Rushika Muradi, a junior at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), inspired by personal family experience is exploring heart research developing skills through opportunities that connect her academic interests with scientific work.
Muradi was one of five students nationwide selected for the Cardio-SURPh summer research program at Loyola University Chicago. The program gave her hands-on experience in cardiovascular research and the opportunity to work under the guidance of experienced researchers and professionals.
“It was an incredible learning experience that allowed me to gain hands-on exposure to cardiovascular research and develop my research skills,” Muradi said.
Raised in Nanded, India, Muradi said her interest in cardiovascular science and cardiology began during childhood. A personal experience involving cardiovascular disease in her family later strengthened her desire to explore the field and contribute to addressing problems that affect people’s health.
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“When that moment happened, I felt like, ‘OK, this is a problem I want to help solve,’” she said.
After arriving at UTA, Muradi explored different opportunities and learned about health care and cardiovascular internship programs which helped her pursue her interest beyond the classroom.
During the summer program at Loyola, Muradi worked on heart failure research models. The experience allowed her to gain practical exposure to cardiovascular research while developing skills relevant to her intended field.
The program also took her to Boston, where she visited Harvard University and delivered a lightning talk about her research experience. She subsequently attended the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions, where she presented her research again.
Muradi described the Harvard visit and scientific conference as major events of her summer. The experiences gave her opportunities to share her work in academic and scientific settings outside UTA.
Beyond her cardiovascular research, Rushika Muradi is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biology at UTA where she has been studying since 2024, according to her public LinkedIn profile.
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She has also listed volunteer experience with India’s National Service Scheme from January to April 2022, participating in community outreach activities, including health awareness camps, environmental cleanup drives and educational workshops.
Looking ahead, Muradi plans to continue pursuing cardiovascular research, gain additional research experience and further develop her skills. She hopes to graduate from UTA in May 2028 while working toward her future academic and career goals.
Muradi credited UTA with supporting her progress, singling out Professor Laura Mydlarz for particular appreciation. Her experience reflects the role that undergraduate research opportunities can play in helping students explore scientific fields and gain practical experience.
For Muradi, the summer program provided an opportunity to work on heart failure research, present her work at Harvard and share her research at a major cardiovascular science conference.
As she continues her studies at UTA, Muradi plans to build on that experience and pursue further opportunities in cardiovascular science.