Meet the 2025 MRADS Recruitment Team

Name: Mallory Armstrong

Hometown: Highland, MI

Major: Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity

Research Project: My project is “Nitrogen Uptake of Microcystis in Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Lake Erie”. I am a project leader this year, and I analyze nanoSIMS images of toxic cyanobacteria to determine what kinds of nutrients they take up, from which the data can be used to minimize the effects of HABs in the future.

Favorite MRADS Memory: My favorite MRADS memories are from late nights with my friends, or the trip to Philadelphia last spring.

Why did you join MRADS? I joined MRADS because I wanted to be a part of a group of people who were just as excited about research as I am, and because I wanted to get into a lab as soon as I could. I was also nervous about finding friends in college; and MRADS made it possible for me to find the people I call my best friends now.

Advice to incoming students: Don’t be afraid to talk to people! Make friends with the people on your floor, in your classes, in study groups, etc. It seems hard, but it never hurts to just start the conversation. Also, if you see something you’re interested in, go for it! You’ll meet more people and find even more things you enjoy.

Co-Curriculars: Epsilon Eta (beta chapter), HerCampus Magazine

Name: Brianna Davis

Hometown: St Clair Shores, MI

Major: Microbiology 

Research Project: Characterizing novel nitizines at opioid receptors.

Favorite MRADS Memory: My favorite MRADS Memory is meeting my best friends at MRADS 101 and spending nights chatting in my room or going to get boba together before studying.

Why did you join MRADS? I joined MRADS for the opportunity to begin my undergraduate research career early. I have always been interested in doing clinical research and MRADS gave me the support I needed to get started.

Advice to incoming students: Don’t be scared to meet new people and get out of your comfort zone. I was uncomfortable not only meeting my peers, but the faculty or graduate students who will be leading research projects. All of these people want to see you succeed. Do not be afraid to talk first and forge both personal and professional relationships. It will be very beneficial in the long run. 

Co-Curriculars: GSUSA and Michigan Catholics 

Name: Nisan Dogu

Hometown: Turkey

Major: Neuroscience and Psychology & IGR minor

Research Project: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia as a possible treatment for insomnia among individuals with problematic cannabis use and alcohol use disorder.

Favorite MRADS Memory: Staying up all night at 4th-floor Mounge with everyone instead of studying for my orgo final.

Why did you join MRADS? To be supported in my journey with research and find a smaller community of people on a big campus. 

Advice to incoming students: Say yes!

Co-Curriculars: Neuroscience Student Association Neuronews, Mu Epsilon Delta Pre-health fraternity, Michigan Photography Club (Social Media/Marketing), Turkish Student Association (Social Media), Parkinson’s Pals (E-board)

Name: Ellanor May

Hometown: Brighton, Michigan

Major: Psychology, minor in crime and justice

Research Project: UM Neurodiversity Project: Sports & Mindfulness

Favorite MRADS Memory: Talking in the hall with my friends and having late-night homework sessions together

Why did you join MRADS? I wanted to be part of a community that lived together and was more involved, and being able to do research as a freshman was a very good academic opportunity

Advice to incoming students: Don’t pass up social events just to sit in your dorm working. We may be in college to get our degrees, but that doesn’t mean we can’t spend time making friends

Co-Curriculars: VIPs crafting club

Name: Vanessa Rodgers

Hometown: Dyer, IN

Major: Neuroscience and minor in polymer chemistry and anatomy & physiology

Research Project: Probing Memory Emergence in the Living Mouse Brain. We are using scaffold proteins with multiple components, XRIs, in cultured neurons in order to track cellular activity–mostly memory emergence.

Favorite MRADS Memory: Study sessions with friends and a lot of side quests 

Why did you join MRADS? I joined MRADS in order to gain more experience in research as an undergraduate. I also am considering a career in research, so I wanted to get more experience with research early on for both resume building as well as to just scope it out and see if I like it. I was also interested in the social aspect, since I wanted to be around like-minded people.

