Research Ambassadors
Naidhruva Deb '27
Email me at: ndeb2@u.rochester.edu
Discipline(s) of Research
- Life Sciences
- Social Sciences
Major(s) and Minor(s)
- B.S. in Microbiology
- B.A. in Medical Anthropology
- Minor in Mathematics
Areas of Interest/Research Focus
Cardiovascular disease, health equity, precision medicine, genetics and genomics, single-cell biology, aging, autoimmune and metabolic diseases, and translational research. Research experience includes:
- Seidman Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
- Liu Lab at the University of Rochester
- Dey Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Additional research in educational psychology through the Elliot Lab at the University of Rochester
Areas where I may be particularly helpful
- Discover Grant application writing
- REU and summer research applications
- Research/internship funding applications
- Interview preparation
- Cold emailing faculty and researchers
- Finding and reaching out to labs
- Navigating the research application process
- Preparing for lab or department tours, and
- Exploring different research opportunities and career paths
What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?
I’d encourage prospective researchers to start exploring opportunities early and, most importantly, not be afraid to reach out or hear “no.” You do not need to have your entire career or research interests figured out before getting involved in research. In my own experience, working across different areas has helped me understand what questions and fields genuinely interest me, and some of my interests have developed only after being exposed to new research environments.
I also wish I had known how important it is to be proactive—cold emailing professors, asking questions, and talking to researchers can make opportunities feel much more accessible. Finally, do not underestimate the value of relationships with mentors and other researchers. A research experience is not only about the work you do, but also about learning how to think like a researcher, understanding what you enjoy, and building connections that can help guide your next steps.