This process is pretty magical: I can put a gene inside a bacteria, or an organism (a living thing), and then the protein is made (with a little time and heat)!
While developing as a researcher, I had a separate identity as a community advocate and volunteer. From a young age, my sister taught me the importance of accepting others for who they are and learning how to create a more inclusive world. In student government, my communication and leadership abilities grew, working with other students to create a center for those who are differently abled.
Although I was very busy as an undergraduate student, studying abroad proved to be a challenge for me. I started college in 2020, which made it hard to travel during these years. I had always wanted to live in another country, where I could practice speaking Spanish, learn new skills in science, and immerse myself in the local culture. My research mentor told me about a lab in Barcelona, Spain, that was studying a protein involved in autism. I realized that this opportunity was the perfect way to combine my research knowledge and advocacy work to investigate a cause I truly care about. I knew I had to find a way there, which is how I found out about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. This past May, I was extremely lucky to win a Fulbright research grant, and now, I am starting a new adventure here!
Barcelona is an amazing city, and Spain is a country with lots to offer. There are many iconic landmarks in Spain, such as the Sagrada Familia (which has been under construction for over 140 years) and Alhambra, a palace in the south of the country with influences from the Islamic world. Flamenco, a traditional folk dance, originates from Spain, and it's an art form I hope to learn while I am here.
