FIGHT ON TO THIS YEAR’S COHORT of young professionals from traditionally underrepresented populations, who are being introduced to research through programs like JumpStart as well as many others. We are so proud of these new researchers and can’t wait to see what they continue to accomplish. Below we hear from a few of them who attended their first scientific conferences earlier this year.
Samantha Azcarate ’28
The Ohio State University
Gained Research Experience at: Motor Development Laboratory
Research Poster: “A Case Study Comparing Two SIT-PT Interventions Through Toy Frequency”
Presented at: Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Annual Conference
About the Experience: “I gained meaningful feedback on my research, and as a first-generation Latina, SACNAS made me feel genuinely seen, supported and amplified in ways I’ve rarely experienced. I also had the chance to network with so many inspiring people whose guidance and perspectives will help shape my future in this field.”
Dylan Bakhshi ’28
University of Southern California
Gained Research Experience at: Clinical Biomechanics Orthopedic and Sports Outcomes Research Laboratory
Research Poster: “Anthropometric Normalization Applies to Elbow Varus Torque, but not Ulnar Collateral Ligament Properties in Collegiate Pitchers”
Presented at: American College of Sports Medicine Southwest Chapter Annual Meeting
About the Experience: “I benefited greatly from the many professionals who attended. I enjoyed learning about their research, hearing about their career paths and understanding how they became successful in their respective fields.”
Shanice Hamilton OTD ’24
Boston University
Gained Research Experience at: Motor Development Laboratory
Research Poster: “Cross-Sectional Survey of the Training and Contributions of Clinician-Scientists in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy”
Presented at: American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Conference (AACPDM)
About the Experience: “Attending the AACPDM 2025 Conference underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, including engaging with individuals with lived experience, caregivers and partners outside health care, to broaden the perspectives and drive innovation in research. This was also my first time participating and sharing my work at such a large-scale conference, which was a meaningful milestone in my journey that strengthened my confidence as I continue exploring new directions in my career, including research opportunities.”
Monique Kirland ’26
UC-San Diego
Gained Research Experience at: Motor Development Laboratory
Research Poster: “Longitudinal Study of Parent Behavior During Play with Infants at High Risk for Cerebral Palsy”
Presented at: Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR)
About the Experience: “This experience reaffirms my objective to attend graduate school and further expands my career interests in contributing to early neurodevelopment research. I look forward to attending conferences in the future and exchanging dialogue with fellow researchers. Thank you Dr. Dusing, the Motor Development Lab, and USC for the support and opportunity!”
Emi Kosterlitzky ’26
University of Southern California
Gained Research Experience in: Motor Development Laboratory
Research Poster: “Toy Interaction Over Time in Infants at Risk for Cerebral Palsy”
Presented at: Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR)
About the Experience: “Attending SCCUR this past November allowed me to practice how to present and defend scientific work in a professional setting, as well as improved my confidence in my own public speaking abilities. I really enjoyed the process of creating and presenting my poster for SCCUR, which helped reinforce my career aspirations to work in research after graduation before applying to graduate school programs in psychology.”
Nick Odani ’27
University of Southern California
Gained Research Experience in: Clinical Biomechanics Orthopedic and Sports Outcomes Research Laboratory
Research Poster: “Examining Muscle Synergy Deficits in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Presented at: American College of Sports Medicine Southwest Chapter Annual Meeting
About the Conference: “I found the conference to be a great, stress-free introduction to presenting research findings to others in related fields. Seeing the many different kinds of projects was really enlightening and showed me the various ways research can be used to advance the field of sports medicine.”
Yasmina Samrakandi ’28
The Ohio State University
Gained Research Experience in: Motor Development Laboratory
Research Poster: “A Case Study Comparing Two SIT-PT Interventions Through Toy Frequency”
Presented at: Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Annual Conference
About the Experience: “Attending the SACNAS conference connected me with dedicated and renowned scientists from diverse backgrounds and broadened my understanding of career paths in research. This experience strengthened my commitment to pursuing a future in medicine and research, and it motivated me to keep seeking opportunities that support minority communities.”