“Through the RI-INBRE teaching postdoctoral fellowship program I have gained immeasurable knowledge from running an undergraduate laboratory and mentoring students at Providence College, a primary undergraduate institution. This is a unique experience since graduate school training does not prepare you to run a lab exclusively with undergraduates. This practice has allowed me to design high quality teaching practices and research experiences focused specifically for undergraduate students.” Pina’s students are eager to embrace new research methods and ask questions. “It is really wonderful and rewarding to have had this opportunity.” Dr. Pina worked with Dr. Brett Pellock from 2017 to 2019 and their research focused on bacterial stress responses, entitled “The Role of Hfq in the Oxidative Stress Response of Shewanella Oneidensis.” Analysis of how cells that are starved for long periods of time survive cope with stress, and why some survive, and others don’t.