The University of Rhode Island’s Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program welcomed four new undergraduate trainees in September 2026: Zorayda Gutierrez, Abby Heim, Camila Quiroga, and Joseph Ramos. Our newest cohort brings a range of academic interests and research experiences to the program as they prepare for future careers in biomedical research.
Zorayda Gutierrez is a junior majoring in Cell & Molecular Biology from Providence, Rhode Island. Zorayda’s research journey at URI began through the NIBIB-funded R25 URI ESTEEMED program, through which she joined the laboratory of Dr. Merina Varghese in her sophomore year, combining disease biology with advanced spatial imaging of proteins and metabolites to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Abby Heim is a junior majoring in Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences from Richmond, Rhode Island. As a MARC trainee, she conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph Schrader in URI’s Department of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Schrader laboratory investigates cerebral small vessel diseases and Alzheimer’s disease-related disorders, with a particular focus on cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
Camila Quiroga is a junior from Providence, Rhode Island, double majoring in Neuroscience and Cell & Molecular Biology. She conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Katharina Quinlan, investigating the neural basis of movement to advance the development of pharmaceutical treatments for conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy, and cerebral palsy. Camila was a trainee in the NIBIB-funded R25 URI ESTEEMED program, which supported her during her first two years of college and provided the opportunity to begin working in the Quinlan laboratory the summer after her freshman year.
Joseph Ramos is a junior from Bristol, Rhode Island, who is majoring in Kinesiology with the goal of pursuing a combined MD-PhD degree. He was a fellow in the NSF and Metcalf Institute-supported Open Newsroom in summer 2026, and he has also conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. Jacob DeBlois. Joseph is currently rotating through research groups to explore different areas of investigation and identify the laboratory that best aligns with his interests and long-term goals. Through MARC’s research and professional development opportunities, Joseph is building a foundation for a future career that bridges scientific discovery and medicine.
Zorayda, Abby, Camila, and Joseph represent URI’s commitment to supporting undergraduate researchers and preparing the next generation of biomedical scientists. Through research mentorship and professional development, MARC helps students build the experience and confidence needed to pursue advanced degrees and contribute to scientific discovery.
URI MARC is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award T34GM157999.