Major: Biomedical Engineering
UCI faculty mentor: Quinton Smith
Research group: Smith Lab @ UCI
What advice would you give to your past self when you were just starting your research journey?
Trust that you are already “qualified enough” and don’t wait for the perfect moment to start. It’s okay if you feel like research doesn’t come naturally to you. As an undergrad, of course, you don’t know everything, you just need to be excited to learn! Ask lots of questions to your mentors, like “I noticed you did this, can you explain why?” or even just “hey, what are you working on?” (Because trust me, trying to fake it til you make it won’t work). When you are present, attentive, and putting in the hard work, research will get easier, and you’ll come to love and understand your project. Good luck, and remember to have fun!
