TURI provides research and laboratory experiences for UMass Lowell students from a variety of majors. Meet 11 students working in the TURI lab and two students working in the TURI library this summer:
Teddy Kearney, 3rd Year Graduate. Occupational
Ergonomics & Occupational Environmental Hygiene
Teddy wanted to pursue an advanced degree that related to
his undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology. He hopes to become a
practicing Industrial Hygienist once he graduates from the Master’s Program. He
works in the TURI lab on janitorial and industrial projects and does chemical
inventory work. “As I work to get a job in the field, I want to get my certification
in industrial hygiene to begin helping and protecting workers from work related
exposures and hazards.”
James Keats, Senior, Chemical Engineering
James always wanted to be an engineer but found that he
really enjoyed chemistry in high school. Majoring in chemical engineering was
his way of combining both disciplines. He hopes to eventually work in the
pharmaceutical industry. “I've become better prepared through my work at TURI
because it's helped me develop my report writing and problem solving skills,”
he says. “It's also taught me a lot about safety and regulation, two things
which are very important to work in the pharmaceutical industry.”
Nicole Kebler, Senior, Public Health
Nicole chose to major in public health because, she says, it
offers opportunities in many different fields and provides knowledge about
health on a population scale rather than on an individual scale. “I’m focusing
on the research side of public health and I enjoy researching new information
about chemicals and how they can react with the environment and our bodies.” In
the TURI lab, she’s working with a colleague on a project to evaluate
sustainability and environmental impact of switching to reusable bags. “I hope
to continue in the research field and apply the important information and
experience I have obtained while working at TURI.”
Lewis Kerrebrock, Graduate, Public Health –
Epidemiology
Lewis chose a career in public health because it was a
chance for him to make a tangible difference in the world. He works in the TURI
library, compiling new research and news articles on subjects including chronic
conditions from chemical exposure, environmental recommendations and updates to
policy in conservation, chemical regulation, and safety standards. “My
experience at TURI will make me more knowledgeable about exposure-based
diseases and what ecological conditions to look for when predicting them.” He
hopes to work for a state health department, the National Institutes of Health
or Centers for Disease Control as an epidemiologist. “As the U.S. disease
burden shifts from infectious to chronic, exposure-based diseases are becoming
a larger percentage of the national disease burden,” he says.
Adorrah-Le Khan, Senior, Public Health
Aborrah-Le is excited about public health, a field that
allows her to study population health through observation and experimentation.
“I am hopeful that the strength of public health can continue to increase life
expectancy and improve overall quality of life,” she says. “By pursuing a
career in epidemiology, my work at TURI helps me to approach issues in public
health using alternative perspectives, addressing issues from the point of view
of both a health professional and scientist.” She has recently begun
collaborating on a research project about reusable bags.
Hagir Mohamed, Doctorate, Biomedical Engineering and
Biotechnology Program
Hagir likes to work in research, validating protocols and
working on projects and new products. She’s working inn the new microbiology
lab at TURI to validate the devices and developing my field trial protocols. A
medical doctor in her home country of Sudan, Hagir plans on taking the board
exam to get into medical school here. “Working on TURI lab will help me in
developing my research skills, validating new labs and qualify me to be more
than just a doctor in the future, but with research skills and broader
scientific background.”
Kyle Puleo. Junior, Plastics Engineering with a Minor in
Biomedical Technology
Kyle has always been fascinated by technology and design.
Plastics combined with biomedical technology seemed like the perfect way for
him to have a wide-reaching social impact. He works in the TURI Library
cataloging articles and Capstone projects so that they can be more easily
accessible for those who need to access them. “I hope to be a medical device
designer in the future and I believe that my work with TURI will allow me to be
more informed about how to make safer medical devices and what alternatives
there are to potentially toxic materials.”
Justin Rainaud, Senior, Economics
Justin likes economics because it is influenced by everyone
and is always changing. “I enjoy how markets can operate on a global scale and
don't have borders,” he says. In the TURI lab, he’s working on media aspects of
the lab as well as janitorial testing when needed. In the future, he hopes to
work at the Federal Reserve System. “My TURI experience has given me
professional communication, team building and time management experiences.”
Harry Rankin, Junior, Chemistry
Harry chose the chemistry track because he is interested in
biochemistry and organic chemistry. “Keeping up with the workload can be very
rewarding and the classes only get more interesting as the degree progresses,”
he says. As research assistant in the TURI lab, he works on janitorial testing
and taking inventory of chemicals. “Since TURI is a lab that specializes in
toxic reduction, environmental chemistry and green chemistry, I’m exposed to
careers in the chemical sciences.”
Jaci Silva Sá, Junior, Chemistry
Jaci loves chemistry for its ability to understand the
world. As a TURI lab assistant, he works on janitorial reports and testing. His
hope for the future is to work in the food industry field to find ways to
improve areas like food waste. “Working at TURI prepares me for my future
career by allowing me to practice skills such as writing reports and research.
The experience also reinforces safety practices, which are habits that are
needed for any work environment.”
Kevin Smith, Senior, Chemistry
Kevin is interested in chemistry because it offers a real,
physical explanation for the world around us. “I find the idea incredible that
we can create new molecules to better suit our needs in society.” He is focusing
his undergraduate studies within organic chemistry and synthesis. He’s been
working on janitorial and industrial testing for TURI as well as contributing
to finalizing the setup of the new lab facility at Boott Mills. “In the future,
I hope to work as a research chemist within organic or biochemistry and TURI
will help me get there by giving me years of wet lab experience.”
Vinh Tran ‘17, BS in Business Administration, Supply Chain
Management; Freshman, Biomedical Engineering, Fall 2018.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in business, Vinh Tran’s
work in the TURI lab for five years has influenced his next degree choice.
“Working at TURI has given me a renewed sense of direction, making me realize
that I wanted to pursue a career in STEM,” He will study biomedical engineering
in the fall. “I wish to actively improve the quality of life of humanity
through tangible means by way of medical devices. I’ve been immersed in a
professional laboratory setting at TURI, collaborating with coworkers to
complete experiments. I’ve been project lead for a number of tests, all of
which I know will prepare me for my future career.”
Othon Pagounes, Junior, Biomedical Engineering
Othon is interested in biomedical engineering because it combines both engineering and biology to help improve people's lives. In the TURI Lab, he works as lab assistant, producing janitorial reports and conducting testing. “I hope to work in a medical device company one day,” he says. “The wet lab, writing of reports and research skills I have gained at TURI will add to the tools I've learned at UML to make me a better engineer.”
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