Cindy Chen | 2026 SURF Participant

Cindy Chen is a junior James Scholar and Cancer Scholar majoring in neural engineering with a minor in psychology. Her research interests include developing therapeutics and personalized medicine for neuropsychiatric disorders. At Illinois, Cindy works in the Cellular Neuroscience Imaging Lab analyzing changes in biophysical properties of tissues and cells associated with conditions such as traumatic brain injury using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy. She is co-founder of the e-NABLE Prosthetics UIUC RSO, which develops 3D printed prosthetics for those in need, and president of the Undergraduate Research in Scientific Advancement (URSA) Program, which provides first-time research opportunities to underclassmen. Both student-led initiatives grew out of work in the lab, where Cindy conducted her first research project as an URSA mentee. As a 2025 SURF participant, Cindy studied alcohol use disorder with Dr. Richard Weinshilboum at Mayo Clinic. Returning for her second summer in the program, she will continue working with Weinshilboum on pharmacogenomics research in neuropsychiatric disorders as she prepares to pursue a PhD in neural or biomedical sciences.