Mallory Armstrong


I learned about MRADS via social media, purely by chance. At that point, I did not know that first year students could do undergraduate research – let alone as a living learning experience – but, after reading more about the program I decided to apply. I only really realized how badly I wanted to be accepted after submitting my application. I had already decided on a career in research, and I wanted to be a part of a community that shared that interest. Moreover, the residence hall, Mosher-Jordan, was appealing to me.

 Despite my enthusiasm, my journey to becoming an MRADS student was not straightforward. I was disappointed initially, when I did not receive an email the day decisions were supposed to come out. I emailed the former director, re-expressing interest in both the program and environmental research, and asking when I might know if I was accepted or not. That might have been what secured my place; and when I finally got the acceptance email, I was so excited that I jumped out of my seat and scared my poor dog.

Soon thereafter, MRADS became the cornerstone of my first year of college. Early on, I was petrified that I would be professionally lagging behind my peers and that I wouldn’t “find my people” like everyone tells you that you will in college. I needn’t have worried. The MRADS staff and student leaders taught me how to apply for research positions, how to prepare for interviews, and how to develop my resumé. All of this preparation made me a competitive applicant, and I landed in the lab that I still work in today. 

Since joining MRADS, I’ve met people from all over the world and all different walks of life. This experience is a far cry from my rural Michigan hometown . The strong community in MRADS has helped me find some of my best friends at Michigan, who over the course of a few short months became like a second family. The most valuable things MRADS has given me hasn’t been the research experience – although that has been incredible for my career and college life – but the memories of walking through the Arboretum, celebrating birthdays, and going to Ben and Jerry’s after Symposium with my friends.

My first year in MRADS was so enriching that I decided to return as a student leader. I felt compelled to “pay it forward”, in terms of my time with MRADS, to other students in their first year of research and to help them find a community. I became the first person to hold my role in the program, a joint position with the Affinity Groups and Recruitment Team. The work with the Affinity Groups has been very rewarding – what I have enjoyed most about MRADS is the community’s inclusivity, and helping to facilitate that has been a great experience. Moreover, The Recruitment Team, though it’s just getting started this semester, is also special. We go to Campus Day events a few times a week to talk to prospective students and tell them about the research opportunity just waiting for them. Since I found MRADS by luck, I love being able to interact with potential Wolverines and their families and tell them about how they can get involved in research and an incredible, diverse community at Michigan.

MRADS has transformed my university experience, and I look forward to continuing work for the program next year!

Brief Bio:  Mallory Armstrong is the Affinity Group and Recruitment Team Coordinator for MRADS. She is majoring in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity, with an intention to pursue a career in marine ecological research. She joined the MRADS program last year, and came back as a student leader in fall 2024.