Manuel Axel Ruiz is a UNT doctoral student working in the laboratory of Dr. Pamela Padilla. His curiosity, passion for science, and drive to make discoveries that could impact the future of human health inspired him to pursue his research, which involves looking at how a glucose-supplemented diet can impact neuronal morphology and function. In short, he analyzes the cause and effects of complications that arise in Type 2 Diabetes.

"I wake up every day and I get to do something that I am passionate about," said Manuel. "It is exciting to know that you are contributing to the field of science and medicine. There are plenty of days where I wake up and I am looking forward to find out about the results of my experiments."

Manuel would like his research to provide greater insights on what molecular mechanisms are involved in the development of diabetes complications and therefore potentially identify biomarkers that could help doctors in the early detection of nerve damage associated with Type 2 Diabetes.

For Manuel, making discoveries in science is exciting and rewarding, but not without its challenges.

"You have to be resilient and willing to admit there is always something new to learn, even though you are becoming an expert at something," he said. "You also have to learn to listen: to your mentor, to others in the field. Although it sounds easy at times it can be challenging for some students."

It helps to have support, and Manuel cites his mentor, Dr. Padilla, as a major influence on who he is now as a scientist. "We all learn differently and at a different pace and she knows this, and she has the ability to adjust to the student's learning type," he said. "She has been very supportive and nurturing of our scientific curiosity."

"Manuel is a very creative scientist with a broad knowledge of the life sciences as well as human health issues," said Dr. Padilla. "Being his mentor has been very rewarding and I know he will accomplish great things in life."

Manuel received his Bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston Down-Town, a Master's in biological sciences from the University of Houston Clear-Lake, and a Master's in business administration with a focus on healthcare management from Davenport University. Besides working on his PhD at UNT, in his free time he is also working on an additional Master's in individualized genomics and health at Johns Hopkins University to help him achieve his final academic and professional goals.

"I chose the University of North Texas for my PhD because of all that UNT has to offer: it is a Tier 1 Research University, it provides graduate students with financial assistance, and because I was interested in Dr. Padilla's research," Manuel said. "It is here that I learned to be a scientist and I think that encompasses a lot. UNT has provided me with the opportunity to grow academically and professionally."

Manuel's advice for fellow students on their journey to research is to chase their interests with great intention: "Find a lab that is doing something that you are interested in and volunteer, ask plenty of questions about what entails to be a scientist, and read a lot about what interests you."

For more information about Dr. Padilla's laboratory visit: https://biology.unt.edu/dr-pamela-padilla To learn more about our graduate programs and research in the College of Science, check out: https://cos.unt.edu/degrees/graduate-degrees