As part of my first-year experience at UVM, I participated in the Life Science sector of the Liberal Arts Scholars Program (LASP) as a student in Biological Science. I found this program to be both rewarding and challenging to my ability as both a researcher and a self-starter. As students in LASP are required to be full-time first-year students, take the required first-year courses, and to take an extra LASP course on top of it, I found that I had to effectively schedule my own time. For this reason, being part of such a program comes with some responsibility and commitment to taking all the courses required, while also putting in the time and effort to produce high-quality work.
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During the fall semester, students in the Life Science LASP were required to take a class on Nobel Prize winners in the life sciences with Dr. Bryan Ballif. It proved to be an informative introduction into the scientific method. Though I had taken many science courses in high school, as well as some college courses, prior to my enrollment at UVM, I realized very quickly that I hadn’t truly been exposed to the real application of the scientific method in the field of research. This class illustrated the variety of ways the basic structure of experimentation could be applied to individual projects. It also proved to expose me to a diverse range of research topics in the field of life sciences. Finally, I was also able to identify all necessary elements of a scientific research report, and recreate them, upon completion of this class.

During the spring semester, students in the Life Science LASP program took a class on Course-Based Undergraduate Research (CURE) with our director and advisor Dr. Laura May-Collado. As Dr. May-Collado’s lab specializes in marine soundscapes and marine biology, we had the opportunity to choose our own research project using existing data present in the lab. Though most of my fellow LASP students in the class worked in groups, I chose to complete an independent project on the acoustic variation in bottlenose dolphin whistles in the Caribbean. In order to analyze the raw data available, I spent several hours combing through recording of bottlenose dolphin whistles and assessing them based on parameters I chose alongside Dr. May-Collado. I actually found the data analysis-process to be incredibly relaxing and was able to let myself get lost in the whistles. Upon completing my data analysis, Dr. May-Collado assisted me in drawing conclusions from the results in order to create a poster of the project that was presented at the Student Research Conference (SRC)! Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, this conference was hosted electronically, however, it was still an opportunity that I remain grateful for. The Life Science Liberal Arts Scholars Program allowed me to further explore my scientific interests while developing research skills that will serve me well throughout the rest of my educational and professional careers. 

When I first applied to LSS in the summer before my first year at UVM, I wasn’t entirely sure what it was but I knew it definitely peeked my interest. I was so excited when I got a letter accepting me to the program because it seemed like the best fit for me. I can say now, looking back, that it definitely was the best option for me and I only wish that I had actually lived with the other LSS students rather than in a different suite.

Our first semester was a great way to start off as a group because we were all in a class together taught by our LSS advisor, Laura May-Collado. We also took a seminar class about different winners of the Nobel Prize in sciences. Every week we learned something new about the way that our knowledge of science changed. This class was very valuable because it emphasized on the importance of learning how to write scientific papers. At the end of the course, we made and presented our own research on a certain Nobel Price winner. That was a
great opportunity for me because I get nervous presenting in front of people but the other LSS
students were so understanding and polite.

In our second semester, we entered into the CURE research course. This course taught us how to construct our own research and present it in a conference. My research was on how bottlenose dolphins adapt their whistles in order to coexist with boats. Learning how to manage my time and do research by myself was very important for me because it emphasized that science can be hard but it is so rewarding. Our CURE course was interrupted by the COVID-19 crisis so we were not able to present our research in an in-person conference and instead did it online. This entire experience was an amazing opportunity and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is interested in science. It is a great way to build relationships with professors and other students.

​I was a part of the Life Science Scholars program my first year at University of Vermont. The Life Science Scholars is designed to pull together a bunch of students who are all very passionate about the life sciences, and who are definitely willing to strive for academic improvement and have them all live within the same suites together and within doors from each other. This program gave me an amazing ability to have support from my friends and the folks that I live with my very aggressive academic schedule. There are two courses that go along with this program as well, for each semester (for this program specifically), other than the rest of the first-year life science classes that we will be all taking together. The first semester is a class on Nobel prize research, showcasing Nobel prizes in the life sciences, and it helps us learn how to write scientifically. In the second semester there is a CURE lab course, which is a research course that works with audio recordings of marine animals. This semester I worked with audio recordings of different areas in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica and studied whether tourism affects the diversity and health of marine communities, which it does.
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I had a very good experience in LSS, and it helped me find the friends that I will be friends with for life. The dorm that the LSS students get to live in is excellent and is by far one of the best dorms on campus, if you need to live on campus, L/L is the place. I believe that this program set me up for greatness in the rest of my college career and helped me adjust to college and find my path. I will say I had an extremely hard transition to college and having the support of this scholar’s program helped me through it and get adjusted. This program also put me in the same place as my newfound best-friends, who were in another LASP program. I would recommend this opportunity to anyone who wants to come to UVM, pursue academic excellence, and be willing to work hard for your academic goals in the life sciences. I want to give a lot of praise to the curator of the LSS program, which is Professor Laura May-Collado, who has been an amazing professor and mentor to me and helped me transition into very hard college classes. As well, I would like to sing praises about Professor Brian Ballif, who taught the Nobel prize class, and who has been an amazing professor and academic advisor for me and helped me set myself up for greatness in the coming years of my college career. 

