Three Biology majors from the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD)— Ashley Espinoza, Yuliana Santos Ventura, and Zara Usman—spent part of their previous academic year developing research skills, expanding their professional networks, and exploring future healthcare careers through the American Heart Association's (AHA) Scholars Program.
Now in its 10th year, the 10-week program pairs students with mentors whose research aligns with their interests and take part in conferences, workshops, networking opportunities, and hands-on research experiences.
The scholars attended two conferences during the program. At the first, held in New Orleans, they observed presentations and connected with professionals in the field. At the second, which focused specifically on student research, they presented posters highlighting the work they conducted alongside their mentors.
The students, all of whom are involved with the College of Natural Sciences' Scholars Academy, entered the program with research experience gained through faculty labs at UHD, and the AHA program connected them with new mentors across the region whose expertise matched their individual interests.
Espinoza was paired with Dr. Na Li, from the Baylor College of Medicine, where she conducted research involving liver cells. Usman worked with Dr. Rosenda Murillo, University of Houston Associate Professor of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, studying occupational physical activity versus sedentary time in the Latino population through field surveys. Santos Ventura worked alongside UHD's own Dr. Adriana Visbal, Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences, with whom she got to merge community and breast cancer research.
Though their projects differed, each student described the experience as transformative.
Reflecting on her participation, Espinoza said the experience solidified her career ambitions. “While pursuing an associates degree I started to notice how much I love to learn. I kept surprising myself with my grades and my ability to really go after what I want.”
For Santos Ventura, one of the most meaningful aspects of the program was the opportunity to connect with fellow scholars.
"It was very special because you just get that sense of community and feeling like you belong. And it's also very cool to see everyone have similar goals. They just want you to do your best. They support and uplift you," Ventura said.
Usman similarly emphasized the role that community and support have played in her academic journey.
"Something I think about as I'm getting closer to graduation is how UHD is an environment where everyone wants the best for the students. It's like being part of a family—people make sure that you're doing well and that you can reach out to them if you need anything. And through that, I've been really motivated to continue research and go on to apply to medical school," Usman explained.
The scholars will return to UHD in the fall with new research experience, professional connections, and a clearer vision for their futures. All three plan to continue conducting research while pursuing careers in healthcare and science.
Their summers will remain busy. Espinoza will participate in a hospital summer program, Santos Ventura will complete an internship at a medical school, and Usman will continue to contribute to genetics research on campus while taking classes.
As she reflected on the lessons learned through the program, Espinoza offered advice for students considering similar opportunities: "Don't be afraid to fail. If you're not failing. You're not even trying."