Research Ambassadors
Brooke Devendorf ‘26
Email me at: bdevendo@u.rochester.edu
Discipline(s) of Research
- Life sciences
Major(s) and Minor(s)
- BS in Biology
- Minor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Areas of Interest/Research Focus
I work in a biomedical genetics lab under the PI Mark Noble. We are working on post chemo-therapeutic treatment to treat the side effects of chemotherapy including "chemo-brain" which includes effects on cognition, memory and emotional regulation. In the PNS, the most debilitating are pain syndromes of peripheral neuropathy. These side effects have the potential to persist long after the completion of chemotherapy.
Areas where I may be particularly helpful
I can do tours of labs, help with interview and research skills, and help find multiple labs of interest that can work for each person individually.
What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?
Stay curious and persistent in your search for what is right for YOU. Research isn't about knowing all the answers or understanding everything immediately, it's about learning to ask the questions and finding people who are willing to guide you in your new discoveries.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes, we were all where you were once. Mistakes are a necessary part of research. If we knew the answers perfectly there would be no reason for research at all. You’re building the habits and mindset of a lifelong learner and that can be incredibly powerful.