Name:
Oleksandra Myronenko
Organization:
University of Central Florida
Position Title:
Undergraduate Research Assistant
> About:
Oleksandra is a senior at the University of Central Florida (UCF), studying Biomedical Sciences and Psychology. Since immigrating to the United States, she has been committed to pursuing a career that is both intellectually and socially engaging, with a focus on integrating her passion for biomedicine and healthcare to serve underrepresented populations. Oleksandra also volunteers at community health clinics and emergency rooms, is a teaching assistant at UCF, mentors students in the UCF Department of Biomedical Sciences, and participates in independent undergraduate research projects.
> BACE and Career Path:
Earning the Biotechnology Aptitude and Competency Exam (BACE) credential was a foundational step in Oleksandra’s academic path because it introduced her to biotechnological methods early on. She later applied this knowledge to obtain Biomedical Research Investigator (BRI) certification that enabled her to conduct non-invasive undergraduate research on human subjects at her university. This experience led to her involvement in the Biomedical Acoustics Research Laboratory (BARL) at UCF, where she designed and executed an independent study examining links between accessible heart-rate monitoring devices and potential cardiovascular risk indicators based on sleep and daily activity patterns. With the BACE credential, she was able to integrate biotechnology concepts into bioengineering research and advance her first independent research project.
> Job Description:
As an undergraduate research assistant, Oleksandra collaborates with her research team and mentor to discuss progress and next steps. She conducts literature reviews on biomedical and biotechnological topics, drafts research plans and proposals, and communicates with professors and other academic departments to cross-reference information. She also assists with preliminary research procedures, recruits study participants, supports data collection, and helps conduct formal research protocols. Additionally, she interprets and analyzes data and compiles findings for presentation to her research mentors and supervising physicians.
> Best Thing About The Job:
Oleksandra enjoys using a variety of bioengineering equipment and developing research proposals that explore the use of accessible devices for cardiovascular disease prevention.