Vania L
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of Rochester
Expertise
immunology, oncology, pathology, spanish
Bio
My academic journey has been driven by a deep need to understand how biological systems work at the molecular level, particularly in immunology and disease mechanisms. With a Ph.D. in Pathology from the University of Rochester and extensive research experience spanning from undergraduate work at Colby College to graduate studies, I've developed expertise in cellular biology, cancer biology, immunology, and biochemistry. What excites me most about science is the opportunity to share this knowledge with others, which naturally led me to pursue teaching roles throughout my academic career, including serving as a teaching assistant for foundational biology courses and tutoring students in chemistry and organic chemistry. This passion for education extends beyond the classroom through my involvement in science outreach and community building. As President of the University of Rochester Science Policy Initiative and through programs like the Colby Magic Show, I've learned to make complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for diverse audiences. My multilingual abilities—speaking fluent Spanish and conversational Mandarin—have further enhanced my ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and adapt my communication style to meet various learning needs. These experiences have shaped my approach to tutoring, where I combine rigorous scientific knowledge with the interpersonal skills needed to help students not just understand the material but also develop genuine excitement for learning.Project ideas
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - Analyzing Treatment Evolution and Patient Outcomes
This project involves analyzing the current state of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) research by examining publicly available clinical trial data and published studies to understand how treatments have evolved over the past decade. Students would use databases like PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov to research FDA-approved treatments like nintedanib and pirfenidone, comparing their mechanisms of action, clinical trial results, and patient outcomes data. They would create timelines showing treatment development, analyze survival rate improvements, and investigate emerging therapies in current clinical trials. The project teaches students how to read scientific literature, interpret clinical data, and understand drug development processes while exploring a real medical challenge affecting thousands of patients. Students can create presentations comparing different treatment approaches or analyze geographic differences in treatment access, making this both scientifically rigorous and socially relevant.
Antibiotic Resistance Patterns - Mining Global Surveillance Data
This research project uses publicly available databases from the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) and CDC's antibiotic resistance data to analyze patterns of bacterial resistance across different regions and time periods. Students would examine datasets showing resistance rates for common pathogens like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, creating graphs and maps to visualize how resistance patterns change geographically and over time. They would research the connection between antibiotic usage policies and resistance rates, comparing countries with different regulatory approaches. This project teaches data analysis skills, epidemiological thinking, and connects to current global health challenges. Students learn to work with real scientific datasets while exploring how human behavior and policy decisions impact microbial evolution, making complex concepts accessible through concrete data analysis. Image from the BBC.