Combatting imposter syndrome: URI minority students on track for science research careers

University of Rhode Island senior Naomi Pajarillo never imagined herself earning a doctorate when she first enrolled at the University three years ago. But thanks to some excellent mentors, hands-on research opportunities, and a new program designed to boost access to scientific research careers among under-represented populations, she is well on her way.

“I don’t see a lot of people that look like me among science researchers,” said Pajarillo, a cell and molecular biology major from Providence, “so I was facing imposter syndrome. I wasn’t sure if I belonged here.”

Now she knows she does. She spent the summer after her freshman year studying the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes with Assistant Professor Janelle Couret, and followed that up with a year of research into the pathogenic effects of a disease that kills oysters with Professor David Nelson. Along the way she learned the skills necessary to succeed in a microbiology laboratory.

Pajarillo was then selected to be among the first four students in URI’s new training program, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aimed at increasing the number of under-represented students earning doctorates in biomedical science. Called the MARC U*STAR program – Maximizing Access to Research Careers: Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research – it places students in research laboratories for two years and offers them summer research internships at prestigious universities around the country.

URI senior Avery McNamara is also among the MARC U*STAR trainees, and he, too, faced imposter syndrome when he first arrived on campus. He had the added difficulty of homelessness prior to arriving on campus.

“I wanted to be on a pre-med track, and I always excelled academically, but then life happened and I had to make some sacrifices,” said the Pawtucket native double-majoring in Spanish and cell and molecular biology. “My college path was derailed because I had to work three jobs to support myself.”

When he eventually arrived at URI, McNamara soon found himself the vice president of the pre-med fraternity, Delta Epsilon Mu, and helping a teaching assistant with some laboratory research.

“Then Dr. Nelson sold me on the Ph.D. path, and all the pieces started coming together,” he said.

Thanks to the MARC U*STAR program, McNamara and Pajarillo are among four URI students receiving $10,000 scholarships and $13,000 stipends for two years, plus additional funds for research materials and travel to conferences. In return, they are working 10 to 15 hours each week in biomedical research labs while attending classes.

Read the full story from University of Rhode Island here.