In a moving address at the Rhode Island State House this month, Camila Cersosimo, a senior MARC U*STAR trainee majoring in Chemical Engineering, shared the story of her academic journey and how undergraduate research transformed her life plans. She presented her testimony alongside University of Rhode Island President Marc Parlange and Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development Bethany Jenkins to garner support for a bond to fund a new life sciences building for the university.

Camila moved to Rhode Island at the age of 18 from the Dominican Republic with the ultimate goal of pursuing higher education, but she needed to work in order to pay for her studies. After working in retail positions to pay for part-time studies at the Community College of Rhode Island for years, Camila was able to transfer to URI to major in Chemical Engineering.

Under the mentorship of Associate Professor Dr. Samantha Meenach, Camila found her academic home in the Particle Engineering Laboratory at URI, where she researches novel particle-based formulations for the treatment of pulmonary diseases. “Being exposed to this work has been incredibly rewarding, and it has made me understand the power of science and engineering to improve human lives in a very concrete way.”

Camila’s journey led her to the MARC U*STAR program at Dr. Meenach’s recommendation, a decision Camila described as a “game-changer” for her educational trajectory. With the program’s support, she could fully dedicate herself to research, eliminating the need for a part-time job. The monthly stipend provided by the MARC program allowed Camila to make research her primary focus. Camila has been so successful in research that she was recognized in 2023 as a Goldwater Scholar.

Highlighting the significance of the MARC program, Camila said, “Not only have I gotten to work on important biomedical research problems with huge societal impacts, but I have also discovered my potential to pursue a career in research, something I had never even thought would be possible, as the first member of my family to pursue higher education.”

Camila’s academic journey stands as a testament to the transformative impact of programs like MARC. As the call for a new life sciences building gains momentum, Camila’s narrative adds a personal touch to the importance of undergraduate research in shaping the next generation of biomedical scientists.