Meet Our Recruitment Team

Research Project: I work in the department of Microbiology and Immunology through Michigan Medicine and am currently a member of the Wobus Lab, a virology lab with a focus on Astrovirus and Norovirus. I work with Murine Norovirus (MNV), which can cause a form of viral gastroenteritis, and use mice to model the virus' impact on people.

Favorite MRADS Memory: My favorite MRADS memory is the STEPS event during Welcome Week. This was a day where MRADS students were able to make initial bonds through problem solving and physical activity. This is my fondest memory because it was when I met my current friend group. This day’s activities initiated relationships that I continue to foster to this day.Why did you join MRADS: I decided to join MRADS because I wanted a community that I could be a part of that would help me to accomplish my social and academic goals for my freshman year. MRADS is a combination of my goals because I was not only able to do research during my first year, but also given a community connected by our collective drive to research and discover.

Why did you join MRADS? I decided to join MRADS because I wanted a community that I could be a part of that would help me to accomplish my social and academic goals for my freshman year. MRADS is a combination of my goals because I was not only able to do research during my first year, but also given a community connected by our collective drive to research and discover.

Advice to Incoming Students: A piece of advice that I would give to incoming freshmen is to take advantage of the resources that are afforded to you as a student at the University of Michigan.

Extracurriculars: Friends for St. Jude (Membership Engagement Chair), Genes in Diseases and Symptoms (GIDAS), SuccessConnects

Research Project: My research project studies adrenal cancer by furthering our understanding of adrenal cellular hyperplasia.

Favorite Memory: While there were numerous irreplaceable memories made during the first week, my favorite MRADS memory would be the night my hallmates and I visited Frita Batidos together.

Why did you join MRADS? I joined MRADS because I was ecstatic for an opportunity to engage in research as early as I could. I aspired to become a researcher, and this program was the perfect opportunity to test the waters. Also, the MRADS community is bustling with motivated scholars/friends and resources destined to sprout growth, which is exactly what I sought and thankfully found.

Advice to Incoming Students: Honestly, sometimes I find it helpful to think of my college years as a book. And, you are writing a new page each day. What do you want to be written and excluded from your book? What could you do today that your future self will be proud of? Framing my time like this helped me make better decisions when scheduling, and build meaningful friendships with people that I will cherish in the future.

Extracurriculars: American Chemical Society, Volleyball

Research Project: My research focuses on the development of a closed loop FDM 3D printer system. We are accomplishing this by developing a parameterized model for the printed extrusions and then creating a control loop to feed back to the printer.

Favorite MRADS Memory: If i had to pick one memory it would be the MRADS Scavenger Hunt (which my team placed 1st!). It was a really fun way to get to explore campus.

Why did you join MRADS? I joined MRADS as coming from a small country/school, the vastness of a school like umich seemed daunting and the smaller MRADS community seemed like a great way to transition to university life. The community of MRADS has been all I expected and much more. Having the opportunity to work in world class research in my first year of university is also a bonus!

Advice to Incoming Students: Don’t stress yourself out too much over university decisions! You will end up in a university that fits you as a person. I didn’t expect to be in Michigan but I’m very glad I did!

Extracurriculars: MRacing

Research Project: Integrating Medical Marijuana Into Mainstream Healthcare

Favorite MRADS Memory: All of my 1:1s with my mentor! He’s amazing, and I know we will be friends even after MRADS.

Why did you join MRADS? I was looking for extra mentorship as I was looking to get into research. As a first-generation college student, I didn’t have much of a network coming to U-M. MRADS seemed like a great way to start building a network as well as make friends with similar interests.

Advice to Incoming Students: Do you! You are here for a reason–you contribute something unique to the U-M community that no one else can. Be proud of what you accomplish while you’re here, no matter how small you think it may be.

Extracurriculars: First-Generation College Students @ Michigan, Undergraduate Psychology Society

Research Project:  I currently conduct research in the UM Department of Pharmacology. My research project uses the competition binding assay to characterize the binding affinity of different fentanyl analogs (fentalogs). In the midst of the growing synthetic opioid overdose crisis, these data could improve the law enforcement’s / DEA’s understanding of fentalogs.

Favorite MRADS Memory: I’ll always hold the memories I made during Welcome Week close to my heart. But in particular, the Peer Mentor campus tour is something I’ll always remember. I was lucky enough to meet some of my closest friends that day—and now, the rest is history.

Why did you join MRADS? The close-knit community aspect of MRADS was the major draw that first attracted me to the program. Undergraduate research was also something I was really interested in exploring at UM. Put together, MRADS seemed to offer the perfect opportunity to help support my transition into college to fullest degree.

Advice to Incoming Students: Learning to become your own advocate isn’t easy, but it’s a skill that will take you far in life. You never know what doors you could open by putting yourself out there!

Extracurriculars: Pure Dance, Michigan Pops Orchestra, Pre-Pharmacy Student Organization (PPSO)