"Seek opportunities outside of your comfort zone."
Roberto Efraín Díaz is neuroscience major from South Florida. He established the first the first national neuroscience honor society chapter in the state of Florida, Nu Rho Psi, and will pursue his PhD in biochemistry this fall to develop his career as a scientist.
The neuroscience major is relatively small, so you get a lot of individualized attention that you may not be afforded in other majors at UM. The advisors at the Undergraduate Academic Services for Psychology know you by name and genuinely care about your academic endeavors and accomplishments.
What accomplishments/achievements while at UM are you most proud of?
I’m proud of establishing the first Nu Rho Psi - national neuroscience honor society chapter in the state of Florida. I’m also proud of having participated in summer research programs at the University of Miami, the University of Michigan, and the University of California-San Francisco. These summer programs helped me develop critical skills for my career as a scientist.
What is your favorite UM memory?
My favorite UM memory is hearing Laverne Cox come speak to a packed room full of students from different racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, and religious faiths. Her speech was extremely inspiring and touched upon the difficulties faced by the LGBTQ community and people of color while also emphasizing the importance of accepting others who are different from oneself.
What influenced your UM education the most?ORWhat was it like to be a Da Vinci scholar?
My UM education has been greatly influenced by the research mentors I’ve worked with. Dr. Jennifer Britton taught me how to critically think about research problems while Dr. Vance Lemmon helped me develop as a cell biologist. I’ve also learned how to communicate science concepts during my time working under Dr. James Baker as an undergraduate TA for his cell biology course.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will pursue a PhD in biochemistry at the University of California - San Francisco this fall.
What advice would you give a future ‘Cane?
Seek opportunities outside of your comfort zone. They will provide you with insight on diverse experiences and help you grow as a human being.
