“As I approach the end of my journey at FSU, I hope that the work I have done will leave a lasting impact on the Tallahassee community. ”
Fast Facts
- Favorite Study Spot: The Union Basement
- Arachnophobia: Has an irritational fear of spiders
- On-Campus Resident: Has lived in a residence hall all 3 years
- Hobbies: Go to coffee shops, thrift and read
- Pet: Her dog’s name is Kekova, named after an island in Turkey
Melisa Sencer, a senior at Florida State University majoring in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, part of the College of Arts & Sciences, has made it her mission to impact those around her positively.
During her time at FSU, Sencer has been involved in auditory system research at the College of Medicine and treasured her role in the FSU Turkish Student Association (TSA). Her dedication to her academic pursuits and volunteer efforts is evident in her contributions to the local community and her leadership within the student organization. Melisa is currently a student at Mayo Clinic’s radiology department studying Sonography and plans on applying to medical school next year.
What has your research experience at FSU been like?
I work at FSU’s College of Medicine in Dr. Yuan Wang’s lab, which focuses on the auditory system and neural circuit development. I began working independently on my project over a year ago and have made great strides in developing technology. I have also contributed novel research results to our knowledge of the auditory circuit in the brain. My goal is to apply my project and results to better understand Fragile X Syndrome, the leading genetic known cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and why these individuals experience auditory hypersensitivity. I have presented my results at the President’s Showcase and plan to defend my honors thesis this fall.
How have you been able to contribute to your community while at FSU?
Two of the most significant leadership and community contributions I’ve had while at FSU are my involvement in the FSU Turkish Student Association (TSA) as treasurer and my employment at the FSU Primary Care Clinic as a certified clinical medical assistant. As a part of the TSA executive board, I play a major role in managing the student organization. One of our main goals is to share Turkish culture with the FSU student body and unify Turkish students on campus. Working at FSU’s primary care immersed me in Tallahassee. Having lived in the dorms for three years, I spent most of my time on campus, so it really was an eye-opening experience. It helped me realize there is no greater privilege than being a doctor, and there is nothing in the world that I want more.
As you approach graduation, what reflections do you have from your time at FSU?
As I approach the end of my journey at FSU, I hope that the work I have done will leave a lasting impact on the Tallahassee community. I’ve had the honor of serving and getting to know many people, including the patients I’ve grown to deeply care for and the emerging community of Turkish students that is beginning to form. Through my academic pursuits and volunteer efforts, I emphasized making a positive difference in the lives of those I’ve encountered. I sincerely hope that the relationships I forged with patients have brought comfort, healing and support to those facing difficult times. I hope they remember me as not only a health care worker, but as someone who genuinely offered compassion during their time of need. Simultaneously, I hope my involvement in the Turkish Student Association was able to help improve our outreach to other Turkish students and that our network can continue to grow and thrive long after my departure from FSU.