Sophia Witola Reyes, a student working with the Center for Artificial Intelligence and who was the 2024 REU FoDoMMaT fellow, is among 12 UIUC students who were selected as the Illinois’ 2025 Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows. Congratulations, Sophia, on this great achievement!
Each year, Mayo Clinic invites around 180 undergraduates from across the nation to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). The program allows undergraduates to work at the forefront of biomedical research at one of the world’s leading medical centers. For 10 weeks over the summer, students work in laboratories at Mayo Clinic on small research projects or as part of ongoing investigations, attend weekly seminars, and test their inclinations toward a career in biomedical research.
This year, 12 Illinois students were selected for the 2025 SURF program, bringing an array of skills and experiences. Many are already engaged in biomedical research at Illinois, with strong backgrounds in bioengineering, neural engineering, chemistry, computer science, and integrative biology, and with research interests ranging from personalized medicine and immunoengineering to neurodegenerative diseases and computational biological systems. Their Mayo Clinic projects will involve cutting-edge research in areas such as pharmacogenomics, chronic inflammation, epigenomic profiling, neuroimaging, AI-driven health engineering, machine learning for brain activity mapping, and statistical methods for genomic data analysis. These students have demonstrated leadership and commitment through various initiatives, including creating 3D-printed prosthetic hands, mentoring peers, and delivering STEM education to underserved communities. Their participation in the SURF program will not only advance their academic and professional goals but also contribute to innovative research that addresses real-world challenges.
Sophia Witola Reyes (she/her) is a junior majoring in bioengineering with a concentration on computational and systems biology and a minor in computer science, receiving honors for high achievement from the President’s Award Program. Sophia is interested in designing diagnostic tools for chronic and infectious diseases by investigating how environmental factors like housing, pollution, and healthcare access influence disease progression in various communities. By focusing on underrepresented populations, she hopes to create diagnostic tools that better reflect their experiences and are more accessible and effective. At Illinois, Sophia works with electrical and computer engineering Prof. Volodymyr Kindratenko at the Center for Artificial Intelligence Innovation (CAII) to develop software for a mobile application that delivers dietary assessment and personalized guidance utilizing some of the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence, including computer vision and large language models. Sophia is involved with the National Society of Black Engineers chapter and will serve as President next year. She is also part of the Welcome Committee for the Morrill Engineering Program and a Center for Academic Resources in Engineering tutor. At Mayo Clinic, Sophia will work with Dr. DeLisa Fairweather conducting immunological research focused on finding individualized therapies and improved diagnosis for chronic inflammatory diseases as it pertains to the cardiovascular system.
Full press release here.