Although not what you expected, you’re always where you’re supposed to be. 

This was how Génesis Omaña Suarez felt after entering the Wilkes Honors College as a transfer student in 2020. She was an over-achieving community college student, just years after moving from Venezuela to Florida, when she realized she needed a change. With an acute interest in health science, Omaña reckoned that the Honors College’s coveted Pre-Med track would give her the education and platform she needed. Génesis found what she was looking for, but not in the discipline she thought she would.

Under the advisement of Dr. Catherine Trivigno, Génesis explored something that was completely foreign to her, research. “One of the things that I think happens a lot is you don’t really know what research is until you do it,” Omaña asserts. “[Because] for me, science was just medicine. But then I started doing research and I was like ‘oh wow!’ there’s more than medicine,” she exclaims with joyful laughter. “I think I see myself right now doing more research than dealing with patients [now], even though I love people.”

But with her research, Génesis won’t be too far removed from helping others. Entering as a post-baccalaureate in her second year at the Seth Tomchik’s Lab, a Scripps Neuroscience Research Lab, Omaña is contributing to the investigation on the causation of Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a topic the lab specializes in. The disease itself has key characteristics that show on a person’s skin like a tumor or discoloration. But, people with NF1 are also observed to have ADHD-like symptoms and sleeping disorders which are associated with the NF1 gene. So, Génesis’ research asks the question: Are there specific types of neurons or neural circuits that are affected by and responsible for the ADHD-like behaviors associated with mutations to the NF1 gene? Not only is this research important for understanding how the gene functions in the pathogenesis of NF1 but it could also pave inroads for possible therapeutic strategies in treating this disorder. 

But it isn’t just her incredible intellect or her willingness to adapt or even her commitment to learning that makes her our Student Spotlight, it’s also her need to improve all the conditions within her control. “Génesis has spent a great deal of time, energy and consideration in developing opportunities to support the mental health of her fellow students and to inspire and encourage children to pursue an interest in science,” Dr. Trivigno says about her advisee. Dr. Trivigno was actually oozing with praise about Génesis when asked; we haven’t seen anyone that excited at the college since the last time our mascot, Owlsely, came onto campus! 

“Génesis was instrumental in guiding the Keep Moving student organization, which provided support for students on all FAU campuses and shared resources for coping during the pandemic. She has also served as a volunteer crisis counselor to support individuals experiencing mental health crises,” Trivigno continues. “Genesis has managed a virtual platform to share resources related to science and host interviews with experts to encourage young students to learn about STEM topics in an accessible way. In addition, she was awarded a Community Engagement Scholarship in recognition of her volunteer efforts as an elementary and middle school tutor at the Edna Runner center, supporting the learning of students who are experiencing poverty.” Trivigno goes on and on, off the record, about how impressive Omaña is, speaking with exuberant admiration for everything she is doing and everything she will continue to do. 

So, what’s next for Génesis? Well, after following the Seth Tomchik lab to Iowa to finish up her research, she hopes she can move into a graduate program, one that could be in the warmer weather she’s more accustomed to. “It’s cold and it’s only September! It’s a big change; But I love Iowa, it’s a great place,” Omaña chuckles, thinking fondly of her short time in the Hawkeye state. “I think I’m going to apply for graduate school within the next year, hopefully get into a PhD program. I’m interested in Neuroscience and Cancer Biology so I’m hoping to get into a program that does both.” 

Génesis will have the world at her feet in a year’s time after publishing a paper with the Tomchik lab; we don’t know if those feet will be buried in snow or in sand , but what we do know is she’ll make the best of any situation and shine. 

NOTE: If students or others are interested in getting in contact with Génesis Omaña, she has allowed us to share her email here and encourages anyone to reach out with any questions. Email: gomanasuarez2020@fau.edu