Katelyn Caldarone, Bryant University
Erika Cortez, Bryant University
Willy Njeru, University of Rhode Island
Colby Constantine, University of Rhode Island
Filip Aubrecht, Brown University
Katelyn Caldarone, Bryant University
Katelyn Caldarone, (2022 SURF participant and 2023 SURF+ participant), presented her research at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington
D.C. and won the competitive travel award ($1,000) from the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience to attend this conference. Caldarone KD, Song SL, Cortez E, Savory NT, Kaun, KR, Scaplen KM (2023). “Mapping dopaminergic neural substrates of alcohol-associated behaviors in Drosophila.”
“I’ve been so fortunate to have been offered the opportunity to work in Dr. Kristin Scaplen’s RI-INBRE research lab since Fall 2021 and to conduct full time research during the 2022 and 2023 SURF programs. I truly believe that joining Dr. Scaplen’s research program was one of the best decisions I made while an undergraduate at Bryant University. I’ve received such excellent mentorship and training that has really motivated me to continue to pursue research post-graduation. As a psychology major, I initially thought I would pursue a career as a clinician. However, after taking an introductory psychopathology course, I had a strong inclination towards studying the underlying neurological and molecular mechanisms of the complex psychological disorders we studied in class. Within minutes of receiving Dr. Scaplen’s email announcing openings for research assistants in her lab, I replied with interest. My enthusiasm for being a member of her lab hasn’t wavered ever since. Since starting in the lab, I’ve been working on a project investigating distinct dopamine microcircuits that modulate alcohol induced locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster. My work on this project has provided me significant training in conducting behavioral neuroscience experiments and have contributed to me gaining computational skills such as computer vision and programming for data analysis. I’ve not only had meaningful experiences within the lab but have also had various opportunities to present my work at several regional, national, and international conferences including the Northeast Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience 2022, 2022 Boston Area Drosophila Meeting, RI Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium 2022 and 2023, National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence 2022, and Society for Neuroscience 2022 and 2023.
I consider myself to be particularly shy, however, my confidence absolutely flourishes when communicating my science with other students, scientists, and members of the public. My experiences in the research lab and the full-time research experiences I’ve gained from being part of the SURF programs have solidified my intent to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience following my graduation from Bryant University in May 2024. I applied this past fall and am hopeful to matriculate in a Neuroscience Graduate Program this upcoming fall. I’m primarily interested in studying how neural circuits function and change in the context of disease.
I’m enthusiastic about what my future in research holds and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to conduct research over the past few years. I truly believe participating in research as an undergraduate is an amazing opportunity to discover one’s passions in science. I’ve experienced significant growth as a trainee and these experiences have given me the opportunity to gain the confidence and competencies necessary to pursue research at the graduate level.”
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Erika Cortez, Bryant University
Erika Cortez, full-time research assistant in Dr. Kristin Scaplen’s lab (position 
funded by RI-INBRE Collaborative Research Early Career Development) presented her research at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington D.C. Cortez E and Scaplen KM (2023). “Investigating the Role of Drosophila Dorsal Paired Medial (DPM) Neurons in Alcohol-Associated Memories.”
“My experience in Dr. Kristin Scaplen’s lab has been
invaluable. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wonderful mentor and PI, who has not only supported my research goals and interests but also my career goals. I’ve learned a great deal from this experience, growing as a researcher and gaining many transferable skills that I hope to apply as a graduate student in the near future.”
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Willy Njeru, University of Rhode Island
Willy Njeru, Doctor of Pharmacy student and 2023 SURF participant, was a runner 
up in Pitch Night hosted by i(X)Studio. “Njeru came to URI hoping to explore the intersection of healthcare and business strategy. i(X)Studio offered him a place to do that, as well as funding for Nanovyx, a startup concept for a technology that uses bacterial molecules to carry antibiotics ($750).” Read full story here
“I experienced significant growth in the RI-INBRE SURE program by being equipped with valuable technical lab skills and professional development opportunities. I had not previously performed an independent research project in the lab before; however, the support I received from my research mentor and RI-INBRE leadership gave me the confidence to navigate scientific experiments and problem-solve along the way. In addition, the SURE workshops exploring topics such as career goals, scientific communication, and presentation skills allowed me to develop not just as an undergraduate researcher, but as a student and future professional.”
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Colby Constantine, University of Rhode Island
Colby Constantine, a RI-INBRE undergraduate and member of the Chemical Engineering Class of 2025, recently received a URI Undergraduate Research and Innovation (URI)2 grant totaling $1,000 for his project titled “Characterizing Nanoparticle Dynamics in Biorelevant Materials to Predict Epithelial Transport Properties of Orally Administered Medications.” This independent research project is based 
on Colby’s RI-INBRE work. The project is expected to start in Spring 2024 and conclude after an academic year.
“Working with RI-INBRE has been nothing short of amazing. After being offered a fellowship in the Summer of 2022, RI-INBRE thoroughly prepared me to succeed in a lab setting and develop numerous professional skills, from poster presentations to writing grant proposals. With the skills I developed through RI-INBRE, I am thrilled to say I received the University of Rhode Island’s Undergraduate Research and Innovation grant two years in a row. With the continued support from RI-INBRE, I know I will develop into a highly competitive applicant for various graduate school programs.”
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Filip Aubrecht, Brown University
Filip Aubrecht (Senior undergraduate Biochemistry and Material Engineering at 
Brown University) has been working in Dr. Benjamin McDonald’s (RI-INBRE Investigator, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Brown University) lab for the last two years. “As an aspiring chemist trained during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had very little hands-on laboratory experience before working in Dr. McDonald’s lab. It wasn’t until the summer of 2022 when I first started in Dr. McDonald’s lab that I really solidified my organic chemistry training and began to work independently. This experience is what made me interested in academic research and has significantly influenced my educational path and future career.
The main project I have been working on has been the development and characterization of a stimulus responsive polymer materials inspired by mussel foot proteins. Instruments such as the rheometer are essential to being able to characterize and quantify material property changes in response to stimuli. Having access to a rheometer has dramatically streamlined our workflow and has allowed us to do material analysis directly within the Chemistry Department here at Brown.
With these synthetic systems, we are able to get a nuanced perspective and precise understanding as to why biological materials work the way they do. We are also able to expand upon these biological materials beyond what nature has had the time to do through trial-and-error evolution to create extremely dynamic and responsive materials.”
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