Fariha (she/her) is a senior Honors STEM Scholar pursuing a degree in Molecular & Cell Biology with a minor in Bioinformatics. On campus, she serves as the President of the STEM Scholar E-Board, President of the Bangladeshi Students Association, a WOW Captain, and an UNIV 1784 facilitator. She is also involved as a BIG in Kids & UConn Bridging Education (KUBE).
Fariha’s journey into the world of research began in first grade when she participated in her very first science fair, exploring the properties of Great Salt Lake water alongside Pacific Ocean seawater. Since then, she has continued to fuel her passion for scientific inquiry by consistently participating in science fairs throughout her high school career. Most notably, she has been awarded second at the Worcester Regional Science Fair and third at the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair in 2019 at MIT for her project titled "The Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate on Tumor Growth in Planaria."
Fariha got involved in research on campus near the end of her first year at UConn in the Goldhamer Laboratory under the mentorship of Professor David Goldhamer in the Molecular & Cell Biology department. As an undergraduate researcher, she works closely with a graduate mentor on investigating muscle development and diseases of the musculoskeletal system using mouse models and cell culture models. She has been fortunate enough to receive a SURF Award for the summer of 2023, where she is investigating the effect of ACVR1(R206H) expression in muscle stem cells on skeletal muscle regeneration in relation to a rare musculoskeletal disease called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva or FOP. She presented her findings from her SURF at the UConn Fall Frontiers 2023 Symposium. Fariha was also a part of LEAP (Learning by Experiencing and Applying Principles), a 2-year immersive program where students increase research readiness by learning fundamental lab skills and learning how to write manuscripts through researching a gene in two different model organisms.
Looking ahead, Fariha intends to pursue graduate studies in Bioinformatics and pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Beyond her academic pursuits, she enjoys traveling to new countries and indulging in diverse culinary experiences. Fariha aims to inspire others through her passion for research and science. She enthusiastically encourages UConn students to embrace the university's research opportunities. Reach out to her for advice on getting involved in undergraduate research, research-related questions, or general UConn inquiries.
Student Research Blog Posts by Fariha: