Tulane senior Mary Lorino has been selected as a 2024 Marshall Scholar to pursue two years of graduate study in Great Britain. Mary is among fifty students from institutions across the country recognized by the British Marshall Commission for extraordinary academic distinction and notable promise as a future leader.
The Marshall Scholarship promotes mutual understanding between the British and American peoples, while contributing to the advancement of knowledge in Britain’s most prestigious centers of academic excellence. Mary will pursue dual Master of Research degrees in Integrative Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland. Through her research in the UK Mary aims to contribute to the development of stem cell therapeutics for rare neurodegenerative diseases.
Mary, of Birmingham, AL, will graduate in May with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Cell and Molecular Biology. Beginning her sophomore year at Tulane, Mary worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Maria Galazo’s lab studying the impact of neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism spectrum disorder, on cerebral cortex development. Mary’s inquiries into neurodegenerative conditions continued the summer after that, when she conducted research at the University of Chicago with neurologists, Dr. James Mastrianni and Dr. Kaitlin Seibert. There she developed a behavioral battery to assess social cognition in dementia patients.
“These experiences confirmed my passion for research and equipped me with the skills to be a successful Marshall winner. I chose to apply for this scholarship for the intellectual freedom to devote two years to studying the topics that excite me most, something I may not have time for in my future medical training.”
Mary eventually plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. which will allow her to provide medical care and develop therapeutics.
Mary credits Dr. Thomas Spencer and Dr. Edie Wolfe from the Office of Fellowship Advising for their invaluable assistance and encouragement throughout the entire application process.
“To be honest, I was nervous to apply for the Marshall Scholarship, doubting my potential to succeed. However, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Wolfe encouraged me to complete the application, and I am so glad they did because I wouldn’t be here today without them. I would encourage any student thinking about applying for a national fellowship to go for it because you never know what will happen, and you can’t succeed without trying.”
Mary also credits her overall Tulane undergraduate experience with getting her to this point.
“I have been able to participate in faculty-led research projects, take unique elective courses with professors, and serve as a teaching assistant for one of my mentors. My faculty mentors have challenged me to set the bar high for myself and have encouraged me to explore my academic interests inside and outside of the classroom. I would also like to thank Dr. Maria Galazo at Tulane and Dr. Kaitlin Seibert at the University of Chicago for their excellent mentorship.”