Advice to incoming students: Don’t overthink. When you’re about to send that email, don’t worry how the recipient will respond. Don’t blow over the chance to make a friend because you’re scared they’ll think you’re weird. You will never get anywhere if you stay in your comfort zone. So, don’t overthink, and just do it.

Co-Curriculars: Michigan Brain Bee, University of Michigan Science Olympiad, and Neuroscience Student Association

Name: Aditree Sahu

Hometown: Jabalpur, India / Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Major: Mechanical Engineering and/or Data Science 

Research Project: UM Neurodiversity Project: Tech & Innovation

Favorite MRADS Memory: Staying up late with my friends in the lounge, UMix events, and exploring other parts of the campus.

Why did you join MRADS? I wanted to be involved in research, have an amazing community,  and make this big university feel slightly smaller. Also, I wanted to further improve my resumé and get research-oriented experiences. 

Advice to incoming students: Be open to new experiences and reach out to people. Make sure to take some time for yourself, and have fun. Remember that everyone’s path is different, and college is not a marathon. Be confident in yourself and don’t compare yourself to others.

Co-Curriculars: Multicultural Council & Baja Racin

Name: Sriya Tangutur

Hometown: Novi, MI

Major: Neuroscience

Research Project: My project is “Genome Instability in Cancers”. Our lab is focused on trying to induce one type of genomic instability (aneuploidy/ an abnormal amount of chromosome in a cell) in lung cancer cells to see if aneuploidy has a correlation with certain protein biomarkers.

Favorite MRADS Memory: My favorite MRADS memory is staying up with my friends and laughing together!

Why did you join MRADS? I joined MRADS to expand the number of research opportunities available to me as an undergraduate pre-health student, while having the additional support of a living learning community. 

Advice to incoming students: Don’t be afraid to talk to new people and go to community events together! I made a lot of my friends by talking in the MoJo hallway and going to UMix events. Additionally, don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself! I know as an undergraduate trying to find a place for yourself (especially in a research environment) can be hard, but know your worth and be confident!

Co-Curriculars: M-HEAL, Smile Bringer Singers

Name: Irmina Wladyszewska

Hometown: Łódź, Poland / Novi, MI 

Major: Physics & Mathematics

Research Project: Cavity-and-Twist Engineering of a Two-Dimensional Semiconducting Magnet

Favorite MRADS Memory: Talking with friends in the middle of the corridor for hours just to talk.

Why did you join MRADS? I wanted to get involved in research as soon as I could. I wanted to gain experience early on, find research opportunities for undergraduates, and begin creating connections. I am considering becoming a researcher, so naturally I wanted to be exposed to “real world” research as fast as I could. So why didn’t I just choose UROP instead? On top of research opportunities, MRADS offers both community and advice. It’s a great place to make friends very quickly. If any unexpected issues arise while searching for research or in its midst, MRADS has a ton of resources and helpful advisors to guide you through. 

Advice to incoming students: Don’t be afraid to take your shot. If you’re afraid you’re too inexperienced or too shy or anything, just take a breath and try it out. That’s what college is for and if something doesn’t work out, at least you tried and now you know if something works for you or not. For example, do not be afraid to email higher-up researchers, professors, or administrators. At worst they ignore you or gently reject you, but surprisingly often they are willing to meet up and talk. Take your chance! 

Co-Curriculars: MRADS Affinity Groups, SPS, SAS

Name: Luciana (Lulu) Zecchin

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Major: Public Health or Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with an Anthropology minor 

Research Project: Identifying Which Tissues Regulate Lifespan in Response to Death Perception 

Favorite MRADS Memory: Pulling all-nighters in the Jordan living room to study for midterms and finals

Why did you join MRADS? To gain the opportunity to learn about research, actively participate in it, and connect with a community of like-minded peers.

Advice to incoming students: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there–this is the time to try new things, make friends, and discover what you want in life.

Co-Curriculars: American Red Cross Club, Italian Students Association, and Food Recovery Network