Study Abroad: Sophia Briggs in Costa Rica

Before attending my first year at The University of Tampa, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in the Honors Program 2 Week Study Abroad trip in Costa Rica! When I got the email to apply, I was shocked that this was even an opportunity offered to incoming freshmen, and it was an opportunity I was grateful to have because I always wanted to study abroad in college. This trip was one of the most memorable moments of my life, and it was an academic experience that I don’t think could ever be replicated during my time at UTampa. 10 students, including myself, were able to take 2 Idea Labs, a main component of the Honors curriculum: HON 253 Idea Lab Health Science and HON 257 Idea Lab Social Science. The professors on the trip, Dr. Meers and Dr. Fridy, educated us during various lectures, during visits to natural areas and landmarks such as the Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Life Coffee Farm, and during other immersive excursions. Additionally, along with the professors, our tour guide, Mark, knew absolutely everything above and beyond about the Costa Rican forests, biodiversity, and history. My favorite part of the trip were the hikes in the Costa Rican forests, specifically the Monte Verde Cloud Forest. We were surrounded by thousands upon thousands of unique species and it was so beautiful to take in! One activity we did that stuck with me the most was a meditation activity we did in the forest. Our tour guide, Mark, educated us about how we were surrounded by many of the unique endemic species in the Costa Rican jungle in that very moment, and he instructed us all to separate for 10 minutes and just be in touch with the jungle. It was a very peaceful moment, and I reflect upon it a lot because it taught me to take a step back and be mindful of where I am, what I do, and how my actions can affect the nature and people around me. Without the Honors Program, I would not have been able to have had this unforgettable experience that opened my eyes to great perspectives. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica, and I will continue to carry all the knowledge and memories I gained from the trip in my mind and heart throughout the rest of my educational endeavors. 

Conference Presentation: Sofia Cuello

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) conference was truly an experience, especially as the only undergraduate attendee. I feel beyond lucky to have had the opportunity to attend such a renowned and prestigious event, amongst established health care professionals, pharmaceuticals, and medical students from top universities around the country. Alongside these brilliant minds, I was able to present my undergraduate thesis project on Identifying Mechanisms of Antioxidant Treatment in Drug Resistant Breast Cancer, discussing our current findings in the study, future experiments, and the greater clinical potential of this research. When not presenting, I was able to attend continuing education discussions with guest speakers on current developments in various cancer treatments, catching a glimpse of what my future career in clinical oncology might look like. Through networking with the many people around me at this conference, I gained valuable insight on potential career pathways and guidance to how to achieve my own goals after graduation. As I look towards my career after UTampa, I am grateful to have had this experience and it will heavily impact my future in oncology, clinical research, and translational medicine. Thank you to the UTampa Honors Department and the College of Natural and Health Science for funding this opportunity, and thank you to Dr. Dobrinski for her guidance as my thesis advisor and helping me get to this position of presenting at NCCN. I hope future UTampa students get the opportunity to present here or at similar conferences, as it has been imperative to my own professional development. 

Best,

Sofia Cuello

Abby Gurevitch: Poster presentation at the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting

This March, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting in San Diego, thanks to the generous funding from the Honors program. It was an event filled with inspiring talks, innovative research, and an opportunity to connect with professionals and fellow students in the field of chemistry. During the conference, I had the opportunity to present my research in a poster session. My poster, titled “Preparation of 2-Substituted Indoles by Reduction of (2-Nitrophenyl)acetylenes Followed by Cyclization of the Intermediate,” allowed me to showcase my work on synthesizing new indole derivatives. Presenting my findings was both exciting and nerve-wracking, but it was a rewarding experience to engage with other researchers and receive constructive feedback. Presenting my poster at the ACS conference also helped me develop my public speaking skills. Explaining my research to a diverse audience, including both experts and peers, pushed me to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely.

-Abby