine and solidified my desire to contribute to advancements in my future field.
Anna Julia DemasiPsychology (Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Emphasis) Major with Minors in Spanish and Health Disparities Because of URSP, I was able to take a CUR class freshman year called “Riding the wave: Using EEG to understand bilingualism” with Dr. Eleonora Rossi! This semester, she is the chair on my senior thesis defense committee and a lifelong mentor! I am so grateful to URSP that I was able to join her lab through that first CUR class.