Magellan Student Ambassador
Natalie Brenders
Hello! My name is Natalie Brenders and I am from Michigan, but actually a Canadian citizen. I came to the beautiful University of South Carolina for an adventure out-of-state, and I have found one! My major is exercise science and I am pre-med. I have recently had the opportunity to complete research with a pediatric surgeon at Palmetto Children’s Hospital, and it was a very rewarding, one-of-a-kind experience. I was absolutely thrilled with the aspects of research that allowed me to pursue my passion in medicine. My research began my freshmen year when I received a MiniGrant and worked closely with Dr. Camps on a project that will affect many young lives. This was my first encounter with research and it was a great one. I felt an incredible amount of responsibility in my project. It helped to shape me as a person and allowed me to learn more about my future career. I gained confidence in my ability to do research and learned how to properly conduct myself in professional situations, both while observing surgeries and in the clinical environment. I am working on a new project this year with a trauma surgeon and have been funded by the Magellan Apprentice. I am so impressed by the undergraduate research program here at USC and how easy the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) makes it for students to pursue their dreams! The opportunities presented by the OUR staff are as incredible as the people who work there. I am happy to be a Magellan Ambassador, spreading the word about how exhilarating your college experience should really be and how much research can excite you and others! Feel free to contact me with questions.