•Developed and executed experiments evaluating the efficacy of drugs that target the cholinergic system to treat the rare genetic disorder Rett syndrome. •Implemented innovative methods to investigate whether a precision medicine approach would be beneficial in treatment plans for Rett syndrome patients.•Communicated work through several mediums including four poster presentations, six talks, one fellowship, one first-author publication, a co-author publication, and a second first-author manuscript currently in the submission process.•Skills in scientific communication were demonstrated with one 1st place and one 2nd place award at separate research talks.•Maintained productive collaborations with researchers at several universities to mutually advance our projects through the dissemination and discussion of data, ideas, or samples.•Awarded the Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellowship.•Served as a first-year mentor for two years to foster a supportive community for new students and provide advice on graduate school classes and rotations.

•Identified novel proteins implicated in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.•Obtained technical laboratory skills.•Exhibited planning, time management, collaboration, and leadership skills to meet the objectives of the project as evidenced by two Independent Research reports for school credit.

●Developed carbon nanotubes for the delivery of cargo into cells and investigated pro-inflammatory pathways.