​When I was asked to apply to the LSS program at UVM, I still wasn’t even sure where I was going to college. It was already April, and Decision Day was coming faster than I could make up my mind. I knew that choosing a college was not something to be taken lightly, but anyone who knows me knows that I’m indecisive when it comes to simple things—so this would be impossible. In the end, it was my application and acceptance to the Life Science Scholars program that made me commit to UVM—and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Being a part of the Liberal Arts Scholars Program meant getting to live in a suite—an exciting prospect for many reasons. The best thing about living in a suite, besides not having to share your bathroom with a whole floor of people, is the connections you make. I was incredibly nervous on move-in day, and it wasn’t just because I’d gotten lost in the building about four times before finally finding my room. I had anxieties about making friends, fitting in, finding my place, etc. as I’m sure many students do. But the girls living in the double next to my single became some of my best friends almost instantly. We made stuffed animals together, stood in line for free hydroflasks for about an hour before leaving empty-handed, and went on the coldest and most boring cruise ever—all before Week of Welcome was even over. We even adopted an honorary suite member, my future roommate Nicole, who we also met through the Life Science Scholars program. We went to Montreal, a rite of passage for UVM freshmen, cried about chemistry, played Mario Kart, watched the Hockey team lose, watched the Basketball team win and, of course, went skiing.
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But besides the great friends and ridiculous memories I’ll always treasure, the LSS program gave me opportunities I could never find elsewhere. We spent our first semester taking a class about Nobel Prize Winners with Dr. Brian Ballif, where we learned about the methods behind prize-winning science, the results and implications of different experiments and most importantly, in my opinion, how to read and write in science. The class was informative, engrossing, and even entertaining. Because the class was a TAP class, Dr. Ballif was also our advisor, and helped me out more times than I can count this year. When it came time to register for classes for the spring semester, I was clueless. I went into his office with no idea what I was doing, and left with a full schedule, including the second half of the LSS Program—CURE. Dr. May-Collado, the program director, was also the course instructor for CURE, which stands for Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience. In the course, we got to do our own research analyzing marine soundscapes—my partner and I looked at toadfish ‘boops’—and then present that research at UVM’s Student Research Conference. Although the conference was a little unorthodox this year, I still had an amazing research experience with Dr. May-Collado, and I learned a lot about what it really means to be a scientist doing research. Despite what the media may have led you to believe, science is social, collaborative, and creative. The people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had my first year at UVM are irreplaceable, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

​Upon receiving my acceptance letter from UVM, I was offered the opportunity to apply for the LASP program. There were many different programs within LASP to apply to and I chose the Life Science Scholars (LSS). I was super excited because in depth and hands on learning was what I was hoping to get out of going to college, and this program offered me both. I met Dr. Laura May-Collado at admitted students’ day in the Davis Center to ask about the program. From our conversation I could tell that she was extremely passionate about her research and was eager to give me the opportunity to conduct my own.
One of my favorite things about the LASP program is that I was living with people who were in either LSS or one of the other groups. It was extremely helpful to live with people who had similar interest and majors. We worked on homework, labs and conducted research together throughout the year. The set up of our suites and the building we all lived in allowed us to become friends and form a community of hardworking, intelligent and kind people. Our interests and love for learning were similar, but each of us added to the diversity of the program.
In fall semester, the LSS class was called Nobel Prize Winners, with Dr. Bryan Ballif, an extremely intelligent professor and mentor. In this class, we learned about Nobel Laureates and their scientific processes. It was extremely compelling and allowed us to learn about the evolution of the scientific method and how research is conducted. My favorite part of this course was the project at the end of the semester, where each of us chose a specific Nobel Prize to focus on. The goal was to present on the Nobel Laureate and his/her research. My presentation focused on Georg Von Bekesy, and the mechanisms of the cochlea and inner ear processes. I found that having my classmates presenting material demonstrated our enthusiasm for learning and understanding.
After working on understanding the scientific method better, and presenting other scientists research, I was looking forward to spring semester and working with Professor May-Collado and conducting research of my own. This process was challenging but ended up paying off in the end. The experiments performed in labs are great, but they are designed for us and conducted quickly. The CURE program in LSS allowed me to work with friends to design, predict and conduct our experiment. Professor May-Collado says that science is not about “eureka moments”, but rather about the question being asked, the experimental design, and constantly adjusting and deep thinking. Our research looked at whistle variation among pantropical spotted dolphins in different geographical regions. We presented our process at the UVM student research conference. It was wonderful to see my classmates work and to ask questions.
Applying for the LSS program was the best decision I could have made coming into UVM. I have had the opportunity to work with two wonderful professors while not only learning in depth about the scientific method but getting to conduct my own research. This program is immersive and engaging, providing the best opportunities to learn and make friends. I would encourage students to take risks and pursue interests through this program. Even if it is not exactly what you want to do after college, it will teach you critical thinking, collaborative teamwork and all about the importance of the scientific method. 

