Story by Kayla VonBurg-King
A standout biomedical engineering student from the School of Engineering has made waves in her field. Victoria Amari, a senior with a minor in psychology from Hayden, Alabama, earned third place at the recent Mid-South Biophysics Symposium poster competition, notable for being the only undergraduate among poster presenters.
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Nikki Reinemann)
The symposium, a creation of the Mississippi Regional Biophysics Consortium, aims to foster biophysical collaboration across the Mid-South states, including Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. It is particularly focused on nurturing new early-career investigators and promoting trainee development.
Amari’s time at the poster competition was filled with unexpected turns and learning experiences. “It was initially intimidating. I spent the entire day thinking it was just another undergraduate fair until a judge came up and said they thought I was the only undergraduate presenter in the competition,” Amari shared.
Under the guidance of Dr. Nikki Reinemann, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Amari has thrived, describing her mentor as incredibly supportive and understanding of the challenges balancing work and study. “I tell her all the time that I want to be her when I grow up,” Amari laughed. “She is the best PI and mentor I could have asked for. She understands life happens and not all of our time can always be devoted to research and school.”
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Nikki Reinemann)
Reinemann is also proud of Amari’s success. “Victoria is a very hard worker and is willing to take the initiative to explore new areas of research, so much so that she is currently the lab’s expert in the technique she presented at the conference,” she remarked. “These qualities, in addition to her winning multiple awards at regional conferences, make her an excellent candidate for graduate school and pursuing a research career.”
To Amari’s surprise, she took home third place at the poster competition, competing against many seasoned graduate students. “I was completely surprised; I had not even an inkling of a feeling I would place, but it was very validating of the work I’ve done,” Amari remembered. This achievement has further fueled her ambition to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, ideally within the South.
Amari’s research involves creating a mechanically tunable environment at the cellular level, which allows for observation of cellular interactions within their environment. She hopes to continue this research in her graduate studies.
As Amari looks forward to advancing her studies and research in biomedical engineering, her story serves as an inspiration for other young scholars aiming to make significant impacts in their fields. This accolade is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the promising future of biophysical research in the mid-south and beyond.