Tell Us about Yourself
Allison: Apprentice
Dr. Hedge: Mentor
What AEOP program(s) did you participate in?
Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP)
What is the Most Important Part of the Mentor Relationship?
Allison: The most important part of mentor relationship is an untapped source of wisdom and a safe space to ask questions. The journey of life is a not a solitary one, so having a source of guidance is invaluable. It has been integral to every step in my life.
Dr. Hedge: The most inspiring part of being a mentor is to help a student achieve their full potential. There is just nothing else like it!
Advice to a Student, Just Beginning to Consider a Career in STEM?
Allison: My advice would be to take it one day at a time and keep an open mind. Most importantly, give yourself grace and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Dr. Hedge: It’s the same two-part advice I got from a Nobel Prize-winning former advisor of mine: First, go into science if and only if you can’t see yourself doing anything else. Second, don’t do anything half-heartedly. Anything worth doing is worth doing well
What Got You Interested in this Field?
Allison: My interest came from witnessing my late grandfather struggle with chronic diseases and my mother’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis with a traumatic onset. This was exacerbated by the stark differences in access to healthcare in my rural community and the lack of representation I saw in the field.
Dr. Hedge: My interest in my field – brain research – originated from my conviction that understanding how the brain works is the next great frontier in scientific research.
