Global Impact

Lauren Iskander ’25 ChE pursues research abroad through Fulbright–Mitacs Globalink Fellowship

Lauren Iskander ’25 ChE has long recognized her passion for science. But a research opportunity through Villanova led her to discover her love for the lab—and to secure a prestigious fellowship through the Fulbright Canada–Mitacs Globalink Program.

During her first spring on campus, Iskander took part in the Villanova Match Research Program for First Year Students, in which undergraduates conduct research while participating in professional development seminars. She was paired with Benjamin Sachs, PhD, in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. For 10 weeks, she engaged in a project investigating the influence of serotonin deficiency on the generation of new neurons in mice after heightened exercise. “Working in Dr. Sachs’ lab showed me how much I liked working in research,” she says. “I love the discovery phase and the trial and error that it involves.”

It was this spark of excitement that ultimately led Iskander to apply for the Fulbright Canada–Mitacs Globalink Fellowship. The summer cultural exchange program offers undergraduates an opportunity to spend 12 weeks at Canadian universities conducting advanced research. Iskander, of West Orange, N.J., was one of 2,220 students from 15 countries—and, with Sophia Pellechia ’24 CLAS, one of two from Villanova—selected to participate in a Mitacs Globalink program.

Working at Polytechnique Montréal under the tutelage of Marco Bonizzato, PhD, an authority on electrical engineering and neuroscience, Iskander assisted with a pilot study aimed at developing implantable neuromodulation devices that improve hand movements after paralysis. Iskander says she was likely paired with Dr. Bonizzato because of her experience in both chemical engineering and neuroscience research, a combination that is not very common but a perfect fit for this lab.

Iskander assisted with research investigating the impact of electrical stimulation on rats with spinal cord injuries. For months, she and fellow researchers observed how uninjured rats execute motor tasks, using advanced motion-tracking software to construct intricate 3D models from video recordings. They then observed and compared the rats’ performance before and after the application of neuromodulation. The last week of the program, “we got beautiful results from one of our rats,” Iskander says. “Her limb motion was so much higher with the neuromodulation than it was when she was walking spontaneously without it. It felt great to see that progress.”

Iskander still contributes to Dr. Bonizzato’s pilot study, conducting data analysis remotely. She’s also involved in Dr. Sachs’ lab at Villanova and presented her research results in November at the Society for Neuroscience Conference in Washington, D.C. Long term, she plans to continue her research pursuits, either in academia or medicine. “I enjoy working on something that I know has a benefit for people,” she says. “I want to do research in a field that will help as many people as possible.”