Alexis (she/her) is a senior honors student majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology. Her research interests focus on the investigation of pathological viruses to understand their impact on the human body. Beyond her academic pursuits, Alexis is passionate about Tang Soo Do, where she both practices and teaches, and enjoys reading, weightlifting, and marathon training.
In her sophomore year, Alexis began working as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Guillermo Risatti’s Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Collaborating with the Engineering Department, she took on a leading role in researching the relationship between fabric components and bacterial resistance. This project involved cultivating various bacteria strains and testing their interactions with specific fabric materials, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective and advanced antimicrobial procedure masks and air filters.
Pursuing her interests further, Alexis embarked on an independent study under Dr. Risatti’s guidance, focusing on the genetic characterization of microbes through next-generation sequencing, particularly of COVID-19 variants and rabies viruses. This research forms the basis of her honors thesis.
Outside of research, Alexis is an active participant in the University of Connecticut Health Leaders Program, where she works to improve patient outcomes through education, resource connection, wellness classes, and enhanced access to preventive care. She also serves as an Organic Chemistry tutor under Department Head Dr. Mark Pezcuh and mentors students in Comparative Animal Physiology under Assistant Professor Dr. Jeffrey Divino. Additionally, Alexis is a dedicated member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, where she has held roles such as Assistant New Member Educator and Leadership Committee Chair. As a certified Tang Soo Do black-belt instructor at Quest Martial Arts, she teaches self-defense while instilling values of self-confidence, humility, discipline, and resilience in her students. Furthermore, Alexis is employed as a Patient Care Technician at Day Kimball Hospital.
Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Alexis plans to attend medical school, with aspirations to specialize in surgery or emergency medicine. She aims to leverage the analytical skills developed through her research to inspire and educate others in the medical field.
Student Research Blog Posts by Alexis: