Mentor: Millie Rogers (Dallman Lab)

Rebecca Menendez is studying biomedical engineering on a pre-med track at the University of Miami. She has worked as a research assistant for the past two years at Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, a lab that works in conjunction with Bascom Palmer. Her work has focused on lens accommodation and evolution with Bianca Heilmann and Jean-Marie Parel. Rebecca is part of the Medical Scholars Program and hopes to be promoted to the Miller School of Medicine in the fall of 2025. She is also very involved in campus life, acting as president of the Alliance of Latin American Students this past academic year. She has helped host orientation events and Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, facilitating a more united university body. Menendez is especially excited to take part in the DallmanLab as part of the SURFiN program in this upcoming 2023–2024 academic year.