Under the Emerging Scholars Program at the University of Florida, I have been privileged with the opportunity to pursue research under the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Barry Setlow and Katherine Gonzalez. I have been investigating the impact of sex hormones on cognitive aging in aged female Fischer 344 x Brown Norway (FBN) hybrid rat models, with a specific focus on prefrontal cortex (PFC)-mediated functions. I am currently exploring how different genotypes of apolipoprotein (ApoE) contribute to behavior in rat models, in addition to characterizing estrous cycles as a function of ApoE genotype.

The Nguyen Lab at the University of Florida's Center for NeuroGenetics is a lab run by Dr. Lien Nguyen, whose lab explores repetitive DNA in the human genome to understand its role in disease, aging, and biology. At the Nguyen lab, I will be working under Rodrigo Tomas, a Neuroscience Ph.D candidate at UF who is exploring how repeat expansion mutations contribute to Alzheimer's disease through mouse, cellular, and patient-derived models.

As an Engagement Director, I serve to contribute to the cause of the Hispanic Student Association of creating a welcoming and exciting environment to incoming Hispanic and Latine students at the University of Florida by planning tabling, events, and more to engage with new general body members and promote the organization as a whole.

Professional and Academic Committee Member for MLP Spring Class of XXVIII

Over the course of the summer, I have had the privilege to shadow Dr. Kelly Foote, co-founder of the Norman Fixel Institute of Neurological Disorders and neurosurgeon within the UFHealth systems. Dr. Foote works with a wide range of patients but focuses his care on patients suffering from movement disorders such as Parkinson's syndrome, essential tremor, and epilepsy, to name a few. With deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology, Dr. Foote works alongside an interdisciplinary team of physicians and therapists within UFHealth to help alleviate symptoms of these disorders and ultimately bring patients an improved quality of life.Through my experience shadowing Dr. Foote, I have been able to see the immense impact he has on the lives of these patients, both in the clinic and in the operating room. He is an excellent physician, and empowers his patients to reclaim their lives and seek the best quality experience possible, despite their movement disorders.

Through the Medi-Gators Virtual Shadowing Program, I was privileged with the opportunity to meet with 40 healthcare professionals, ranging in careers from nurse practitioners, social workers, and even surgeons. The program granted me a unique perspective on various careers within healthcare and newfound knowledge of what the different career pathways consist of in terms of education, career outlook, and the overall day-to-day responsibilities.

As a shift supervisor, I engage with fellow Baristas in ensuring the best customer experience and best beverage quality. Tasks such as inventory management, food safety evaluations, and money management are few of the many that I oversee to ensure successful shifts!

As a Team Leader, I welcome new Team Members to the Front of House and Back of House operations, educate incoming Team Members on food safety procedures and customer service skills with the use of iPOS order taking system, engage Team Members to become well-rounded on every position in the restaurant in Front and Back of House operations, lead Front of House operations and monitored Team Member performance, and strategize best team structure for quick service throughout shifts.

Training incoming Team Members of correct procedures and best methods of executing various roles in Front of House and Back of House operations at Chick-fil-a Hialeah Westland. Also conditioning new Team Members to become educated in Food Safety procedures and Customer Service.

Educated in STEM career paths and carried out projects to build professional and academic profiles. Also taught the benefits of preparing for college early on and the best studying habits to succeed in STEM career paths by being exposed to several guest speakers in medical, pharmacy, and business fields.