KENTUCKY: Meet KY INBRE's 2025 SURP Participants

Kentucky INBRE's annual weekly summer series introduces each of the 2025 KY INBRE Summer Undergrad Research Program (SURP25) participants. This week, meet Maria Hayes.

Home institution: Transylvania University

Year: Rising Senior

Major(s)/Minor: Major: Biology on the Molecular and Cellular Track; Minor: Psychology and Chemistry

Research Site: University of Kentucky

What will I be researching this summer: This summer I’m researching the role of MLL1/2 in regulating genes involved in tissue regeneration in planarians!

Future goals: After graduation, I hope to pursue a graduate degree in molecular genetics.

Outside of the lab/classroom: I play on the tennis team at Transy, and I also enjoy reading, pickleball, hiking, and crafting!