Students passionate about research in Colorado State University’s Department of Health and Exercise Science have a new springboard for discovery: The Alonso Quijano Research Scholars Program provides financial support for students to engage in hands-on research with the department’s labs, outreach programs, academic support roles, or nonprofit partners. The program not only facilitates academic and professional growth but also fosters a deep commitment to scientific inquiry.  

Initiated by Department Head Barry Braun and supported by the proceeds of the Homecoming 5K Race, the Alonso Quijano Research Scholars Program allows students who need paid employment to support their education to have a job that accentuates their academic career. The goal is to provide students with advanced skills that will set them apart when entering the next phase of their professional journey. 

Three Alonso Quijano awardees — Ellie Shyu, Valeria Salinas-Vargas, and Jessica Franson — shared their transformative research experiences, reflecting on how the opportunity supported and fostered their scientific passions. 

Ellie Shyu: From classroom to laboratory 

Ellie Shyu’s journey began in Dan Lark’s Extracellular Regulation of Metabolism Lab, where she spent a year bridging classroom knowledge with real-world application. Her hands-on experience in the lab, coupled with Lark’s mentorship, ignited her fascination with extracellular vesicles and their impact on human physiology. Learning about the Alonso Quijano Research Program presented a perfect opportunity for Shyu to continue her research with financial support, allowing her to fully dedicate herself to her scientific passions. 

“Working in a research lab has been an incredibly rewarding and valuable educational experience,” Shyu shared. “The Alonso Quijano program has allowed me to further develop real-life laboratory skills.” 

However, Shyu also learned that research is not without its challenges. Shyu recalled a project where she obtained results that were not statistically significant. Initially disappointing, this outcome ultimately broadened her perspective, pushing her to ask different questions and consider new hypotheses to test.  

“Interpreting our data allowed us to view the project in a different light and helped us generate new ideas for future research,” she explained. “It led me to investigate the possible explanations for the results that were not considered before, and now I have a more broad and diverse perspective on the role of extracellular vesicles.” 

Valeria Salinas-Vargas: Balancing financial responsibility and academic achievement  

For Valeria Salinas-Vargas, the Alonso Quijano Research Program was a lifeline. Fully responsible for her educational and living expenses, Salinas-Vargas saw the program as a chance to engage in research without the burden of financial stress. Mentored by Brian Tracy in the Neuromuscular Function Laboratory, Salinas-Vargas found guidance and motivation that proved vital to her academic journey. 

One of Salinas-Vargas’ significant challenges was sharing her research with diverse audiences. As a result of focused, paid time in the lab, she developed presentations for CSU’s Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity symposium and the Rocky Mountain chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, where she won first place for undergraduate research.  

“Through the support of the HES facility and my mentors, I learned to analyze, organize, and present data in an understandable way to different audiences,” Salinas-Vargas recounted. “To all those who are considering applying to the Alonso Quijano research program I would encourage you to make as many connections as possible and to take full advantage of this opportunity.” 

Salinas-Vargas’ advice to prospective applicants is to maximize the opportunity by acquiring new skills and embracing the experience wholeheartedly.  

“Ask questions, no matter how dumb they might sound, and have fun with it,” she said. 

Jessica Franson: From curiosity to clinical impact 

Jessica Franson’s path to the Alonso Quijano Research Program began with a conversation with Lark about his research lab. Aspiring to apply to physical therapy school, Franson recognized the importance of research experience. Her challenge was finding a lab that aligned with her career goals and could accommodate her limited availability due to her already full schedule of jobs and classes. 

Franson discovered the Alonso Quijano program through an email from the HES Club, and realized it was the perfect solution. She could gain research experience while supporting herself financially. She expressed her preference to work in Heather Leach‘s Physical Activity for Treatment and Prevention Lab, aligning with her goal of a patient care-based career. 

Working on the SPAACES study, which aims to support cancer survivors to maintain post-treatment physical activity levels, Franson faced the real-world research challenge of participant recruitment.  

“The most challenging part was finding organizations willing to share our study and eligible participants,” Franson explained.  

Franson didn’t let an issue like this keep her down, instead looking outside the lab setting to see how other similar teams had success and working closely with her team to try new approaches.  

“We have looked into research about the best ways to recruit participants for clinical studies and have looked into our own study to see where the participants we have recruited are coming from,” said Franson. “For example, we noticed that we got a ton of participant response from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society from posting in their live chat, so then we found other organizations similar for every other cancer type to try and have the same success.” 

Through research and strategic outreach, she successfully recruited participants and even had a waiting list for the next cohort. 

Franson advises students not to shy away from reaching out to professors and lab directors.  

“Meeting with many lab directors helped me narrow down my interests and how each lab would fit into my future career goals,” Franson said. “I think all the HES staff are so willing and excited to help us students so just reaching out to talk to them was really helpful in starting my research experience.” 

From lab to life 

The Alonso Quijano Research Program demonstrates the power of financial support in unlocking students’ potential and passion for research. For Shyu, Salinas-Vargas, and Franson, the program has been instrumental in their academic and professional development, offering mentorship, practical experience, and the freedom to explore their scientific interests without financial strain. As these students continue to contribute to research endeavors, their experiences highlight the importance of financial and educational support programs in shaping the future of research and innovation, making the field of research accessible to everyone with scientific curiosity and an inquisitive spirit.