LAUREN HUDSON NCUR 2022 Spotlight

Lauren Hudson

Honors Senior, Neuroscience and Biology major and Spanish minor

Research Mentor: Dr. Nathan Vanderford

I enjoy research because.... "It allowed me to discover a hidden passion!"

How did you first get interested in undergraduate research at UK?

"I originally did not want to begin research because I never enjoyed bench lab work. However, I soon discovered there were many research opportunities that didn't involve pipetting into a culture dish all day long. After an initial meeting with Dr. Vanderford, I began to fall in love with cancer education research in Appalachian populations!"

How long have you been engaged in undergraduate research?

"I have been engaged in undergraduate research for 3 years."

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

"Discovering how I can be of better service to my community and my state through health education!"

What advice would you give to other UK students thinking about doing research?

"Give it a shot, even if you are hesitant! There is such a wide variety of research at UK, and it's only a matter of time before you find a topic that is of interest to you."