How Undergraduate Research Opportunities Shaped Senior Rachel Rubenzahl’s Future

Senior medical biology major Rachel Rubenzahl discovered an unexpected passion as an undergraduate Owl—the critical role of research in the medical field.

“My experiences at Florida Atlantic have given me an understanding of how innovative scientific theories are integrated with existing medicine, and for this I am extremely grateful,” expressed Rubenzahl.

Rubenzahl works with Kevin Darby, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, in the Lifespan Cognition Lab to collect and analyze data for an “Attention to Scenes and Objects” experiment. Currently, she is using Python 3, a programming language, to analyze different components in the relationship between attention and memory.

“We are trying to understand how changes in the focus of attention can affect memory under specific conditions. This research is particularly intriguing because it provides insight into complex processes that occur in attention and memory,” explained Rubenzahl. “A better understanding of these processes could lead to potential improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of neurocognitive disorders. Dr. Darby’s lab demonstrates the convergence of creativity and science in research.”

As an extension of her lab experience, Rubenzahl presented her research on the "Effects of Proactive and Reactive Selective Attention on Episodic Memory” during the 15th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, hosted by Florida Atlantic’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI), on April 4. In addition, she also completed a Directed Independent Research (DIR) course within the Florida Atlantic University Marine Lab, led by Jeanette Wyneken, Ph.D., lab director and professor of biological sciences, Schmidt College of Science, in the summer of 2024. 

During her time at Florida Atlantic, Rubenzahl had multiple opportunities to participate in research conferences, including the AstraZeneca SPARC Symposium and the OURI Summer Student Showcase, both in 2023. She shared that while reading research articles is an excellent way to learn about innovative breakthroughs, attending conferences in-person is especially rewarding.

“Research conferences combine novel ideas with the opportunity to meet the people behind these cutting-edge discoveries,” shared Rubenzahl. “Participating in research conferences, especially for undergraduate researchers, is a great way to learn about trends in a field and gain exposure about different opportunities in research.”

Rubenzahl’s remarkable academic achievements landed her in the 2021 cohort of the Schmidt College of Science’s Soar-in-4 program, an invitation-only program for high-achieving students. In addition, during her junior year, she was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

“As a Soar-in-4 Scholar, I have had a great experience,” stated Rubenzahl. “Dr. Evonne Rezler and the faculty involved in the Soar-in-4 program have been supportive in helping me navigate my academic endeavors at Florida Atlantic. The Soar-in-4 program has provided me with one-on-one guidance.”

Outside of her studies, Rubenzahl has been equally active in her leadership roles. She is a founding executive board member of Florida Atlantic University’s chapter of Friends of MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders). In her current role, she serves as the group’s publicity and campaign officer.

This May, Rubenzahl anticipates crossing the stage to receive her B.S. degree. Following her graduation, she plans to follow her passion and pursue a graduate degree where she can continue performing research and, ultimately, combine it with practice.