Ashley Luna joined NISE to gain essential lab experience that will support her journey through undergrad and into dental school. Through the program, she’s building a solid foundation in laboratory techniques, while also learning the importance of patience, collaboration, and precision in scientific work—skills that are critical for both research and clinical practice. Ashley has already picked up unexpected skills, like preparing different types of agar, using specialized lab equipment, and maintaining a detailed lab notebook to ensure reproducibility. Beyond the technical training, she’s using NISE as an opportunity to explore whether research might play a bigger role in her future. With a focus on growth and long-term learning, Ashley is laying the groundwork for a successful academic and professional path.

Audrey Marsh came to NISE with an open mind and a desire to deepen her understanding of microbiology—and she’s gaining much more than she expected. From hands-on lab experience to collaborative teamwork and individual projects, Audrey is sharpening her skills in microbial identification and learning how bacteria interact with antibiotics. While she initially hoped to simply build a stronger foundation in microbiology, Audrey is walking away with more confidence in her scientific abilities—and an unexpected but valuable lesson in the power of friendship. For Audrey, NISE has been both an academic and personal journey of growth.

For Cedar O’Donnell, NISE has been an eye-opening introduction to the realities of research life. Through hands-on experience, Cedar is gaining a deeper understanding of lab techniques, strengthening problem-solving skills, and learning what it really takes to pursue a career in science. One key takeaway so far: research doesn’t always fit neatly into a 9–5 schedule—something Cedar has learned firsthand. Despite the challenges, the experience is helping build confidence in the lab and providing valuable insight to guide future academic and career decisions.

Danna Renteria joined NISE with a clear goal: to build a strong foundation for a future career in the lab. Through hands-on experience and collaboration, she’s gaining valuable insight into working in a professional lab environment—learning not only technical skills, like bacterial testing and PCR analysis, but also the importance of patience, precision, and teamwork. Danna is especially focused on preparing for biochemistry, and NISE is helping her get comfortable with both the subject matter and the setting. By stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing new challenges, she’s developing the academic, professional, and personal confidence she needs to succeed in her future studies and career.

Hillary Treadway joined NISE to gain more hands-on experience in a lab—and she’s already learning more than she anticipated. One unexpected highlight has been diving into coding and data analysis, skills that are expanding her scientific toolkit and broadening her perspective. With plans to teach high school students, Hillary is using this opportunity to explore the best ways to bring real-world lab experience into the classroom. NISE is not only helping her grow academically and professionally, but also equipping her to inspire the next generation of science learners.

Iliana Smolik came into the NISE program eager to learn—and the experience has exceeded her expectations. With no specific goals beyond gaining knowledge, she’s now building valuable lab skills that will benefit her in future classes and research opportunities. One exciting surprise has been learning how to make her own media, a skill she hadn’t practiced before despite using it in past labs. Beyond the technical training, NISE is helping Iliana grow more confident in group settings and embrace the experience of being far from home. For her, the program is not only educational, but also fun and rewarding a truly memorable step on her academic journey.

Jessica Pulgarian joined NISE to strengthen her technical skills and immerse herself in the world of scientific research—and the experience is delivering. By becoming familiar with research culture and lab work, she’s gaining valuable hands-on training that will support her academic and professional growth. A standout moment in her NISE journey has been preparing to attend the ASM conference with her mentor, where she looks forward to connecting with professionals from graduate programs across the country. Jessica has also learned the ins and outs of presenting research, including how to engage with multiple authors on a single poster—an unexpected and enriching part of her experience.

For Jose Hernandez, NISE has been a valuable step toward his goal of working in a lab after graduation. With prior lab experience at his institution, Jose joined the program to see what it’s like to focus on a single research project over an extended period—and to challenge himself with a more intensive, hands-on schedule. Through NISE, he’s refining familiar techniques, learning new methods for analyzing bacterial strains, and gaining insight into the flexibility of lab procedures depending on the research goal. From testing bacteria on various media to improving his ability to collaborate in a lab environment, Jose is gaining both confidence and clarity about his future in scientific research.

Kiana Fullmore is embracing the full scope of the NISE experience—from hands-on lab work to professional development and personal growth. With no prior biology coursework, she’s diving into microbiology for the first time and finding it both challenging and fascinating. Through simulated lab environments, research training, mentorship, and workshops, Kiana is gaining the experience she hoped for while also building the confidence to step outside her comfort zone. As she prepares for future academic and career goals, NISE is helping her grow not just as a student, but as a resilient and independent researcher.

Kiya Hamar is using her time in NISE to build a solid foundation for graduate school and a future career in science. Focused on gaining lab experience and making professional connections, she’s also learning how diverse and flexible research paths can be. One of the most eye-opening takeaways so far has been discovering how a single lab can support a variety of research focuses—and that there’s no one “right” way to reach a career goal. Through mentorship, hands-on training, and exposure to different academic routes, Kiya is gaining the clarity and confidence she needs to shape her own path forward.

For Mikayla Portillo, NISE has been a powerful way to apply what she’s learned in the classroom to real-world research. The program has challenged her to test her knowledge, develop patience, and approach science with a deeper sense of purpose and passion. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Marcheschi, Mikayla has not only strengthened her individual lab skills but also begun to consider research as a potential career path—something she hadn’t seriously explored before. NISE is helping her grow academically, professionally, and personally, expanding both her confidence and her future possibilities.

Molly Decoteau is making the most of her NISE experience by diving deeper into the lab side of science—a perfect complement to her major in forensic chemistry. With a background heavy in criminal justice, she was eager to gain hands-on lab experience and expand her scientific knowledge, particularly in microbiology. NISE has helped Molly feel more confident working in a professional lab environment and collaborating with others. She’s already learned a great deal about bacterial behavior and antibiotic interactions, gaining insights that will be valuable for her future studies and career in forensic science.

Zachary Tebay joined NISE to strengthen his academic research abilities and prepare for the challenges of higher education—and the program is doing just that. Focused on ecological and environmental research, Zachary is honing his critical thinking and learning how to turn fieldwork into reliable, meaningful data. One key lesson he didn’t expect: just how crucial accurate sampling is to the entire research process. As he builds confidence in both lab and field settings, Zachary is becoming a more competitive, well-rounded scientist—ready to take on future academic and professional challenges.