| Entry Date | May 18, 2021 |
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| Headshot or imagine for the post |  |
| Name | Tatiana Gomez |
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| 2. Tell us about your current program of research and/or activities and projects that you are currently involved in. | The PERLA or Pain Experiences in Latinx Adults study is investigating how sociocultural factors, such as perceived discrimination, and resilience factors influence biological markers of stress reactivity and pain expectations. As a research assistant, my duties include taking the participant's blood pressure, collecting saliva samples, administering research questionnaires, and delivering pain testing. The participants undergo sensory pain testing involving cold, pressure, and heat. |
| 4. Where do you see your career going in the future? What are your goals and aspirations? | I am currently applying to dental school this cycle and hope to be part of the UFCD class of 2026! As of now, my goal is to be a general dentist, and I will consider specializing once I am more exposed to the different fields in dental school! |
| 6. If you would like us to tag you on Facebook, please provide your Facebook link or handle: | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012935164563 |
| 5. Tell us something fun that you do in your spare time or any hobbies that you enjoy. | Over quarantine, my family and I started cycling and immediately fell in love with it. I love to ride on Hawthrone Trail and Depot Park during my study breaks! |
| 3. Tell us about how you got involved in pain and/or aging research. Was there a moment that inspired you? | During my sophomore year, I became interested in conducting research and started to look for a lab, however, due to the pandemic many research projects were paused. After almost 6 months, I got the position as a research assistant at the PERLA lab and it has been a great experience so far! |