While pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Biology at Texas State University, I sought many opportunities to be involved in research. I was fortunate enough to be offered my first research position in the Intelligent Multimodal Computing and Sensing (IMICS) Laboratory at Texas State by one of my computer science professors, Dr. Vangelis Metsis. As a research assistant in this lab, I collected biometric data for a virtual reality study investigating eyewitness testimony for the School of Criminal Justice. While working on this study, I built upon my interests in informatics, user-experience, and interactive technology. In pursuing these interests, I assisted in a study investigating the efficacy of virtual reality exposure treatment for veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms. I aided in developing and evaluating quantitative metrics used to assess the primary dependent variable of emotional affect. I enjoyed finding meaning in the mass of information collected and completed an independent study to evaluate user experience and visualize data. Specifically, I analyzed collected biological data using machine learning algorithms to systematically evaluate the exposure effects of virtual reality treatment in terms of condition outcomes. The independent study results were used to improve the virtual environment and create a more effective and user-friendly experience. The study also resulted in my first publication in the Journal of Clinical Social Work and multiple presentations at academic conferences along side my research mentor. Dr. Metsis afforded me many opportunities to pursue research. Prior to pursuing research, I had a difficult semester. Due to my mental health and overall difficulty of navigating higher education as a first-generation student, my GPA was less than impressive. Yet, Dr. Metsis saw my ambition and interests and granted me the opportunity of working in his lab, offering his mentorship without judgement. Prior to working in the IMICS lab, I doubted my abilities and place in STEM. His encouragement helped me realize that I, indeed, did have a place in higher education and grades aren’t ultimately what matters- curiosity and perseverance matter. While working in the IMICS lab, I developed a productive passion for research in and outside the laboratory. As someone who aspires to be a professional scientist and academic, I appreciate how these research opportunities have tested me and affirmed the academic talents that I continue to build on. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities Dr. Metis afforded me with throughout my undergraduate career. Seeing the impact my research and development made in the lab gave me the confidence to pursue my master’s in information studies at UT Austin. Motivated by my research experience, I aspire to continue my interdisciplinary-focused pursuit of research and innovate creative and effective solutions during my graduate studies. If I learned anything from Dr. Metsis over the past few years, it is that I want to continue serving the community I love through research and service.

How do you envision using your interests, skills, and career in technology to make the world a better place? While pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Biology at Texas State University, I sought many opportunities to be involved in research. I was fortunate enough to be offered my first research position in the Intelligent Multimodal Computing and Sensing (IMICS) Laboratory at Texas State by one of my computer science professors, Dr. Vangelis Metsis. As a research assistant in this lab, I collected biometric data for a virtual reality study investigating eyewitness testimony for the School of Criminal Justice. While working on this study, I built upon my interests in informatics, user-experience, and interactive technology. In pursuing these interests, I assisted in a study investigating the efficacy of virtual reality exposure treatment for veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms. I aided in developing and evaluating quantitative metrics used to assess the primary dependent variable of emotional affect. I enjoyed finding meaning in the mass of information collected and completed an independent study to evaluate user experience and visualize data. Specifically, I analyzed collected biological data using machine learning algorithms to systematically evaluate the exposure effects of virtual reality treatment in terms of condition outcomes. The independent study results were used to improve the virtual environment and create a more effective and user-friendly experience. Because I enjoyed taking a human-centered approach to technology in my research, I chose to work as a research assistant for a professor from the School of Social Work, Dr. Rick Morley. In our work, we created and implemented new research methods to explore the mechanisms of biological processes. Specifically, in our research, we explored the intersections of neural connectivity and aggressive behaviors in data collected from the Human Connectome Project. I devoted much of my time in quarantine my senior year of college when the pandemic hit developing scripts to automating rfMRI analysis using MATLAB toolboxes and visualizing data using python programming. Graduating into a global pandemic taught me to embrace ambiguity. I saw so many opportunities to affect positive change in my community, which is why I chose to accept a position as a molecular technologist post-graduation. During this time, in addition to working on COVID molecular assays and testing, I worked directly with the research and development team to build applications using R and Python programming that resulted in improved genomic analysis turnaround time for all molecular assays across the lab. One of the achievements that I am most proud of in my college career is the work I was able to do in my internship with an organization called Girl Start. I taught a science-positive course in a school, much like the ones I attended in my early life, for fifth-grade girls. As an active STEM major, I was able to act as a role model to girls who likely did not have many examples of women of color pursuing science in their lives. The disadvantages I saw my students face inspired me to create virtual classroom environments that support the needs of educators and students with disabilities to provide an opportunity to practice every day "real world" skills in a safe environment, especially in underserved communities. I believe that equitable access to information and technology creates a more just and inclusive world. I am passionate about accessibility and leveraging technology to support underserved communities in the US and worldwide. As a purpose-driven humanitarian with a natural curiosity and passion for innovative technology and progressive ideas, I believe my research and work can greatly contribute to a better information and technology-rich future through expanding and developing new systems and applications. In my graduate studies and later career, I hope to explore behavioral and psychological engineering. I intend to develop interactive, adaptable, and immersive virtual environments and media that can provide productive solutions, promote new learning, assist in training, and help assess and manage psychotherapy skills. I aspire to also work along with behavioral scientists in an interdisciplinary project to develop virtual reality exposure therapies to improve mental health for those suffering from cognitive disorders. I believe that equitable access to information and technology creates a more just and inclusive world. Throughout my college career, I have developed a productive passion for research in and outside the laboratory. As someone who aspires to be a professional scientist and academic, I appreciate how these research opportunities have tested me and affirmed the academic talents that I continue to build on. As an interdisciplinary researcher, I am highly motivated to innovate creative and effective solutions. I excel at creating order out of chaos; whether distilling research insights or developing new media, I enjoy getting elbow-deep in minutiae and then cleaning it up. I look forward to building off my previous research and contribute to innovative projects exploring human-centered principles for developing interactive technologies and user-friendly applications at UT Austin. I hope to continue my interdisciplinary-focused pursuit of research and join the next generation of visionary innovators. Pursing my Masters in Information Studies will allow me to reach disadvantaged and marginalized communities in need and achieve my goal to developing interactive technologies. I believe my work can offer a brighter outlook for those in my indigenous and Latin communities. If I have learned anything these past few years, it is that I want to continue serving the communities I love through research and service.

