University of New Mexico undergraduates Celeste Maldonado Taheri and Anthony Languit recently completed a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Johns Hopkins University. The program focused on pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Languit participated in the program for a second time this summer. He described his decision to return, saying, “That’s mainly the reason I came back, is because of the people like my principal investigator and the grad students. It was really great. It was a very supportive environment for mentorship.”
The nine-week program in Baltimore included opportunities such as shadowing in the ICU at Hopkins Hospital. Languit noted Maldonado Taheri’s performance during their experience: “Celeste impressed a world-renowned pulmonologist by asking really good questions. She did a really good job representing us Lobos.”
Maldonado Taheri, who will begin studies in UNM’s nuclear medicine program this fall, discussed her path to research. She initially applied to several labs but faced early setbacks. “That honestly deterred me from trying any type of research for a good while. It wasn’t until later that I started looking into maybe more unorthodox research opportunities,” she said.
Her persistence led her to speak with a professor who helped circulate her application widely, resulting in her first research experience through Auburn University. “It was completely not what I expected at all—it ended up being fantastic. I had a wonderful time working with him,” Maldonado Taheri said. “Putting myself out there is what opened a lot of doors for me.”
Both students highlighted the connections and mentorship they gained during their time in Baltimore. Maldonado Taheri emphasized the importance of perseverance: “Applying for these programs is worth dealing with the rejection,” she said. “Then you have to remind yourself that they chose eight students out of close to 1,100 applicants. Remind yourself that you got in for a reason.”
Languit, who is applying to medical school, encouraged other students to consider REU programs due to their accessibility and travel opportunities. He added, “On top of that, you get to do extremely impressive research at a young age with these renowned scientists and colleagues there. It helped me grow my technical skills and made me a better researcher. When I came back to UNM this past year, I felt more confident. I think that is reflected in my work.”
