Student Profiles

Jason Navarro

Change of Mind
I started my UNLV career as an engineering major but soon realized that many of the topics I enjoyed reading about and watching in my free time were life-science related, so I decided to become a biology major. One of the big things that drew me to biology was the world of microbes, which at the time seemed to have an almost infinite diversity of organisms and lifestyles.

A Turning Point
A highlight and turning point of my undergraduate studies at UNLV was being accepted into a research position in a microbiology lab. I was really excited to be doing a job where I could actually apply the knowledge I had accumulated in my education. The experience further cemented my desire to explore lab research as a career option and has opened many doors for me scholastically and professionally.

A New Path
When I came to UNLV I knew I wanted to do something science- or technology-related, but that was the extent of my planning. Throughout my education I have been exposed to tremendous diversity of fields in science, which has shaped who I am today and what I want to do tomorrow. I will be starting a Ph.D. program in the fall of 2006 in microbiology, although where is still undecided.

Prepared for the Future
For me, UNLV offered just the right amount of personal contact with faculty, research opportunities, and scholastic challenges to help me decide and prepare for what I want to do with my life. My studies have also benefited from a variety of scholarships and awards. I will miss the people whom I have studied and worked with the most. I have had some good times and learned a lot about myself through interactions with fellow students and faculty.

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