Graduating into a global pandemic taught me to embrace ambiguity. I saw so many opportunities to affect positive change in my community, which is why I chose to accept a position as a molecular technologist post-graduation. During this time, in addition to working on COVID molecular assays and testing, I worked directly with the research and development team to build applications using R and Python programming that resulted in improved genomic analysis turnaround time for all molecular assays across the lab.

As a minority student on many fronts in America, the road to achieving my academic goals has been paved with repeated adversity. I grew up in a low-income area in Dallas' inner city and attended low-performing schools for most of my life. After my family lost my little brother less than three months after receiving his cancer diagnosis, my father went into acute kidney failure, lost his job, and was unable to provide for our family. In some sense, I also lost my father following the death of my little brother, the strong and enthusiastic father I once knew was also no longer. Today, he is awaiting a kidney transplant and has been in and out of mental health facilities battling his depression and anxiety due to the grief sustained and his current health state. Due to the crippling debt my both my brother and father’s medical expenses left my family in, my parents could not afford to pay for my education, so over the course of my four years in university, I have held seven different jobs, many simultaneously, to make ends meet. While I have been faced with no other choice but to adapt, move forward, and provide for my family, I have had to overcome depression and PTSD as a result of my unstable childhood, all while navigating the first-generation college experience. Despite the obstacles, I learned to manage my mental health, stay greatly motivated, focus my energy, and harness my ambition to achieve my academic and personal successes. I am extremely proud to have received my bachelor’s in biology, largely motivated by my brother’s cancer diagnosis, in May of 2020. Persevering through this trauma provided me with a great sense of resiliency. I know that a new normal can be obtained after tragedy and I am confident that I can make it through whatever life throws at me. Greif, I have learned, is just really love. It is all the love you want to give but cannot. It gathers in your heart, and I have learned giving back to my community has provided me with an outlet. Today, I take every opportunity to give back to my community, who so graciously provided my family with support during our loss and hardships. I will never forget the kindness that community offered my family, from fundraising funeral expenses, providing childcare for my siblings and I, and warm meals during my family’s financial hardships. Throughout my college experience, I completed over 500 hours of community service. One of the achievements that I am most proud of in my college career is the work I was able to do in my internship with an organization called Girl Start. I taught a science-positive course in a school, much like the ones I attended in my early life, for fifth-grade girls. As an active STEM major, I was able to act as a role model to girls who likely did not have many examples of women of color pursuing science in their lives. The disadvantages I saw my students at Girl Start face inspired me to begin creating virtual classroom environments that support the needs of educators and students with disabilities to provide an opportunity to practice every day "real world" skills in a safe environment, especially in underserved communities. My experience teaching these girls and developing new technology helped me realize that I wanted to continue onto an advanced degree after graduation. I know pursuing graduate school will enable me to mentor any students who have been discouraged or excluded from STEM higher education. Overcoming my mental health hardships have inspired me to innovate creative and effective solutions for my community. As a purpose-driven humanitarian with a natural curiosity and passion for innovative technology and progressive ideas, I am eager to develop interactive, adaptable, and immersive virtual environments and media that can provide productive solutions, promote new learning, and assist in training skills in my graduate studies and later career. Specifically, I aspire to work along with behavioral scientists to develop virtual reality exposure therapies to improve mental health for those suffering from cognitive disorders while pursing my MSIS at UT Austin. I am passionate about accessibility and leveraging technology to support underserved communities. If I have learned anything these past few years, it is that I want to continue serving the communities I love through research and service. I believe my work can offer a brighter outlook for those in my indigenous and Latin communities.