The Maximizing Access to Research Careers Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (MARC U*STAR) Program at the University of Rhode Island held its highly anticipated Annual Research Symposium, showcasing the impressive accomplishments of its trainees and their groundbreaking research.

Held on April 6, 2024, the symposium gathered MARC scholars, faculty mentors, and esteemed guests from URI and beyond. The event provided a platform for MARC scholars to present their research findings across diverse fields in the biomedical sciences, highlighting the program’s commitment to fostering excellence and diversity in research.

Naomi Pajarillo, a member of the MARC Class of 2021 and now a graduate student in Neuroscience at Yale University, delivered an inspiring keynote address before the eight current trainees gave oral presentations, in which they eloquently articulated their research methodologies, findings, and implications for their respective fields. Trainees also discussed their journey within the MARC program and how it has shaped their research interests.