Hobbies and interests
Photography and Photo Editing
Soccer
Biology
Anthropology
Communications
Anatomy
Biomedical Sciences
Sustainability
Research
Running
Exercise And Fitness
Reading
Movies And Film
Billiards
Biochemistry
Coffee
Cooking
Criminology
Criminal Justice
True Crime
Forensics
Finance
Health Sciences
Reading
Biography
Economics
Literary Fiction
Science Fiction
Young Adult
Finance
Cookbooks
Science
Romance
I read books multiple times per month
Heidi Cervantes
3,955
Bold Points8x
Nominee1x
Finalist1x
WinnerHeidi Cervantes
3,955
Bold Points8x
Nominee1x
Finalist1x
WinnerBio
Hi! My name is Heidi and I am currently a Biology Research Scientist at New York University. My main research focus is on Diabetes and Obesity where we focus on harnessing the thermogenic capabilities of Brown Adipose Tissue to ameliorate insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. I was recently awarded a National Institute of Health (NIH) Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training grant to present my work at the American Society for Cell Biology Cell Bio 2023 conference.
Prior to my time here, I graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Biology accompanied by a minor in Forensic Science. I used my time at Purdue to gain hands-on experience in a research lab for four years at the Purdue Center for Cancer Research in conjunction with the coursework that I was pursuing. During this time, I also pursued freelance photography while gaining experience in Science Communication at the Purdue Davidson School of Chemical Engineering.
More recently, I just began my MS in Molecular Biology at New York University concurrent with my employment. I am happy to say that in doing so I will completing a higher degree completely debt free allowing me to tackle the remaining student loan debt from my undergraduate studies.
Education
New York University
Master's degree programMajors:
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Purdue University-Main Campus
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
William Mason High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
- Human Biology
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Career
Dream career field:
Research
Dream career goals:
Forensic Biologist
Photographer
Freelance2018 – Present6 yearsCommunications Assistant
Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering2019 – 20212 yearsJunior Research Scientist
New York University2021 – Present3 yearsResearch Technician
Purdue Center for Cancer Research2017 – 20214 years
Sports
Soccer
Junior Varsity2013 – 20141 year
Soccer
Club2006 – 201711 years
Track & Field
Junior Varsity2016 – 20171 year
Mixed Martial Arts
Club2009 – 20134 years
Research
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
New York University — Research Scientist2021 – PresentOncology and Cancer Biology
Purdue University — Research Assistant2017 – 2021
Arts
Independent
PhotographyIndependent Projects2013 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
Matthew 25 Ministries — Clothes Sorter, Food Packager, Paint mixer2013 – 2017Volunteering
Hands Against Hunger — Food packager2013 – 2017Volunteering
Christ Church at Mason — Class Counselor2012 – 2016
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship
WinnerMy name is Heidi Cervantes, and I am currently a full-time Research Scientist for the Department of Molecular Pathobiology at New York University (NYU). Before starting my current employment, I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Forensic Science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN in 2021. During my time there, I worked as a Research Technician for the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research (PCCR) for all four years where I worked on developing and performing multidisciplinary therapeutic cancer studies in mice. Working here allowed me to gain significant hands-on experience and insight into the complex topics of the coursework I was pursuing. Before the start of my junior year, I also started working for the Purdue Davidson School of Chemical Engineering as a Science Communication Assistant where I disseminated school related scientific news through photography, writing, video, and other multimedia assets.
Upon graduating, I started my employment at NYU working in an academic research laboratory. Here, I research Slit3, a protein necessary for regulating the function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and its subsequent effects of ameliorating obesity-induced diabetes. I'm very proud of the work that I am doing as it has the ability to positively impact the 11.3% of US population that suffers from diabetes. Although I love my job and its potential to make a real impact in the scientific community, I don't want to stop here. I plan on pursuing a master’s degree in Recombinant DNA Technology through the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences concurrently with my employment. Working for NYU allows me to obtain my master’s degree debt free as I continue working full time. Although pursuing this degree in two years while working full time is ambitious, I’m confident in my ability to do so as it brings me closer to my dream job working for the US Government through biological research where I will be able to make a difference in how our government works by influencing policy related to environmental and biological issues. Being debt free while pursuing higher education I will allow me to make this dream my reality.
Working two jobs while being a full-time first-generation student was very challenging and required a lot of self-discipline, but doing so allowed me to pay off one of high interest private loans. However, even after paying off one of my loans, I’m still left with $40,000 of debt, both privately and federally held, which I continue to chip away at to combat compound interest. After rent, student loan repayment is my largest expense which prevents me from saving more money than I would like. Growing up in the lower class as an only child with a single mom, money was never a guarantee and was a constant stressor in my mom’s life. As an adult, I hope to actively pursue a better financial future for myself. It’s increasingly vital in today’s economy to have an emergency savings in case of unplanned expenses, by paying down my student loan debt, I would be able to save more rigorously to ensure I’m protected in the event I need it. I would also be able to reallocate that money to put more towards the rest of my student loans so that I can live a debt free future faster. Being debt free opens numerous doors and relieves a substantial amount of stress allowing myself the opportunity to start the next phase of my life and start planning for what is truly important.