A Student’s Love for Science Fuels Her Fight Against Cancer

Valenti Govantes/Staff Writer 

Kaytlin Alzugaray’s determination to research cancer began when she was just 13 years old, after her mother was diagnosed with an early stage of cancer.

Her mother’s diagnosis motivated Alzugaray to learn as much as possible about the disease with the hopes of helping her mothers and others one day.

“When I started researching different forms of cancer, I focused on the form of cancer my mother was diagnosed with,” she said. 

Now a junior at FIU’s Honors College majoring in biological sciences and psychology, Alzugaray has completed over four years of research, which earned her the 2020 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. She is now the second FIU student to receive the scholarship. 

The scholarship was established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater and encourage the growth of college students who intend to pursue research careers. 

“Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship was an honor and privilege that I will always cherish. FIU has provided me with numerous opportunities to excel and I am beyond satisfied with my experience at FIU,” she said.

At the age of 16, Alzugaray was part of an Academy for Advanced Academics dual enrollment program at FIU, where she became familiar with the campus and her professors.

With the university leaving a lasting impression, Alzugaray had made her choice on which college she wanted to attend. 

“There was no hesitation in my mind that I wanted to attend FIU,” she said. 

During her time at FIU, she took part in many programs offered by the university. While studying, she also collaborated with program affiliates including Biological Sciences Program Coordinator Amy Reid and Biological Sciences Associate Professor Dr. DeEtta Mills on programs such as the MARC U*STAR. 

As her time at FIU comes to an end in the upcoming semesters, Alzugaray is now getting ready to continue her cancer research at Harvard, as part of their Stem Cell Institute next summer.

At Harvard, she will be collaborating with Dr. Trista North to investigate leukemia and the embryonic development of hematopoietic stem cells in the zebrafish model
system.

“Originally, I intended on directly completing an MD-PhD program in cancer biology but now I am changing trajectory and intend on completing a one-year master’s program
before applying to MD-PhD programs,” said Alzugaray.

Alzugaray considers the life of a scientist to be an unending process of learning. It’s the process of working on new scientific advancements that she says she loves. 

“I am the type of individual who wants to know all of the available scientific information—including the treatment alternatives and prevention strategies,” said Alzugaray.

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