MEET OUR FALL 2025 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
Sophia Novoa
What is your major?
I’m currently a biology major.
Minors?
Political science.
What year do you graduate?
If all goes to plan, 2028.
Where are you from?
I’m from Lexington.
Are you a first generation student?
No.
What motivated you to come to UK? To major in biology?
My parents were both alums, but truthfully I was interested in other universities outside of Kentucky. But UK has a large Biology Department with many helpful professors whom I couldn’t overlook. So far I’ve had a great experience and look forward to meeting more people within the department.
Have you had any mentors or professors who have significantly impacted you?
Dr. Catherine Linnen and Dr. Pearl James. Currently I’m an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Linnen’s lab studying extrinsic postzygotic isolation in sawflies. Last summer, I studied abroad in Costa Rica for three weeks alongside Dr. James, who opened my eyes to a culture and ecosystem I had never seen.
Are you involved in research? If so, what does your research entail? What do you hope to gain from it?
Yes! Like I said above, I’m currently working with PhD students in Dr. Linnen’s lab; specifically we’re studying reproductive barriers between sister species of pine sawflies. I’m helping with an observational experiment to test the fitness of hybrid sawflies due to their mating behaviors; we expect that compared to pure-species sawflies, they do poor in terms of mating, hence the divergence between the two species despite them being able to hybridize in nature, albeit rarely.
Mostly experience. I’m hoping to go to graduate school and continue doing research, so it was a big priority for me to start getting experience doing it as early as possible. So far Dr. Linnen and her crew have been nothing short of wonderful to learn alongside!
What could you have benefitted from in the department of biology, that you feel you were missing? For example, If the department of biology could provide you with an additional resource toward your training, what would it be?
More opportunities to showcase research! I feel like it’s such an undervalued facet of biology. I know most students studying to receive a Biology degree are premed; but I would (arrogantly) assert that most doctors would be useless without the hard work of researchers to understand and treat ailments and illnesses. It’s a field that deserves more attention!
Describe your journey so far at UK. What are you most proud or excited about?
I’m most proud of an award I received recently for working over the summer at Dr. Linnen’s lab through the Gertrude Ribble Summer Fellowship; I was recognized for my dedication and was proud to be recognized by the Department of Biology for doing research. I was also thrilled when I was accepted to Dr. James’ trip to Costa Rica; it was an amazing experience alongside fellow students that deepened my love for biology and culture.
How did you overcome challenges that you may have faced?
One of my biggest challenges so far has been learning how to study. It’s easy to feel busy and overwhelmed between my responsibilities. But planning out my days and organizing study sessions with my friends have made a visible improvement in my studying habits; I find it’s much more compelling to study with someone else equally dedicated to understanding the material. We ask each other questions and try to teach each other what we don’t understand.
Describe any highlights or memorable moments here at UK.
I’ll never forget K week! It was a lot of fun and made me much more comfortable here at UK, familiar with the buildings and the people in my Lewis Launch group. A lot of events hosted by the Lewis Honors College specifically have also eased my fears about college, including being featured in a podcast by GreenTalks, aired on WRFL. I also got to speak on a panel about being a child of an immigrant and my experience so far at UK given my family’s background.
Have you recently received any awards/accolades/recognitions? If so, please describe what for.
Yes I have. already mentioned the Gertrude Ribble Fellowship, so I’ll link it here. Additionally a professor recently asked to nominate me for an award from the department of Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies.
Who do you look up to and why?
Maybe a bit corny, but my mom has always been a source of inspiration for me. I work hard to make her proud and prove that her decision to move to Kentucky from Ecuador was worth it. Dr. Linnen has also been a huge role model for me; I feel very lucky to be part of her lab and hope in the future I can hold just a fraction of her intelligence.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love drawing. Lately I’ve been doing lots of pen sketching and watercolors. Birds are a frequent muse of mine. I’ve also been trying to rekindle my love for reading; I’m nowhere near as voracious a reader as I used to be. But when I really want to unwind, I love watching movies and analyzing their stories. I’m a sucker for a good politically charged plot. "Star Wars" has a special place in my heart.
What are your plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
Graduate school! I can scarcely see a life for myself outside of academia, so I suspect I’ll be studying for years to come. It would be amazing to become a professor myself, though I doubt I’ll ever feel educated enough to have earned the title. Hopefully by then I’ll also have written a book or two.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Tough question, I love a lot of foods! Nothing can beat homemade cheese-stuffed empanadas, though.
