“I feel like I stumbled into one of the greatest gems of IU Bloomington,” says Jose Mitjavila, who became a Gill Center student researcher after taking Gill Chair Ken Mackie’s course on the history of neuroscience.
At the time, Mitjavila’s schedule was packed not only with majoring in neuroscience and minoring in psychology but also serving in student government; he was elected student body president in his senior year. Although he was only able to come in on the weekends during the school year, Mitjavila dedicated the summers following his sophomore, junior, and senior years to working in the lab of senior scientist Alex Straiker, investigating how different chemical compounds affected neurons’ electrical activity.
“It was very intricate work at the microscope, attaching tiny glass tubes to the surface of cells,” he recalls.
This hands-on experience was excellent preparation for medical school, which Mitjavila now attends at the IU School of Medicine, not only because he developed dexterity and patience but also because he had the opportunity to work through all the stages of scholarly analysis and presentation.
Jose Mitjavila - Former Student, Mackie Lab
“After three years at the Gill Center, I had done everything from formulating a project, collecting data, and analyzing the data, to writing an abstract and making a poster,” he says. “When I arrived in medical school, it was clear that there was a major focus on research, and I was very glad to have already learned those skills.”
Now in his final year and anticipating a career in emergency medicine, Mitjavila says he is continually struck by how well the Gill faculty continue to support him as he pursues his professional goals.
“I had no idea when I went in how much of a resource and support network these professors would be for me,” he says. “All of the Gill Chairs and scientists have led such interesting lives and careers and they’ve been incredibly willing to share their insights with their students.
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