Howdy! My name is Varshitha Dhulipala and I am a freshman from Dallas, Texas. I am majoring in molecular and cell biology and minoring in Public Health. I hope to get an M.D. and work both in the clinical and the research fields of medicine. My goal is to advance the healthcare system through research. Through Explorations, I hope to learn about the interdisciplinary research happening at Texas A&M!

Howdy! My name is Jake Fields, and I'm a Biochemistry and Genetics major from Dripping Springs, Texas. I've always been the annoying kid who had to tell everyone around him new science facts he learned from They Might Be Giants, so it was only natural to pursue scientific research in college. I'm particularly interested in communicating that research to the broader public, so that it can be practically utilized without the barrier that is often seen today between scientists and members of other branches of society.

Howdy, my name is Jenna Glotfelty, and I am a junior psychology major from Frisco, Texas! I hope to one day be accepted in a PhD program with a focus in clinical or cognitive psychology. Once I graduate, I wish to pursue a career in research and help better the understanding of the human brain. Through my undergraduate research experiences, I have found an interest in attentional biases and habit learning in regard to a variety of mental health disorders and compulsive habits. I hope to be able to improve diagnostic approaches and treatments for mental health through my research. I've always been passionate about mental health and hope to help reduce the stigma surrounding it with my work. By being a part of Explorations I hope to help my fellow undergrads see their work be recognized and be introduced to different types of research outside of my field!

Hi!! I'm Roshni Gowrisankar! I'm a Molecular and Cellular Biology major also pursuing a Business minor! I'm from Frisco, a suburb of Dallas. When I was younger, I was always that kid who'd play doctor, so it only seemed right to become one! With my major, I hope to go to medical school and eventually open up my clinic focusing on pediatric and adult endocrinology. I also - at some point - hope to get a Ph.D. in endocrinology as well. Along with all of this, being an author/ publishing my research has been on my to-do list in recent years. Through Explorations, I'll be able to learn how publications work and the effort of not just one person go into producing a successful journal. Even with all these things on my list, I still make room to have fun. In my free time, I love to listen to music, cook/bake, and work out!

Howdy! My name is Nabila, and I'm an Economics major from Sugar Land, Texas. I am always curious about the ways that economic models can be applied to real-world situations, which is one of the reasons I decided to join the Explorations editorial board. I enjoy doing research and exploring topics through the lens of creative writing. Additionally, I'm also interested in learning other languages. I learned French for 3 years in high school, and I'm currently taking my first semester of Arabic language class at A&M. In terms of future plans, I hope to find a career where I can keep learning more about the world around me. I've always been driven by curiosity, and I'm really excited to get a look at the variety of topics that authors will be exploring in this year's journal!

Howdy! My name is Thao Ho, and I am a junior studying Bioinformatics here at Texas A&M University. My passion revolves around research and medicine. I wish to one day pursue an M.D./Ph.D. program. I am a highly curious individual; therefore I love learning and experiencing new things. Explorations has provided me the opportunity to learn about the amazing different research being conducted across campus as well as learn from talented authors and editors. I hope to be able to utilize all the hard and soft skills I've learned at Explorations in the classroom and future jobs.

Howdy! My name is Michael Lord and I am studying biochemistry! More specifically, my research involves studying the interactions of proteins and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ribosome for developing drugs using Cryo-EM. I am interested in this field because I want to help those suffering from this disease for whom it drastically affects the Philippine population. Once my days in undergrad are over, I will continue to invest time in research involving ribosomal-targeting therapeutics as well as drug discovery for other bacterial diseases. My long-term goal is to contribute to the impact that medicine has on our quality of life by developing novel therapeutics that will reform our public health. By contributing to such research, I aspire to develop opportunities for our disadvantaged populations to be relieved of disease.

Howdy! My name is Shivam and I am a biomedical sciences major from Sugar Land, Texas! I have a strong passion for research of various types, from science-based cardiovascular medicine to nutrition and public health. After I graduate, I hope to attend medical school and conduct research throughout my professional career. By being a part of the Explorations Board, I hope to learn more about the incredible world of research while working with an amazing team! The opportunity to be a member of the Explorations Board gives me a chance to review various forms of research conducted by highly talented authors and researchers across Texas A&M. Aside from work, I enjoy watching soccer, playing table-tennis, and spending time with friends and family!

Howdy! My name is Nidhi Pawate, and I am a sophomore studying Genetics here at Texas A&M University. The ability to manipulate the information and create our own solutions is what drives me towards research. I am an aspiring physician, and I want to continue to pursue research throughout my time as a doctor. I am excited to be a part of the Explorations board and work with my classmates in spreading opportunities for research. My other interests include spending time with family and friends and volunteering!

