Student Profiles

Miren Guenechea

Born Discoverer
Biology is not just a major; it is part of who I am.

I grew up in Las Vegas and the local desert was my recreational area. Every day after school I would go to the desert behind my home and discover new sediments, animals, and vegetation. I had a small children's textbook that I would carry around during my "expeditions" and refer to it to see if I had come across a new finding. In high school, I made the decision to study medicine because it joined my love for science and my desire to help people. Studying biology for my undergraduate degree was not a difficult choice to make.

Made in Nevada
When the time came to choose a university, I selected UNLV because I wanted to remain in Nevada. I always thought UNLV had a strong biology program, and when my biology teacher in high school recommended it to me because of the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research, my choice was easy. I wanted to be a student "Made in Nevada," and I enrolled in the College of Sciences in the fall of 2002.

Life in the Lab
During my junior year, I began to enjoy research experience in a microbiology lab. Working in a laboratory taught me more than just what I seek to know in an experiment, it taught me how to think analytically and conceptually. This is something you don't find in a textbook. Not every school allows undergraduates to have such a hands-on interaction in the research laboratories like UNLV does, and this is my favorite aspect of being a student in the College of Sciences at UNLV.

Moving On
Now that I am a senior currently applying to medical school, I am happy with my decision to attend UNLV. I am also sad that I must graduate and leave the research laboratory. The biology department has been a second home to me, and the experiences I have gathered here, I will take with me into professional school and my career.

The College of Sciences offers research opportunities, including laboratory experience working side-by-side with professors.