Kashfaa Tasmim is a Junior at the University of Florida in the Emerging Scholars Program. Her research project is called: Increases in County-Level Opioid Prescribing in the United States despite National Declining Rates. When she’s not working on her research under Dr. Juan Hincapie-Castillo at the College of Pharmacy, she can be found all over campus as a member and leader of multiple UF clubs: the Executive Vice President of the Multicultural Greek Council, Historian of the Bangladeshi Students’ Association, Marketing Director of Project Sunshine, CUR Ambassador, Sisterhood Chair of Delta Phi Omega Sorority, member of the Primary Care Committee of AMSA, member of J.O.Y. Volunteering, and member of Islam on Campus. Keep reading to learn more about Kashfaa’s undergraduate research experience and her plans for the future.
Summary of Research Project: In this project, I analyzed opioid prescribing rates in counties all over the United States and although prescription rates at the national level decreased, several counties remained with a high opioid prescribing rate. By focusing on the counties that experienced an increase, it provides insight into the effect of policies at a local level.
Why did you get started in undergraduate research? I got started in undergraduate research and my project because I was curious about the opioid crisis in the United States. I wanted to learn more about it on a county basis so that potential programs that may be implemented can be discussed and how to prevent further increases in prescribing rates.
How has your research experience shaped your undergraduate career My research experience has been an integral part of my undergraduate career because it has allowed me to grow as a student and helped me gain knowledge of subjects I am interested in.
What advice would you give someone interested in undergraduate research? Some advice I would give to someone interested in undergraduate research is to find research that interests you and reach out to multiple professors or labs. I strongly believe passion drives research and finding a research project or topic you’re interested in will keep you motivated.
What are your plans for the future? My plans for the future include graduating with a B.S. in Biology and applying to medical school, specializing in internal medicine. I am passionate about pursuing a career in healthcare and becoming a future physician so that I can serve my community.