Meet Andrei Abarientos ’26 an OUR Peer Research Ambassador majoring in Pathobiology.

What is the focus of your research?

Here at UConn, I work on vaccine design for emerging tick-borne viruses. These include Powassan virus (which is a burden here in New England), Heartland virus, and SFTSV (a virus found predominantly in East Asia). I also did an internship with the National Institutes of Health studying tick biology: namely, how mammalian skin proteins can be inhibited by tick saliva, preventing wound closure and allowing ticks to feed effectively. My scientific interests broadly are focused on vector-borne diseases, infectious agents that can be spread by insects like ticks, mosquitoes, or fleas.

Why did you get involved in research?

I got involved in research because the act of discovery is intrinsically exciting and dynamic. It’s cool knowing that the work you’re doing is something that hasn’t been done before, and even negative results can push a project forward. It’s even more exciting knowing that work might lead to more positive outcomes in controlling infectious diseases. Continue reading →

Meet Annette St. Jacques ’26, an OUR Peer Research Ambassador majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology.

What is the focus of your research?

I am a member of the Hanlon Lab in the Molecular & Cell Biology department. We study how new chromosomes form, move, and change over time by using the fruit fly as a model. I am interested in how age impacts the number of chromosomes that are passed down each generation.

Why did you get involved in research?

I got involved in research to try something new. I enjoyed classes with lab sections because of the hands-on aspect of science. During my first year at UConn, I took a First Year Experience course that focused on exploring STEM undergrad research. In that class, I was able to connect with faculty and learn about the different opportunities on campus. After that, I was curious about research and tried to find a lab. Continue reading →

Meet Malak Nechnach ’26, an OUR Peer Research Ambassador majoring in Physiology & Neurobiology and minoring in Mathematics.

What is the focus of your research?

I am working under Dr. Sciolino in the Physiology & Neurobiology department. We conduct behavioral neuroscience research, and the focus of our research is understanding how the effects of central norepinephrine systems regulate motivated behaviors, with the goal of uncovering the neuromodulatory basis of neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders.

Why did you get involved in research?

I got involved in research because I was interested in pursuing research in neuroscience and wanted to get experience to solidify my career choices and know what my career would look like. Continue reading →

Meet Michela Brown ’25, an OUR Peer Research Ambassador majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Animal Science and Molecular & Cell Biology.

What is the focus of your research?

I am conducting research in animal science in Dr. Kristen E. Govoni lab, where we are studying how a mother’s diet affects the growth and development of her offspring, specifically in sheep. Our goal is to identify differences that could enhance livestock health and production. My project specifically examines changes in the liver of the offspring related to their mother’s diet. I have recently been gaining new experience in Dr. Rachel O’Neill’s lab to learn new techniques.

Why did you get involved in research?

I first got involved in research because I am part of the honors program and thought it was a requirement to get involved. I didn’t get into research until my sophomore year, which helped me realize that research was something I truly wanted to pursue, not just a program requirement. My perspective shifted when I had the opportunity to shadow a graduate student in a lab I was interested in. That experience made me genuinely excited about the possibilities for my own research. Continue reading →

Meet Naomi Benningfield ’25, an OUR Peer Research Ambassador majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology.

What is the focus of your research?

Within my molecular archaeology lab with Dr. Hartman, we focus on creating a comprehensive understanding of the past through a range of studies. The Nesher Ramla project that I participate in analyzes enamel samples from herbivore teeth through isotope ratio mass spectrometry. In doing so, we hope to reconstruct the paleoclimate of the site. Currently, I am working towards assessing the eco-physiological response of equids to the last glacial climate change. During my time at Hartford Hospital, we focused on a range of prospective and retrospective clinical studies within anesthesia. My main focus was on opioid reduction and pain management. Continue reading →

Lina Layakoubi ’23
Major: Biological Sciences; Minor: Physiology & Neurobiology
Fall 2023 OUR Peer Research Ambassador

My Journey:

When I began college during the height of the pandemic, I never would have imagined that I would find myself in a research lab working with fruit flies. Yet reflecting on these past few years, I can say that undergraduate research has been the most impactful and enriching experience I have had at UConn.

For a long time, research seemed like this daunting academic feat that I could never be capable of. Though on the most basic level I understood that research was a mechanism to create new knowledge, I had no idea what it could actually look like or how I could possibly fit in. As my classes became more advanced and focused on “why” we know certain models to be accurate, my passion for biology lead me to want to participate on the hands on aspect of the field. Lab classes were great but to have the chance to contribute to current work and learn alongside a lab at an R1 school became the dream. I sought out guidance from the OUR staff and after attending Fall Frontiers twice, I was absolutely mesmerized by all the incredible projects my peers had created.

Joining Dr. Karen Menuz’s lab was one of the greatest opportunities I experienced at UCONN. On a day-to-day basis, I feel like research pushed me to grow beyond what I ever could have expected of myself. Academically, weekly journal clubs and working through concepts behind the challenges in my project made me far more scientifically literate and reframed ideas in a way my coursework never could. Being able to do my own experiments, analyze data and even write a grant proposal helped me build confidence in myself that this was something I could be a part of and this was something that would enrich my life. I had a lot of fun with various fly related tasks but more so than that, my lab became a second home at UCONN. Between the other undergrads, my PI and the grad students, our lab felt like a community and each day there was always something new and exciting. I can say one of the highlights of my time in Dr. Menuz’s lab was being able to present at Fall Frontiers. The undergraduate research symposium was where my journey began and so being able to share my project with my peers was incredibly rewarding. Looking back on myself, my time in lab truly helped me to self-realize that research is something I am passionate about and helped me to grow into a more confident version of myself. Continue reading →