Isabella Rivera | 2026 SURF Participant

Isabella Rivera is a junior majoring in neuroscience with interests in glioblastoma and hydrogel research. At Illinois, she works with Sara Pedron-Haba in the Harley Research Lab utilizing 3D hydrogels to investigate neuron-glioblastoma interactions and alternative dose rates of radiation to target tumor cells and spare healthy neural tissue. Outside of the lab, Isabella mentors students through the SpHERES and REACH programs at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, where she introduces local youth to engineering applications in cancer research and hydrogel research. She volunteers as a scribe and hospitality assistant at the Champaign Christian Health Center, where she helps patients connect with providers and assists with medical documentation. Her experiences at the clinic strengthened here interest to improve healthcare accessibility through biomedical research. At Mayo Clinic, Isabella will work with pediatric and adult neurosurgeon Dr. Kai Miller and Dr. Nuri Ince, whose work focuses on neural engineering, brain-machine interfaces, and translational neuroscience research, as she prepares to pursue a career as a physician.