The Impact of Undergraduate Student Research Experience

Iza Kopec (Biological Sciences ‘26) credits her research for furthering her interest in neurodegenerative disorders and constructing new antibiotics that overcome bacterial resistancemechanisms. Kopec’s research focuses specifically on the ribosome, a cellular organelle that produces proteins in all living organisms. Through funding by the UIC Honors College and the LASURI Program (Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative), her lab is interested in the bacterial ribosome, and how it is targeted by antibiotics. One of Kopec’s research projects focuses on the effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics on the ribosome’s ability to release completed proteins, and results indicate that aminoglycosides can prevent an important enzyme, release factor 1, from binding to the ribosome and catalyzing protein release. Her goal is to understand how these ribosomes are structurally different from non-mutant ribosomes, and how this structure change is preventing antibiotics from functioning properly.

Thus far, Kopec’s research has revealed that when aminoglycosides bind to the ribosome, they cause it to change its shape in a way that prevents release factor 1 from binding. Understanding how these medicines work will help develop new antibiotics with more capabilities.

After completing her Bachelor’s, Iza plans on applying to MD/PhD dual degree programs and cites her research experience at UIC as valuable towards achieving this goal. In the future, Kopec hopes to be a physician-scientist and develop new medications and treatments for genetic diseases.

Sofia Wenzel (Neuroscience ‘27), serves as research assistant in Dr. Chang’s lab. Her research focuses on identifying and manipulating regulatory pathways controlling neuronal development, degeneration, and regeneration. This research is conducted with the goal of understanding the role of heterochronic genes, which influence the timing of the previously mentioned neurological processes, in their involvement with early onset degeneration seen analogously in Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s patients. Although Wenzel’s research is done through UIC, her participation in this lab is not through a specific program. The findings of Wenzel’s research are crucial discoveries within developmental neuroscience that help to fully understand the implications of heterochronic genes, proteins, and other components on the stability of neural circuits. The most recent publication from Dr. Chang’s lab identified a homologous gene crucial to dendritic branching and self-avoidance during the neurological development of male worms. This knowledge is key to understanding the mechanisms behind human nervous system development. Sofia’s interest in this subject matter comes from her curiosity about neurodegenerative disorders, and finding more efficient therapies or medications to combat neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Sofia hopes to work in developmental or computational research after graduation, and credits Dr. Chang’s lab as a vital opportunity to help her professional development by learning various laboratory protocols and techniques while fostering a more complex understanding of developmental neuroscience as a field. Additionally this experience has allowed her to network and attend conferences with other students in similar fields.

Ananya Handa (Molecular, Cellular, and Organismal Biology ‘25) currently participates in research at the Brain Plasticity Laboratory, with grants from the LASURI program, the Howard L. Kaufman Award, and the Honors College Research Grant. Handa’s research explores the effects of upper limb movements on lower limb spinal neuroplasticity in individuals with stroke. A stroke often leaves individuals with heightened reflex responses, or overactive Hoffmann (H-) reflexes, which contribute to muscle stiffness and impaired mobility. Handa’s study in the Brain Plasticity Lab focuses on testing whether rhythmic upper limb movements can modulate spinal excitability and help reduce the overactive H-reflex in a way that is both accessible and clinically practical. Currently, there is significant evidence that upper body exercises can help improve lower body function in healthy individuals. However, clinically relevant upper limb movements that are easily accessible for lower limb recovery have not been sufficiently studied in the realm of stroke. Therefore, this study hoped to develop therapeutic strategies that improve lower limb function and overall mobility for stroke individuals. Handa’s research has helped her develop critical skills in neuroscience, rehabilitation, and clinical research methodology, all of which are highly relevant to her interest in pursuing a career in Sports Medicine or Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). Through hands-on experience in this lab, Handa has gained a deeper understanding of how movement and neural plasticity contribute to recovery – an essential aspect of both fields. Handa’s goal is to become a physician, and this work has strengthened her ability to critically analyze rehabilitation strategies and evidence-based treatments.

Through the experiences of these students, the benefits of undergraduate research are evident. The increase in career knowledge, networking opportunities, post-grad work, and more have opened up many opportunities for these students to further explore their interests and aspirations. There are a variety of opportunities to get involved in research on campus or in the Chicago area, and this is an opportunity students should definitely look into. The ability to conduct or participate in a research project -regardless of career field- develops skills in leadership, analysis, organization, and other tools that are needed for all types of careers.