Adrián Medina, Research Project Manager
What is one project you’re excited about that you are working on in the lab right now?
Getting to work on both OCEAN & FACEs studies has been an incredibly rewarding, enriching experience. Both serve as very important foundations in the fields of cognitive and clinical sciences, and it's been very exciting to obtain exposure in two fields and age groups. Whether I'm working with small, energetic kiddos or easy-going teenagers, my time in the lab has been nothing short of a joy. Very excited to transition over to the STAR study!
What is something that you enjoy doing outside of work?
I have always been drawn to music, even as a child. Something that I have tried to do is explore various outlets that will allow me to express the joy I feel within music, while also nurturing my love for learning. I've been fortunate in that I have been able to learn to play different kinds of instruments, the flute being my absolute favorite since I have been playing it since the fifth grade.
What do you want to be when you “grow up”?
Overall, I aspire to be happy and hope to continue striving to be an empathic, loving human being. I genuinely hope that these qualities translate into my future work with patients and students, as well as into the way I try to create a new culture within my familial environment. I expect a lot of myself, but happiness and humanity will always remain at the top of my priority list, and my largest hope is that these ideals never waver.
If you could be anything (outside from your current field) what would it be?
If I somehow ended up deciding to not pursue a career in medicine and brain sciences, I think I'd go into the fashion industry in some kind of styling/designing capacity!
Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what?
As previously mentioned, I can play 4 instruments (I think?). I can't play all of them with extreme proficiency--but enough to claim them! Another not-so-hidden talent is that I can also speak 4 languages. I grew up in a bilingual household, and I am eternally grateful for being able to speak Spanish because I can continue the storytelling legacy of my family and culture. That has been my largest motivator in wanting to learn new languages, with hope that maybe I can hear out the stories of people from diverse backgrounds.
Give us a snapshot of a moment of joy in your life.
A treasured memory is one that happened while I was in my 2nd year of undergrad: I had just concluded the very first event of my student org offering a space for QTIPOC students to gather, and my team and I played music while we were cleaning up the venue. We were all just laughing, singing/rapping, and dancing--existing in a collective state of euphoria. The sheer joy that everyone expressed is something that will stay with me forever, as members of my community celebrated one another for our lived experiences and promoted an immense culture of belonging and love.