Coming from an all-girls school in Jamaica to a public school in the United States, Dr. Monique Mendes had to adjust to her classes and American culture.
Despite all the changes, her interest in science never faded. She was always drawn to answering questions through the scientific process.
Mendes decided to pursue a biology degree at the University of Florida. However, while there, she found her passion for neuroscience while working in a lab.
“[The lab] is where I had real hands on experiences working on a project from the beginning all the way to the end,” says Mendes who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester Medical Center’s (URMC) Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience. “I had to do all the experiments and I helped with writing the paper. That was where I realized that it was really exciting to be a part of science.”
Her desire to pursue a Ph.D. came after she joined the McNair Scholars Program at the University of Florida. The program aims to support undergraduate students from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds. It offers mentorship, financial assistance and other resources to help students prepare for a doctoral degree.
As both a first-generation undergraduate and doctoral student, she relied on mentorship from faculty members.
“I definitely had no idea what was going on in the beginning,” she says. “I was fortunate to have a number of mentors throughout my career that really put my success as a priority. Throughout the years, I gained the experience and the resources I needed to succeed.”
