Liu Arbolaez & Jason Mendoza

Liu Arbolaez is a pre-nursing student in the Honors College at Miami Dade College. A native of Cuba who moved to the United States in 2021, she serves as President of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), an Honors College Ambassador, and a peer mentor. For the MDC Summer Research Institute, Liu conducted research on monarch butterflies, “Where Do Monarchs Go in Miami?”, which was presented at the 2026 STEM Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Symposium. She is also an American Heart Association (AHA) Scholar for 2026-2027 and aspires to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), integrating her interests in healthcare, research, and service.

Jason Mendoza is a first-generation Latino Biology student at Miami Dade College with interests in healthcare, conservation ecology, and environmental science. He plans to pursue pharmacy at a four-year institution and is passionate about improving lives through medicine. Jason participates in Dr. Clayborn’s butterfly radiotelemetry research, studying butterfly movement and conservation while learning about the critical role butterflies play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. His work reflects his commitment to both scientific discovery and community impact.