University of Houston students aren't just learning in classrooms — they’re helping advance the future of health care through hands-on research in cancer, diabetes and microbiology planetary protection. Working alongside faculty mentors and leading researchers, these undergraduates gain real-world experience that fuels innovation and turns curiosity into life-changing discoveries.
This commitment to experiential learning shows how UH is shaping the next generation of health care scholars and innovators through a strong culture of undergraduate research. From their earliest years on campus, students are preparing for careers in research, medicine and other high-demand fields — all while contributing to discoveries with global impact.
Managing Type 1 Diabetes
As a junior biomedical engineering student, Natalie Linde is contributing to research that could shape the future of diabetes care. Her work is driven by lived experience: Linde was diagnosed at age 15 with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition.
“In the wake of that experience, I developed the single-minded goal to do whatever I could to improve the quality of life of children with type 1 diabetes,” Linde said.
“The thriving Cougar culture of success against the odds surrounds me in my classes, my clubs, and even standing in the Cage of our basketball games, fighting tooth and nail to win.”
That lifelong commitment continued at UH, where Linde was a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship scholar. Her project focused on youth with type 1 diabetes who began using the Omnipod 5 insulin pump shortly after diagnosis. Linde assisted with data collection and analysis to evaluate the safety and efficiency of this relatively new technology.
The research team — led by Dr. Daniel DeSalvo of the Baylor College of Medicine and Marzia Cescon, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UH — found that the Omnipod 5 significantly improves glycemic outcomes and reduces long-term complications associated with the chronic illness. The resulting manuscript is currently under review in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics.
Beyond the lab, Linde is a dedicated diabetes advocate. She has traveled to Washington, D.C. with the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition to advocate for federal funding and improved access to diabetes care. Linde credits UH for making these opportunities possible.
“The thriving Cougar culture of success against the odds surrounds me in my classes, my clubs, and even standing in the Cage of our basketball games, fighting tooth and nail to win,” Linde said.
These student successes are driven by research programs that empower students to explore academic interests, develop critical research skills and gain recognition through presentations and publications.
One of the University’s signature events, Undergraduate Research Day, celebrates student discovery across all disciplines. The 21st annual URD will take place April 9, showcasing independent and faculty-mentored research projects.
UH also supports immersive research experiences through the SURF program, which provides funding for undergraduates to engage in a full-time, 10-week research experience under the guidance of UH faculty. The Houston Scholars program further supports high-achieving freshmen and sophomores through mentorship, scholarships and targeted programming.
Together, these initiatives reflect UH’s dedication to student success and its role as a Tier One research institution.