Top row, left to right: Brady Spanks, Emily Linder, Lily Feiner, Aria Kaul. Middle row, left to right: Alexandra Cogle, Melany Suarez Ibarra, Johanna Daugherty, Heather Garcia, Stefanie Ratchev. Bottom row, left to right: Emily Dillon, Aidan McCorkle, Sophia Chen, Cathryn Murray.
Fourteen aspiring scientists from Martin and Palm Beach County high schools have begun a summer of training in biomedical sciences at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology. This year’s Kenan Fellows High School Summer Interns, supported by the generosity of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, will spend eight weeks in the laboratories of leading biomedical researchers, gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge research techniques, experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication.
This year, more than 250 students applied for just 14 spots, making the Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship Program one of the most selective research opportunities available to high school students in the region. The highly accomplished cohort includes students with experience in areas such as electron microscopy, computer programming, robotics and independent scientific research. Through the program, institute scientists provide mentorship and hands-on training to help prepare the next generation of biomedical researchers.
The interns will spend their summer working full-time, contributing to ongoing biomedical research projects while learning advanced laboratory techniques. Working alongside faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students, they will gain firsthand insight into the collaborative nature of scientific discovery and the day-to-day realities of a career in research.
“These students represent the future of scientific discovery,” said Rosie Albarran Zeckler, Ph.D., manager of academic support services at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. “By immersing them in active research laboratories and connecting them with leading scientists, we hope to spark lifelong passions for science and empower them to pursue careers that improve human health.”
The interns’ summer of research will culminate in a symposium where they will gain experience in scientific communication by presenting their findings to peers, mentors, family members and friends.
The 2026 Kenan Fellows:
- Sophia Chen, from Martin County High School, is interning in the lab of Ayako Makino, Ph.D., of the Center for Inflammation Science & Systems Medicine. Chen is a rising junior and aspires to build a career in medicine. “I am honored to have been selected for this prestigious program, which gives me the opportunity to intern in the Makino Lab. Throughout the program so far, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning a variety of lab skills, such as genotyping, cell culture and pipetting. This experience has reaffirmed my love for science, and I am excited to hopefully continue this as my future career,” said Chen.
- Alexandria Cogle, from Jupiter Community High School, is interning with neuroscientist William Ja, Ph.D. Cogle plans to pursue an M.D. and specialize in pathology.
- Johanna Daugherty, from the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, is interning in the lab of Jason Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Inflammation Science & Systems Medicine, where she hopes to develop her research skills and prepare for a career in STEM.
- Emily Dillon, from Oxbridge Academy, is interning in the lab of Patrick Griffin, Ph.D., scientific director of the institute. Dillon aspires to attend medical school and specialize in neurology.
- Lily Feiner, from The Benjamin School, is interning in the lab of Joe G.N. “Skip” Garcia, M.D., director of the Center for Inflammation Science & Systems Medicine and associate vice president for research at UF Health. Feiner is eager to contribute to scientific discovery at the institute. “I’m really enjoying being part of the Garcia Lab because it’s given me the chance to see the science I’ve learned in school come to life in a real research environment. Instead of just learning concepts in class, I’ve been able to see how they’re used to answer questions that could eventually improve human health, which has made me even more excited for my future in biomedical research,” said Feiner.
- Heather Garcia, from Jupiter High School, is also interning in the lab of Jason Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Inflammation Science & Systems Medicine. With previous experience in biochemistry, Garcia plans to pursue a career in biomolecular engineering. “Being part of this program has been one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had,” said Garcia. “I love working in the Yuan Lab and studying the SARS-CoV-2 E and Piezo1 ion channels in pulmonary hypertension because the combination of being hands-on and understanding the scientific framework that goes into each experiment has given me a new perspective of the research process. It’s made me even more excited to explore biomedical research and pursue a career where I can continue to build on what I’m learning this summer.”
- Aria Kaul, from South Fork High School, is interning in the lab of chemist Thomas Kodadek, Ph.D. An IB student with hands-on experience in PCR and gel electrophoresis, Kaul hopes to pursue both biomedical engineering and a medical degree.
- Devesh Kumaresh, from American Heritage Schools Palm Beach, is interning in the lab of neuroscientist Sathya Puthanveettil, Ph.D. With prior training in laboratory techniques and scanning electron microscopy, Kumaresh aims to earn a Ph.D. in cancer biology.
- Emily Linder, from Oxbridge Academy, is interning in the lab of neuroscientist Gavin Rumbaugh, Ph.D. Linder plans to use her experience at the institute to build a strong foundation for a future in science.
- Aidan McCorkle, from The Benjamin School, is interning in the lab of Matthew D. Disney, Ph.D., chair of the institute’s department of chemistry and director of the UF RNA Genomic Medicine Center. McCorkle hopes to pursue biomedical engineering and develop innovative healthcare solutions.
- Cathryn Murray, from the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, is interning in the lab of Mauricio Martins, Ph.D. Murray plans to study biochemistry and pursue a Ph.D. focused on advanced immune therapies. “Being selected for this program has given me the amazing opportunity to gain hands-on research experience while working alongside talented scientists in the Martins Lab,” said Murray. “My project focuses on understanding immune responses at the injection site of a potential one-shot functional cure for HIV. It has been incredibly rewarding to contribute to research with the potential to improve lives and expand access to treatment around the world.”
- Stefanie Ratchev, from Suncoast High School, is interning in the institute’s robotic High-Throughput Molecular Screening Center with Timothy Spicer, Ph.D. Ratchev has experience in programming and design through STEM coursework and aims to develop innovative biomedical technologies.
- Brady Spanks, from Suncoast High School, is interning in the lab of Thomas Bannister, Ph.D. He plans to pursue a career in STEM.
- Melany Suarez Ibarra, from Suncoast High School, is interning in the lab of Luis de Carvalho, Ph.D. With prior experience in laboratory, computational, and independent research, Suarez Ibarra plans to pursue a career in medicine while continuing advanced scientific research.
“Working in the Carvalho Lab and investigating the function of GuaB3 in Mycobacterium smegmatis has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had,” said Suarez Ibarra. “I’ve loved being hands on in the lab while also reading scientific literature and understanding the scientific foundation behind our experiments, and working alongside such supportive researchers made me realize how much I genuinely enjoy research. I had always planned on pursuing an accelerated B.S. and M.D. pathway, but this experience inspired me to pursue an M.D. and Ph.D. so I can continue contributing to research throughout my career.”