Over the course of a year, this program strengthens the research skills and academic competitiveness of participants to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences. During this time, my research project focused on the role of the GCH1/BH4 pathway in the cancer glioblastoma.

Skills developed through the Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training Program include environmental sample collection, DNA extraction, Real-Time PCR, data and statistical analysis as well as presentation abilities. This was preformed in Ecuador.Findings related to the association between infectious Leptospira and soil moisture were presented the the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (November 2018) and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (April 2019).

Through the Institute of Human Development and under the direction of Dr. Trina Spencer, I administered education-based interventions designed to improve literacy skills of children. This was preformed at Puente de Hozho Elementary weekly with students from kindergarten to the second grade.