BS Biology and/or Environmental Sciences, May 2023
Chemistry Minor
Mentor: Bin He (Biology)
Amanda Caraballo did not come to the University of Iowa expecting to jump into research. The idea of research as a career option had never been presented to her until coming to the UI. One short year later, Amanda finds herself engrossed in the laboratory of Dr. Bin He, a faculty researcher in the Biology Department.
What brought Amanda to research? “I started researching at UI because I wanted to know what it was like to be a scientist and I wanted to figure out if that was a career that I wanted to consider! I also love asking questions!” She now gets to ask all sorts of questions, as she works with the He lab to study “the phosphate stress response system of two related yeast species, S. cerevisiae and C. galbrata.” Her dedication to and excitement about her work has earned her both an OUR Fellowship and a Science Alliance Internship Science Alliance.
Like many students, Amanda has discovered both the high and low points of research. She loves trying new experiments, but understands the flip side of that joy. “It is always nerve wracking the whole time doing something that you have never done before, but the more experiments that I successfully perform, the more equipped I feel to continue trying new ones!”
Every undergrad researcher needs a good mentor to guide her, and Amanda has found that mentor in Dr. He. "I'd love to do whatever I can to give her the essential scientific training to realize her goal". Dr. He remembers his initial meeting with Amanda. "Amanda is quite special in that the first time she came to talk to me, she expressed a strong desire to pursue research as her career." He adds, "that could certainly change, but it was not so common to have such students". Despite having no prior knowledge or experience in research, Amanda contributes greatly to the team. Dr. He particularly notes her positive energy, persistence, and natural abilities as a "team player and team leader".
When Amanda is not in the lab, class, or studying, she finds plenty of ways to keep herself busy. She is an Executive Board Member for UIBIO, the UI’s Biology Interest organization. You can also find her relaxing or clearing her head by swimming or gaming. Thank you for being a part of the UI’s research community, Amanda!