Angelina Carando is a microbiology major with a pharmacology minor who received the 2024 Alexander Kende Academic Merit Award. This award is given for demonstrated leadership, exemplary character traits, and service to the local community to UVM in students who have an interest in medicine or biomedical research.

Angelina describes that when she arrived at UVM as a freshman, she was undecided about whether to major in microbiology or molecular genetics. "One thing I really liked about the MMG department is that there's a lot of crossover for the first two years. It's basically the same courses, so I liked that I was able to explore, and decide what I liked more. I declared as a microbiology major when I first came in, and I ended up sticking with that because I really like it. But in terms of what I wanted to do after graduation, I didn't have a direction around that until last year, when I declared pharmacology as my minor because now, I'm thinking about doing research and development for pharmaceutical companies. Which, of course, might still change. But right now, I think it sounds really interesting, and I've talked to people in the field and they sound like they really enjoy what they do."

Since the beginning of her sophomore year, she's been working in Bruno Martorelli Di Genova's research lab. "In our lab we work with Toxoplasma gondii, which is a microscopic parasite, and my project focuses on different ways genetically that the parasite gets nutrients from the host and grows. My research studies how those pathways change based on what we do, and I'm trying to find new drug targets based on those results."

"The MMG program is really welcoming, especially the faculty. They are so passionate about their work, and they're so friendly that it doesn't become a daunting experience. I took a class my freshman year that was taught by Kari Hodge, and it was a small class. It was called, From Bugs to Drugs, and it was like my favorite class ever because it made the major feel so much smaller and more like tight knit. A lot of my friends from the major I made through that class, and I also fostered my passion for the major through that class. It was a really transformative course, and I think it really encapsulates MMG as a whole. It does seem daunting at first, but once you step into it, it's definitely much more of a tight-knit community than you might think."

Her faculty mentor Kari Hodge was impressed with Angelina's work. In the letter Kari submitted to nominate Angelina for the Kende Award Kari describes an assignment that Angelina created for Kari's Bioprospecting course. "As a final assessment for this class, I asked students to create a product that could be shared with younger students to encourage them to pursue careers in STEM. Angelina and her partner composed a song, set to ABBA's Mamma Mia, which managed to translate themes and key words from the semester to a broad audience in an approachable way". 

(The above link will take you to a slideshow where you can hear the delightful song and see Angelina and her classmate's presentation.)

On winning the Kende Award Angelina's response was surprise: "It's really nice that they nominated me for this. I'm flattered. I've been really engaged in my research this year, so I guess it means I'm doing something right in the lab. When I found out about all of the people who supported me behind the scenes for this award, it made me realize again how great of a support system and what positive energy MMG has, and I'm really appreciative of all of that."

Angelia has also participated in The Watertower, the satirical newspaper club on campus. "We write satire pieces about stuff that goes on at UVM, or in Vermont, or just the world in general, and the community there is equally as fun and amazing. That's another part of UVM that has really brought me happiness in my time here."

Angelina is rounding out her UVM experience with a summer abroad program in Italy. She is currently in Rome taking some Gen Ed courses for five weeks at John Cabot University. "I'm not doing any science in Italy, but my family is Italian, so it means a lot for me to experience everything at my roots. I think it'll be really awesome!" 

She also excited about her senior year at UVM. "The research project I've been working on (in the Di Genova lab) is starting to get some headway, so I'm hoping to wrap that up during my senior year and to just see where that leads."

Another rising senior in MMG, Emily Mynar is majoring in microbiology with a minor in computer science. 

Emily came to UVM with a clear vision of what she thought she wanted for her future, "I came into UVM thinking I was going to go to medical school, as a lot of people do. And then I began exploring other things that were available in my first year. I had a seminar, and my professor was like, 'Oh, you should get into research. Join a lab since you're going to have to do your thesis anyway.' I'm in the Honors College, so I knew I would have to do a thesis. I had not intended to join a lab my freshman year. It felt really overwhelming, but then I was like, here is a really good opportunity that's available. And so that's where I ended up. I applied to work in the Thali lab, run by UVM Professor Markus Thali. And I absolutely loved it!  I've been doing research there now for almost three years. In fact, I love it so much, that now I'm planning on doing a PhD, and will be applying in the fall for PhD programs."

Looking back, she is impressed with how much she has been changed by her research experience, "In the beginning, doing real research seemed daunting. You show up, and you're in the lab meetings, and you don't know what anyone's talking about because you don't have the background in any of the subjects yet. But as I was there for longer, I grew more accustomed to things, and I became way more confident. I could ask questions when I didn't understand things, and then I started actually speaking up in lab meetings. And I was lucky enough -- just because of the position I was in and the way it worked out with people leaving and grad students and things -- that I ended up being the one to train our master's students during my sophomore year."

Emily says that this gave her a new level of confidence, "It helped me realize, I can do this. I know what I'm doing"

The Thali Lab researches HIV. Emily describes the specific area this way, "There's a small, subset of cells that, when they get infected, they fuse together and we're basically trying to figure out if what's going on with them, and if they contribute differently to infection and disease progression than other cells. So, it's really basic scientific benchwork like working with UVM human cells and bacteria. But I really like working with HIV because it feels like there's a very direct kind of benefit.  I can understand the direct human impact of it. With other really basic science work, you're sometimes so far removed from any actual clinical application or anything that it can be easy to forget the impact of it. But working with HIV for me reminds me of how important this work is. I would like to continue working with HIV if that's an option, or at least in the field of human disease."

One of the reasons Emily cites for her change of heart to not apply to medical school is that she doesn't want her career be her entire life, as she's seen that go badly for a lot of people. 

In her freshman year she joined the Natural Philosopher (affectionately known as "the Nat") which is the UVM science publication. She now runs that publication with one of her friends.

"I definitely didn't take enough advantage of opportunities my freshman year. You're trying to navigate how to live on your own, and take all of your courses, and do your homework. But as I got into my second semester, I started branching out a bit more, and I got into playing a lot of volleyball. I'm not in the club, or a team or anything, there's just a big group of people who play for fun. And I started rock climbing as well. It was really helpful for me to move beyond my little social circle, because being in the Honors College from first year most of my friends were in that scene, and it's a very tight-knit, close, good group of friends, and that has been wonderful. Also, it's been really nice to be able to meet all kinds of people and spend time with people from other corners of campus. Just to get outside and move my body, which I think a lot of college students forget about."

She advises incoming students, "College is a time when you can go and try new things. Take the time to take a step back and look around you. Four years is a long time to explore and figure out what you want to do."

Taking her own advice about trying new things, Emily is currently completing a five-month study abroad experience in the city of Christ Church, New Zealand. 

"A lot of my friends studying with me in New Zealand are from smaller schools in the US that don't have a lot of the same opportunities and I'm realizing that UVM has offered me all the things I needed to set myself up really well going into grad school, as well as a career that I didn't even see as an option in high school. I think the reason I wanted to go to Med school was I was like, I'm a good student; I like science and biology. Therefore, I should go to Med school. UVM, and particularly the MMG department, has done a fantastic job of showing us what else is out there and setting us up for good opportunities, which I really appreciate."

UVM has given Emily lots of diverse opportunities, but she knows it is research that has set the stage for her approaching senior year and for her career, "Research is such a different thing from the normal course experience where you're just sitting, listening to a professor, and you maybe have you have assignments and work to do, but it's less involved, with less stakes. Research feels more like a real thing that is preparing you for what comes next."