Research Grounded In Mentorship

Transcript

Next up we’re heading to the labs in UMBC’s spectacular new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building to meet Lauren, a senior biology major. She’s here to share a story about the mentorship she’s received as a student researcher and how that special faculty relationship has pushed her beyond what she thought she was capable of. It’s all yours, Lauren.

– Hey, thanks, Alex. For the longest time, I wasn’t sure where I was headed on my career path, I loved biology but I didn’t know what my options were or what my degree could let me pursue. I wasn’t aware of how many doors I could open for myself. It wasn’t until my second year here at UMBC when I started to discover my interests. I joined a research lab and got to know the professor I was working for Dr. Tamara Mendelson. She became a mentor for me and has been a strong influence and sense of encouragement while I’ve discovered my major’s possibilities. She has made me feel welcome in her lab at all times by introducing me to her colleagues and she continues to encourage me to apply to a number of different biology internships. In my most recent internship, I studied agricultural weed evolution presented my research, and now I’m on track to have my work published in a scientific paper, which is something I never could have imagined possible in my undergraduate experience. The professors and staff here at UMBC are all about mentorship, hands on research and helping their students to be the best that they can. To sum it all up, if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t stress, here at UMBC research and career building is grounded and caring and encouraging student mentor relationships. With a little help you’ll discover your passion. Good luck you guys and back to you, Alex.

– What an amazing story, it was so cool to get a peek into what undergraduate research looks like at UMBC and to know how mentors can really make the difference. I love that you found your passion through that experience, Lauren, great job, take care.