If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Another tough question. They say to never meet your heroes, after all. Maybe Fyodor Dostoevsky, although I haven’t read too many of his works; I’d love to meet some famous thinkers like Socrates or Da Vinci, but I think Dostoevsky and I could have some great conversations. He seems like someone humbled by life who has a lot of good stories and lessons to share.
If you could share one statement about your experience as a UK Biology major so far, what would it be?
I would say that the opportunity for more is always there if you’re willing to push yourself and take it. If I hadn’t cold-emailed Dr. Linnen, I’d probably still be searching for a lab to join; and if I hadn’t spontaneously decided to fill out the application for a summer in Costa Rica, I wouldn’t have gone with Dr. James on a lifechanging trip and met so many wonderful students. We don’t grow and learn if we stay comfortable where we are.
Is there another question we could be asking in an interview like this?
What’s been your favorite class so far? What was special about it/what did you learn that was so impactful?
Almukhtar Mamoori
What is your major?
Biology
Minors?
No
What year do you graduate?
December 2026
Where are you from?
Originally from Iraq but I live in Lexington
Are you a first generation student?
No
What motivated you to come to UK?
To pursue medicine hopefully in the future. I live in Lexington and want to stay here so this is the best option.
To major in biology?
Well, I want to go to med school and out of all the majors, the one I was most interested in is biology because it covers a broad number of topics which are all fascinating like genetics and cell biology.
Have you had any mentors or professors who have significantly impacted you?
Dr. Mirabito and Dr. Osterhage are the best and I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet them and have them as mentors. They definitely made my time at UK easier and more interesting.
Are you involved in research? If so, what does your research entail?
I do research in Dr. Morris’ lab where we look at retinal regeneration in spiny mice and soon will be looking into the optic nerve.
What do you hope to gain from it?
A broad set of skills and knowledge that will help through my career in the future.
What could you have benefitted from in the department of biology, that you feel you were missing? For example, If the department of biology could provide you with an additional resource toward your training, what would it be?
Study rooms would be nice.
Describe your journey so far at UK. What are you most proud or excited about?
I am proud that I got the chance to experience many different opportunities here like presenting at the undergraduate research showcase, working at the bio department, working at the study and doing research under great people.
How did you overcome challenges that you may have faced?
I had many wonderful people around that helped me out whenever I asked like the professors I mentioned, and my friends who are all going on this same journey with me.
Describe any highlights or memorable moments here at UK.
Just meeting new people and having multiple exciting experiences.
Who do you look up to and why?
My dad because he is a hard-working man that loves and cares for his family. I aim to be just like him.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Playing video games, going out with friends to eat and watch movies.
What are your plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
Hopefully in five years I’ll be in med school (last year) and in 10 years be working as a doctor.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably pasta
If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
One person alive that I would love to meet is Cristiano Ronaldo because I really love soccer and he is my favorite player.
If you could share one statement about your experience as a UK Biology major so far, what would it be?
A great ride with it’s ups and downs but definitely more ups.
Luke Preston
What is your major?
Biology
Minors?
No minors
What year do you graduate?
2026 (May)
Where are you from?
Raceland, Kentucky
Are you a first generation student?
I am not
What motivated you to come to UK?
I am a transfer student, so my journey to UK looks a little different from most. My freshman year, I attended a small university in Kentucky. While it was a great academic fit, I realized I needed more opportunities. I knew I wanted to get involved in research, make a positive impact on a larger community, and support as many people as possible through teaching and service. I looked into UK and toured campus. After that, I was hooked. UK had everything I was looking for to help set me up for success, that way I can accomplish my goals and help others in the future.
To major in biology?
I think that no matter who you are, a question you have probably asked is, “Where do I come from?” or something similar to that. That single question is one of the few things that can unite all people on the planet. It is the question of life. Ever since I was young, I have always been interested in the life around me. I began to explore that more in high school, and when I took AP Biology, I knew this was what I wanted to study in college. Now, around four years later, I could not have imagined studying anything else.
Have you had any mentors or professors who have significantly impacted you?
