Meet the MUSE Scholars

Liza is a is majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-medical track. Her interest in biomedical research began in high school through an independent study examining the effects of environmental pollutants on animal behavior.

At UM, she has gained research experience in multiple labs. They previously volunteered in Dr. Rajguru’s Neural Engineering and Sensory Neurophysiology Laboratory, supporting research focused on characterizing, diagnosing, and treating disorders that affect auditory and vestibular inner ear function. Currently, she is a part of Dr. Vidot’s Global Cannabis and Psychedelics Research Collaboratory, working on the Herbal Heart Study, which investigates the relationship between routes of cannabis administration and subclinical cardiovascular disease risk.

Liza prides herself on being approachable and supportive. Through her work as a workshop leader for chemistry and biology courses, she has developed experience explaining complex concepts in accessible ways for students with diverse learning styles. She enjoy helping students who are new to research organize their ideas, build confidence, and identify clear next steps for getting involved.

Calvin is studying Health Science and Exercise Physiology and is interested in researching spinal cord injuries in rodent models, focusing on the physiological changes in the cardiovascular system following injury. His work explores developing protocols that could eventually translate to human studies, with the goal of helping individuals regain neuromuscular function.

Calvin enjoys working with first-year students and feels especially confident helping them explore their interests and discover their passions in research. He is committed to giving back to his peers and serving as a supportive mentor, just as others did for him throughout his time in college.

He strives to be a resource for students who may find research overwhelming and aims to help them navigate opportunities and connect with the resources they need to succeed.

Neil is a majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a strong interest in computational neuroscience. He is particularly drawn to research that tackles complex problems by breaking them down into simpler, more manageable components.

Neil enjoys helping students navigate challenges that may initially feel overwhelming. He is especially skilled at breaking down goals into clear steps, talking through options, and helping students determine where to begin. Neil values being a thoughtful listener and enjoys connecting students with helpful resources and opportunities.

He feels most equipped to support first-year students, those new to research, and anyone curious about getting involved but unsure where to start. Neil is especially curious about big, open-ended questions that bring together engineering, biology, and the brain.

Mano is majoring in Health Science on the pre-med track, with a strong interest in cancer biology, tumor metabolism, and translational research. He conducts lung cancer research through the Sylvester Program for Academic Research and Knowledge (SPARK) in Dr. Medhi Wangpaichitr’s laboratory at the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital. There he studies how metabolic reprogramming allows cancer cells to resist chemotherapy and evade the immune system.

Mano is particularly drawn to research that bridges basic science discoveries with real-world patient care. His work focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of cancer in ways that may ultimately contribute to improved treatments and outcomes for patients.

Mano enjoys helping students break down complex ideas into clear, manageable steps. He supports students as they balance coursework, research, and other commitments while working toward goals such as presentations or publications, and encourages them to build strong, respectful relationships with mentors and research teams.

Veronica Richmond (she/they) is a scientist and designer with interests spanning nearly every discipline, including innovative science communication practices, field biology, illustration, data science, copywriting, ecology, and using the psychology of advertising for good. She is passionate about innovative approaches that make complex scientific ideas accessible and engaging.

Her mentoring superpower is being an attentive, empathetic listener. Veronica enjoys meeting students where they are, helping them navigate challenges, and connecting them to mentors and under-utilized campus resources.

Veronica has extensive experience supporting first- and second-year students (through being a course TA, working in the Office of Academic Enhancement, leading Scientifica, & educating peers through COPE), and feels she can make the most meaningful impact for students with mixed interests like her – students with the most wiggly, divided paths.

Their curiosity is piqued by complex problems that have lots of stakeholders and influences, as they allow us to explore multiple perspectives, disciplines, and paradigms to reach a solution, as well as environmental (like species dropoffs) and existential (like trust erosion) topics that are becoming more and more important to dive into. Above all, they believe curiosity to be contagious, and when a student is passionate about their work, Veronica will want to know all about it and help them succeed. 

Grace Sigwanz is studying Psychology and serves as the lead clinical research assistant at the Learning and Behavior Research and Training Lab. She plans to pursue a career in behavior analytic research, with a particular interest in the assessment and treatment of severe behavior and feeding disorders.

Through her clinical research experience, Grace is especially curious about working with participants who present unique behavioral concerns that require individualized assessment and treatment plans. These experiences continue to shape her interest in developing personalized behavioral interventions.

As a mentor, Grace enjoys listening to students’ interests and helping them identify and pursue related research opportunities. She feels particularly well equipped to support first-year students, those new to research, and students looking to expand on their existing research experience.

Avani is pursuing a double major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Global Health on the Pre-Medical Track. She is a research assistant at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, where she contributes to projects aimed at understanding and developing treatments for spinal cord injuries.

Her mentoring strength is being an attentive listener. Avani enjoys learning about students’ interests and helping them navigate opportunities in research, summer programs, and other academic experiences.

She feels especially equipped to support students who are new to research as well as those who are already involved but seeking additional opportunities. Avani helps students identify the resources and guidance they need to pursue meaningful research experiences.

Alejandro is interested in interdisciplinary biomedical and computational research, with a focus on improving health outcomes and understanding disease. He is particularly curious about projects that combine multiple disciplines to tackle complex scientific challenges.

His mentoring strength is helping students identify and access research opportunities that align with their interests and goals. Alejandro focuses on connecting students to the right labs, resources, and next steps to get involved.

He feels especially equipped to support students pursuing interdisciplinary or research-oriented paths, guiding them as they explore opportunities, clarify their goals, and take meaningful steps toward engaging in research.

Dominique (Dom) is a studying Biochemistry and Microbiology with a minor in Public Health. She aspires to pursue an MD/PhD with a focus on cancer research, particularly exploring how the microbiome and cellular signaling pathways influence disease. Her research experience spans host-microbe interactions, social determinants of health, and cancer treatment interventions, reflecting an interest in understanding medicine from multiple perspectives.

Dom is especially interested in interdisciplinary approaches that connect clinical, sociological, and laboratory-based research. Her experiences across these areas have shaped her ability to think broadly about complex health challenges and their real-world implications.

Dom enjoys helping students navigate the process of getting involved in research and identifying opportunities that align with their interests. She feels well equipped to support students at any stage of their journey, whether they are just getting started or looking to take the next step through opportunities such as reaching out to mentors, applying to REUs, or preparing for conferences.

Rachel is a studying Biomedical Engineering. Her primary research interests include drug delivery platforms for autoimmune diseases and cancer, and she is especially drawn to tissue engineering and wet-lab, cell-based research.

Rachel’s mentoring strength is her ability to listen and support others as they work through challenges. She enjoys helping students talk through problems, find answers to their questions, and feel confident taking their next steps. Her goal as a MUSE Scholar is to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring new opportunities.

Having become involved in research early in her freshman year, Rachel feels especially equipped to support students who are new to research, exploring their academic interests, or unsure where to begin. Her curiosity is driven by asking questions and digging deeper when answers are not immediately clear, an approach that continually inspires her pursuit of STEM and research opportunities.