My Path Through the RISE Program

by Carolina Montañez

Being part of the RISE Program is definitely one of the best things that have ever happened

to me. I am really thankful to be part of such an incredible program at the University of Puerto Rico

at Cayey. Since the first day I started, compared to today, I can definitely see a great transformation

in my life as a future scientist. Not only my English has improved, also my critical thinking,

networking and laboratory skills have develop too.

Thanks to activities such as writing reflections for each seminar, laboratory templates after

every workshop, laboratory reports and even the laboratory book, had help increased my ability to

speak and write fluently in English. Maybe I am not perfect but I know I am getting better. In order

to be getting a Ph.D. someday, I know I have to get my English impeccable. Also to be extremely

good in interviews for Summer Research or Research on Island I have to have a great English to

speak fluently.

The RISE program has also helped me to be better prepared in the laboratory. Thanks to

many workshops, I have learned many new techniques such as SDS Page, Photomicrography,

Protein Extraction and Water Sampling. These are techniques that are not commonly learned

during Laboratory Class, but are really helpful for future Research Experiences. I have to say that

the workshop based on Photomicrography was one of my favorites because working with living

things that are extremely small and looking trough it with the Microscope and even taking videos of

it moving was fascinating. Also Isolation and Classification of Mycobacteriophages was really

interesting because by doing that project we helped to classify unknown Clusters for specific

Mycobacteriophages discovered here on Puerto Rico.

In addition, the RISE Program has prepared me to be more communicative with different

Researchers, Mentors and Students. This way I have meet a lot of important people that I know will

help me in the future to pursue my goals. Such as meeting new mentors, speakers and researchers

from different Universities such as University of North Carolina and Michigan State University, and

also meeting Ms. Roselin Rosario, which is from Rutgers University, and Ms. Comenencia from Tufts

University.

In conclusion, thanks to the RISE Program, now I consider myself as a strong female with the

capacity to pursue my dreams and actually make them true. Thanks to the training, I have been

accepted to be part of the Minority Access Program from the Endocrine Society during the next two

summers. I will work harder each day in order to become a great scientist, and the best human

being I can be.