​            As a first-year student in a science major, it can be very overwhelming as your knowledge is put to the test from the very first day of lecture. Laboratory follows as well as exams, papers, and just hoping you can make it to your next class on time while sneaking lunch in somewhere. However, there is one more thing that all science majors have in common, the fighting urge to be involved in research. Research gives you the opportunity to invest deeper into a topic of interest and have the possibility to be recognized. As a freshman in college coming into UVM, I had no prior experience in the first thing about research. Looking back, I never believed that I would have such amazing opportunities that my two professors, Dr. Brian Ballif and Dr. Laura May-Collado provided for their students.  
            Dr. Ballif was the professor for the Life Science Scholars (LSS) course Nobel Prize Winners. He was also one of our advisors. He is a very approachable and well-respected person on campus and his door is always open. You can go in and talk to him about anything from how your day is going, to what your future goals are after college. He has so many connections at and outside of UVM and I know a few of my peers are very appreciative for his excitement in finding them opportunities in a subject area they are already interested in. Every Tuesday and Thursday we learned about past Nobel Laureates and the groundbreaking discoveries that won them the most prestigious prize in science. Through open class discussions, he helped his students analyze important aspects of scientific research and articles, and then with that template in place, research our own Laureate. I did my research on Thomas Hunt Morgan and his work with the fruit fly Drosophila in which he established the chromosome theory of heredity! In that course, I had already accomplished two major things in just my first semester of college; my first, very professional looking research paper, and my first presentation. Of course I was nervous about it, but the twenty-one other students in my class were also in the same boat. So, we went though it together, silently cheering each other on as that is a big step in your college career.
            After returning from winter break, second semester began with the second course in LSS known as Course Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) with Dr. Laura May-Collado. I first met Dr. May-Collado at accepted students day when she told me all about the Liberal Arts Scholars Program (LASP) and LSS and was very encouraging for me to apply. I came to learn that she is just as enthusiastic about her own research in marine biology, teaching first year BCOR 11 and 12 classes, or welcoming us into her lab. Most importantly, Dr. May-Collado taught us what it meant to be young scientists. She wanted our work to be rewarding in the end as we were presenting research at the Student Research Conference in April. My group used a program called Arbimon II to analyze soundscapes in the region of Tierra Oscura Bocas del Toro, Panama. She guided us through each step from submitting a proposal, writing an abstract, teaching us how to use Arbimon II, and preparing a poster for the conference. Dr. May-Collado appreciates all her students and wants to see us succeed. Her lab in Marsh Life Science has snacks, coffee, and tea and was a great space to work on our research.  
            Being in LSS, we didn’t just learn what it meant to be a scientist in todays society. We learned commitment and responsibility to our work and most importantly, how to keep an open mind when things might not go as planned. I am grateful for the opportunities LSS and CURE have given me in my first year of college at UVM. I got the opportunity to make a lot of new friends in my program who understand the challenges of being a science major. I would strongly recommend the LASP LSS program to any first-year student who wants to major in science because both of these courses not only helped me get a head start in things I thought I could never achieve, but also meet the best group of people and friends I could have ever asked for. 