Yes, Dr. Seifert, Emilio Oviedo Rivadeneira, Dr. Danley, Dr. Mirabito, and Dr. Harrison.
Are you involved in research? If so, what does your research entail?
Yes. My research involves studying the epimorphic regeneration abilities of the spiny mouse (Acomys dimidiatus.). These are truly remarkable animals. For example, if a human has a relatively large hole punched in the ear, such as from a large piercing, that tissue will likely never grow back as healthy or fully functional again. However, the spiny mouse will completely close ear punches, with all features, such as epidermis, dermis, skeletal muscle, cartilage, etc. regenerating back. Furthermore, after a heart attack, humans will typically form scar tissue, leading to decreased cardiac function in most cases. The spiny mouse demonstrates enhanced resistance to heart attack, characterized by decreased scar tissue formation and increased survival. My research focuses on studying both of these tissues in the spiny mouse and working with my lab to uncover possible mechanisms behind these remarkable abilities.
What do you hope to gain from it?
One thing I hope to gain from my research is a more in-depth understanding of regeneration. The interesting aspect of regenerative biology is that it incorporates multiple fields of biology, including developmental biology, genetics, and cell biology. I believe by understanding more of regeneration, I will become a better biologist. More importantly, I hope to become a better scientist, being able to think like a biologist does. Although I may not carry out basic science research as a career, I do hope to conduct clinical research as a physician. Gaining skills in the lab now will help me care for my future patients more effectively.
What could you have benefitted from in the department of biology, that you feel you were missing? For example, If the department of biology could provide you with an additional resource toward your training, what would it be?
If I had not taken developmental biology as a class, I do not think I would have learned any developmental biology as an undergraduate biology student. I believe that incorporating some developmental biology into the core classes could have benefited both other students and me.
Describe your journey so far at UK. What are you most proud or excited about?
Something I am most proud of is my growth as a student over the past few years. UK has challenged me to be the best that I can be. I have learned a great deal through my biology courses and have grown as a leader during my time at UK.
How did you overcome challenges that you may have faced?
I am first and foremost a Christian. I have faced many challenges as an undergraduate student, and Jesus has guided me through them. I am also very fortunate to have a strong support system both here at UK and with my family back home. It is very important to have people in your corner, and I am so thankful that I have people in my life who have helped me through difficult times.
Describe any highlights or memorable moments here at UK.
Although I probably had different thoughts at the time, some of the most memorable moments I have had as a student at UK are the evenings spent studying in the library with my friends. I remember studying Organic Chemistry II and Biochemistry at the zig-zag whiteboards in Willy T as if it were yesterday. Something I also vividly remember was the big rain and windstorm during the spring of my sophomore year. I had BIO 303 at 11am with Dr. Krupa, and everyone came in soaking wet. Classes ended up getting cancelled, but naturally, only after ours was over.
Have you recently received any awards/accolades/recognitions? If so, please describe what for.
I was recently awarded the Ribble Undergraduate Research Award for the research I have conducted and plan to pursue in the future.
Who do you look up to and why?
Even though I may not admit it to his face, someone I look up to is my older brother. He is a few years older than me, and I have followed a lot in his footsteps. He was a biology major, conducted research, and is going into a healthcare field. He is someone I often turn to for advice, especially for academic decisions. He also tells me the things I need to hear, not just what I want to hear. I believe everyone needs someone like that in their lives.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy playing guitar. It is something I picked up a couple of years ago and is a nice escape from the world. I also really enjoy hiking. It is always refreshing to get out into nature and let everything go.
What are your plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
After graduation, I plan to attend medical school. In five years, I hope to be in residency for the specialty I choose. In ten years, I hope to be settled down in a small town with a family, enjoying life and serving my community.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Without a doubt, I would eat bone-in chicken wings. You also can’t forget the ranch on the side.
If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
If I could meet one famous person, I would probably choose Bart Millard. He is the singer for MercyMe, a Christian band. I saw the movie about his life and testimony, “I Can Only Imagine.” It was a very inspiring story, one that I have many questions about. It would be wonderful to just sit down and talk with him about Jesus.
If you could share one statement about your experience as a UK Biology major so far, what would it be?
Being a UK Biology major has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, placing me in a position to grow not only as a student but also as a person and a leader.
Is there another question we could be asking in an interview like this? A good question could be: What is something you are passionate about?