Research came alive for Samuel Cortes at Ohio State, and before long it carried him far beyond campus labs and classrooms.

Growing up near Akron with parents who were professors, Cortes understood early that scientific research meant impact. In high school, watching scientists race to develop vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, he witnessed just how urgent that work could be and how science can help society move forward.

It sparked an interest in infectious disease and confirmed that research could be more than a career path. It could be a way to help people.

But it wasn’t until he arrived at Ohio State that the passion bubbled to the surface.

“The seed was already planted but when I came to the university and saw it in practice, it really developed and matured,” said Cortes, who will graduate with a degree in biomedical science in May. “When I was choosing institutions to attend, Ohio State being a massive research presence with a medical center, it was perfect in that sense, and I’ve been very happy with my experience here.”

As a student in the Stamps Eminence Scholarship program, Cortes was encouraged to find undergraduate research opportunities. After reading about different research groups, an email led him to the Gallego-Perez Nanomedicine Lab, where he found an opportunity to try something new.

Cortes joined the lab in the spring of his freshman year and stepped into a world of emerging technology to explore gene therapy techniques that help the body heal after injuries, including damage to peripheral nerves.

“This was something I hadn’t had any exposure to,” said Cortes, whose original plan was to study virology and infectious disease. “But I was interested in the novel technology employed in this lab. It was fascinating.”

The lab also meant invaluable mentorship under the guidance of Daniel Gallego-Perez, chair in biomedical engineering, and researchers like Ana Salazar-Puerta, now an assistant professor, who illustrated how the 20-person lab was built on collaboration, persistence and curiosity.

“They’ve been a big support and that’s been super important,” Cortes said. “They really believe undergraduates are an important part of the lab culture.”

The experience and support of the lab propelled him into new opportunities outside of Ohio State. He studied pediatric cancers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital before traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, for a summer research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, where he studied blood-based biomarkers and contributed to a co-authored publication. He then conducted an international research internship at Heidelberg University in Germany, studying biomaterials.

“I’ve been super grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to me, I don’t ever take them for granted,” said Cortes, who plans to pursue a PhD. “Research as a career has always been the goal and my dream is to work in medical research to help combat disease.

“Having these different experiences, developing the soft skills and hard skill techniques through these different environments, has been really valuable.”

Mentorship advice:

“As far as finding a mentor, use Ohio State resources to the utmost degree. For me, having the Stamps Eminence program was a major help. But even if you’re not in that situation, Ohio State seems big and daunting but don’t be afraid to reach out to professors if their research sounds interesting. There’s going to be one who’s open to having an undergraduate in their lab.

“Once you’re in, stay dedicated. Research has a steep learning curve and you’re interacting with PhD students, professors — this is their career. You’re going to have imposter syndrome, but good mentors know this. They know you’ll mess up and you don’t fully understand everything at first. But go through the learning curve, stick to it. That’s the difference-maker. If you’re dedicated, you will get more interaction with mentors and build a good rapport over time.”