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When I first came to UVM and applied to the LASP program, I did not know the vast amount of opportunities, friendships, and knowledge I would gain. I was excited to live in a suite, to meet new people and to experience small, unique classes other first years could not, however, my excitement only grew over the span of a few weeks as I met people who had the same drive and need for knowledge as myself. Within the first few days, let alone months we would all spend together, a community formed, providing a great sense of friendship, support and care. 
            As a member of the Life Science Scholars, LSS, there is a lot of work, between biology and chemistry courses, as well as labs. Although the weeks could be hard, with lab work and lots of studying, a support system was always present. By living with people who take the same classes as you, there is always someone to turn to for help, not only when it comes to classes, but simply when it comes to college life. College can be a tough transition, with a new living environment, courses and a bunch of new people, yet LASP made it easy, and allowed for connections from the very beginning, both inside and outside of the classroom.
            When it came to the LSS courses, we took two very unique and immersive classes in science. Throughout the fall, a tap class called Nobel Prize Winners, taught by Professor Ballif, was offered and each day we learned about different Nobel Prize winners and their work, showing us how research can guide us in different ways. Through this, we not only gained knowledge on the amazing studies and research provided by each scientist, but we also learned how to write scientifically in a clear and concise manner. Within the spring, we were able to take CURE, a deeply immersive research course dedicated to providing us with a space to work on marine studies that sparked our interest, taught by Professor May-Collado. My group and I were able to study the soundscapes of two different areas of the coast of Costa Rica, one with high levels of tourism, and one that was highly protected. Our studies provided us with great information about how to conduct research in a timely manner, and how to generate strong hypotheses based on our knowledge. As both of these classes were very small, we were also able to form great connections with these Professors, providing us with further support on campus and also opening our doors to opportunities most first year students would not be able to get. 
            I am so grateful to say that I have been a part of this amazing program and the wonderful opportunities provided by it. I highly recommend this program, not only because of great courses and professors, but also because of the connections and friendships that are formed along the way. LASP has guided me throughout my freshman year of college, and I know it will continue to aid me throughout my entire college experience, giving me only further reason to say, if you get the opportunity, join LASP!

I applied to the Life Science Scholars Program immediately after admitted student’s day and meeting Dr. Laura May-Collado. She had such a passion for the program and was excited to get started with students for the first year this program would be launched. After being accepted, I was beyond excited, and could not wait for all of the new knowledge that I would gain. I did not know however, all of the connections that I would make during this year. Upon arriving to campus, I made immediate friends with the people in the program, after comparison of schedules, and learning that the people in this program had similar goals, passion and drive as myself for science. Therefore, I was able to make many friends and a support system that I would have for the entirety of the year, even throughout online learning. There are many difficult courses to take first year, involving biology, chemistry and math courses, with the respective labs. With having the help of people for studying and get through the stressful exam times, I am forever grateful for this experience. My first year at UVM would not have been nearly as enjoyable without this program. I also made connections in the living arrangement and lived in a suite with people from the LSS program, but also different LASP programs as well. I was able to easily study with the people from the LSS program, but also learned different perspectives from the other programs.        Dr. May-Collado was also many of our BCOR 11 and 12 professors, which was helpful, and easy to go to office hours and ask her questions or just for a support system. She was always ready to give advice with tea and snacks available. She was also the professor for the second semester CURE research lab, which provided the opportunity to gain insight into the research world, learning something new and different. In small groups, we studied different research topics and collected data with use of the many resources Dr. May-Collado had gathered. We learned that research is not always about light bulb moments, and there will be many failures, but it is apart of science. There will be many stressful times, and it is okay, it is normal! This same concept was learned throughout the first semester course Nobel Prize Winners, where we not only learned how to write scientifically in a clear and concise manner, but also the thought and curiosity behind the prizes. The course was also with Dr. Bryan Ballif who is also an amazing support system and has a lot of advice, and connections outside of the classroom for help with research and other opportunities. I enjoyed the multitude of concepts learned in his classroom and it will definitely help with my future endeavors. I also know that I can count on Dr. May-Collado and Dr. Bryan Ballif throughout the rest of my college experience.                                                                         

The weekly lab assignments were easy to complete with the help of LSS members, and if I was ever confused, there was always at least one person who was on the right track of the lab. There were times that midterms overlapped with our other courses, but due to the comparable schedules, we could help each other through these insanely stressful times. In addition, it was helpful on the first day of classes to already know some of the people who were in the classes and be able to sit with them. There is always a stress for others and myself, about making friends in classes, and this program makes that process so simple. General Chemistry and BCOR are hard course loads and require a lot of preparation for exams, as well as keeping up with the work from the beginning. If the work is not kept up with, it will be extremely hard to catch up. Everyone in the program kept each other on top of their responsibilities and held each other accountable for the material that was due each week. There were times where you may forget to do an assignment, but there was always someone to remind you about it, so you could complete it before it was due. This was not just a program with academic rigor, these people became my family.  But enough about the academics. Writing this is making me shed a tear as I think about all of the amazing friends I have made from this program. Out of the classroom, we keep each other sane, and make sure that everyone is eating properly. I don’t think I ever had to eat a meal alone. We also did many things over the weekend, whether it was a walk down Church Street, or skiing when the time came. Also a fun trip to Montreal! They also surprised me on my birthday, which was on a Chem Exam day by the way. I know that these friends will be with me throughout my college experience, and I feel like I have known them so much longer than a year. With everything, I cannot stress to you, if you have the opportunity to apply to the LASP, do it, you will not regret it, and will make some of the best friends you could ever hope for!