{"id":74027,"date":"2025-12-03T06:04:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T06:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/74027\/"},"modified":"2025-12-03T06:04:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T06:04:10","slug":"from-the-lab-to-graduation-angela-coles-research-journey-the-prospector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/74027\/","title":{"rendered":"From the lab to graduation, Angela Cole\u2019s research journey \u2013 The Prospector"},"content":{"rendered":"

Angela Cole is a senior biomedical sciences student at The University of\u00a0 Texas at El Paso (UTEP), who will be graduating this fall semester. In her undergraduate career she worked as a laboratory research assistant at Cushing, Ph.D neuroscience laboratory, where she was able to step out of her comfort zone and gain valuable skills.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cole presented her research at the Society for Neuroscience Convention in San Diego, California, which was held from Nov. 15 to Nov. 19. Cole has been participating in research since the summer of 2024, however, her curiosity for scientific inquiry came long before.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Having participated in research since 2024, Senior Angela Cole was able to present her findings at the 2025 Society for Neuroscience Convention in San Diego. (Nathaniel Flores<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u201cI had always loved asking questions ever since I was a kid, and then I was inspired to pursue medical school,\u201d Cole said. \u201cI applied to the program under COURI [Campus Office of Undergraduate Research Initiatives] which helps students get research. I applied to SMARTMIND, which is a neuroscience program, because I love neuroscience, and that\u2019s where I got into the Cushing lab. And now I\u2019m here, and I just love what I do, and I really hope to continue helping the science community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a first-generation student, Cole knew of the challenges that come with carving one\u2019s own path, and the struggles of finding opportunities. However, she has found mentorship at UTEP where she has learned how to grow academically and professionally.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I really was very fortunate to have stumbled upon all the people that I\u2019ve met. And faculty wise, my mentor is just amazing. Cushing really advocates for his students, and I noticed a lot of other professors, they really want the undergrads to succeed, as well as their graduate students. You know, my mentors have told me a lot about his experience and their experience, and finding a good mentor is really, important [for] going into [a] tougher field, like research,\u201d Cole said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the laboratory, Cole\u2019s research\u00a0focuses on creating a map of the\u00a0hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that regulates functions like homeostasis, emotional responses and consolidating memories. She does this by using prairie vole models, which are used because of their similarities with human brains.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy project is called Cytoarchitectural Atlas. It\u2019s a big word, but cytoarchitecture is basically the architecture of the brain and creating a cyto architectural atlas for the hypothalamus,\u201d Cole said. \u201cThe hypothalamus regulates a lot of the emotions that we feel and other animals feel, so it\u2019s a hub of emotions. We want to look at prairie voles, because they\u2019re translational to humans and currently there are no prairie voles atlas so that\u2019s my work.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cole was able to present her findings this past November an experience that highly encouraged her to continue deepening her research as she continues in her pursuit of a career in medicine.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSFN was really an eye-opening moment,\u201d Cole said. \u201cIt was a really fulfilling experience. When I went there, there were a lot of people that came up to my poster and asked really good questions that made me really think about my research in a deeper level. Because I\u2019m an undergrad, I don\u2019t have as much experience with the experiments that I\u2019m doing\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWith her project focusing on the architecture of the brain, Senior Angela Cole uses prairie vole models to conduct her research.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0After graduation, Cole hopes to pursue a dual MD-PHD degree. While she gets ready for medical school, she plans to continue building her career in science by preparing for the MCAT, expanding her research experience, and engaging in volunteer work. She is committed to helping her community, whether through scientific research or directly through hands-on service to others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cole\u2019s advice to students who may be starting out on their college careers, is to explore and take advantage of the opportunities offered at UTEP, to not fear reaching out to professors, or to try something completely new.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTake those opportunities if it comes up, take them, because if they fly by, they won\u2019t come back. So just fight hard for what you want in your life.\u201d Cole said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Just like Cole did in her junior year, undergraduate students at UTEP may reach out to COURI to learn more about research opportunities in any field, which can help build their academic curriculum and find their way of turning passion and curiosity into real world impact.<\/p>\n

Vivien G. Noe C is a staff reporter for The Prospector and can be reached at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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