What years did you participate in UROP?

2012-2013

What UROP Program(s) were you a part of?

UROP in Residence (aka MRC or MRADS)

What made you choose UROP?

I wanted to be in an academic living community upon starting college and I also had an interest in research. The Michigan Research community felt like a perfect combination of the two. I also ended up continuing for a second year and mentoring several students which was a fantastic opportunity.

What do you think you have learned from your UROP experience?

Working in a basic science lab taught me the foundations of conducting research. Participating in a basic science lab helped to spark my passion in research and because of that experience, it led to my current research efforts in behavioral health and pain management among patients with chronic heart failure.

What is the extent to which you have kept in contact with your Research Mentor?

I continued to work with my mentor until 2015, even after I had finished with the MRC. After graduating with my BSN, we've kept in touch since and have even sung in the same choir together at U of M! She also attended my dissertation defense this May.

How did your UROP experience shape or inform the next steps you took in your academic and professional journey?

I earned my PhD in Nursing at U of M this past May, so I will be doing research and teaching for the rest of my career. That initial interest in research all started with my experiences with UROP/the MRC.

Where are you in your professional journey?

I have entered a postdoctoral fellowship position at Indiana University School of Nursing and started this June. It is an NIH funded T32 for Advanced Training in Self-Management Interventions for Serious Chronic Conditions.

What advice would you give to a current UROP student?

Research is a wonderful way to generate new knowledge, so finding a topic that you want to contribute to can really make the work exciting! Making the most of your experience will really help you to get the most that you possibly can out of UROP.

What are some recent publications or accomplishments that you are proud of?

Since graduating in May I've published my first two first-author papers. It felt really rewarding to see the work I did during my dissertation out there on a physical journal that I could read.