My name is William Zaragoza. I'm an undergraduate in Microbiology and Cell
Science with the college of Agriculture
and Life Science entering into my senior year. Being 26 years old I'm not your
average undergraduate student. After completing my first two years of college I
worked as a laboratory technician for a contact lense designer and
manufacturer. From this experience I decided I wanted to specialize in a
science and add to my quickly expanding toolbelt. The experience made me want
to finish school and look into research.
When I originally came to the University
of Florida asa transfer student I
knew very little about the opportunities available to students. The HHMI
program introduced me to a plethora of possibilities. Not only has the program
enabled me to meet some amazing people, it also also given me a formidable set
of skills and experiences, contacts and amazing professional assosicates that
will help me further my academic and professional goals.
When I found out about the program I applied and didn't really know what to
expect but before I knew it I was gloved, coated, and doing research in
microbial ecology, working with pathogens, and doing research of real
consequence. This site will explore a little about my experience both as a HHMI
undergradute research fellow and as a student at the University
of Florida.