Howdy! My name is Ananya Pillai and I am a Biomedical Sciences major from Frisco, Texas. I became interested in research after I was involved in an Independent Study and Mentorship class in high school. There are many things I have learned through the process of proposing, writing, drafting, and editing my own papers such as targeting key audiences, publishing workflow, editing/drafting schedule, and frequency to maximize one's article's reach and engagement. After high school, I was looking for ways in which I can combine my passion for healthcare and research. I am extremely excited to contribute my experiences in article writing as well as learn from the members of the Explorations Board and faculty as they can aid Texas A&M's future endeavors in the spheres of research and publishing. After graduating, I plan to attend medical school in an effort to minimize healthcare disparities in Texas. Outside the lab, I love all things breakfast food, working out, and listening to podcasts.

As a child, my most cherished memories are from an upbringing in rural Alabama with the rare visit to pastoral India. I was taught in schools with limited resources and funding. However, I never lost sight of the eventual goal of becoming a medical professional. When I moved to Texas, a much larger environment, I was introduced to the idea of dedication and teamwork in the form of marching band. As a section leader I was exposed to "the process," a phrase denoting the consistent effort displayed by individuals to eventually achieve a goal. This very belief in the process now drives me in my education as a molecular and cell biology major at Texas A&M. Once I achieve my goal, I will continue to strive for advancement, whether it be medical school or graduate school in the biological field. Finally, I plan to use my research or medical training to give back to the rural communities which have given me so much.

Howdy! I'm Nushrat Rashid, and I'm a Biochemistry and Genetics student with a minor in Bioinformatics from Plano, TX. I became involved with research my freshmen year, and have become passionate about learning more about evolution and genetics ever since. I wish to pursue an M.D or Ph.D. in the field of genetics. I love learning new things, and I am excited to be part of Explorations to see all the amazing work undergraduate students in all sorts of fields are doing here on campus. 

Howdy! My name is Subiksha Sankar and I'm a biology major from Frisco, TX. In high school, I was a lab member in Dr. Omary's Lab and studied inorganic chemistry, specifically transition-metametal multi bonding for the first-row transition metals. In the future, I hope to enter medical school and continue my involvement in research and health. I am thrilled to be a member of the Explorations Board and can't wait to learn about the terrific research breakthroughs happening on our very own campus!

Hi! My name is Suchitaa and I am an engineering major from Dallas, Texas. My fascination with science and vaccinations began at a young age. As I have gotten older, I have made an effort to learn about the vaccine development process so that, eventually, I can work on developing vaccines. Additionally, inspired by my passion for science and love for helping others, I hope to pursue a career in medicine. I cannot wait to be able to relieve people of their pain or cure their illnesses. By joining the Explorations Board I am eager to share different thoughts and views with a diverse community. I hope to restore the public's faith in the healthcare system by becoming a healthcare advocate for my future patients. My other interests include spending time with friends and family, listening to music, and volunteering.

Howdy! My name is Miriam Stein and I am a freshman molecular and cell biology major from San Antonio, Texas. My interest in biology lies mainly in genetics, and I hope to work as a genetic engineer during and after graduate school. Genetic engineering is fascinating to me and I am excited to be part of such a creative and pioneering field. I am a strong advocate for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration, and feel passion for art and literature alongside science. Being on the Explorations Board is an incredible opportunity. I am excited to help my fellow undergraduates publish research and contribute to the growth and spread of knowledge at Texas A&M.

Howdy! I am Abhinav Vadassery from Sugar Land, TX. I am a biology major and in the cohort of Science to Medicine Program. Through Explorations, I plan to involve and collaborate with the Texas A&M research community and promote scientific knowledge to the campus. During my free time, I enjoy traveling, playing and watching sports. 

Howdy! My name is Lesley Villafuerte, and I am an English major with a minor in sociology from Crosby, Texas, and my interests include art, embroidery, and reading. I have always wanted to know the "why?", "what?" and "how?" for everything. My growing curiosity led to my interest in critical thinking and analysis in research, and I wanted to understand how literature can contribute to the public, and as a first-generation college student, I did not know how to. I then discovered that research is the key, and I wanted to learn more about what research was and how it is related to finding answers to questions, which led me to Explorations. Explorations allows me to know more about students who are just as curious as I am and see what exactly goes on in undergraduate research and let me be a part of it. I hope that throughout my time in Explorations, I can learn about the foundations of research to help the start of my career in research and curiosity.