UROP opens doors to high-impact public health research at Wayne State

Ann Mascarenhas (left) and faculty mentor Dr. Vijaya Arun Kumar stand in the emergency department at Harper-Hutzel Hospital, where they studied RSV vaccine access among older adults through Wayne State's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

When Ann Mascarenhas began her undergraduate research at Wayne State University, she didn't do it alone - and that, she said, made all the difference.

Through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Mascarenhas, a junior public health major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Student Senate executive board member, worked closely with faculty mentor Dr. Vijaya Arun Kumar, an emergency medicine professor in the School of Medicine and research director at Harper-Hutzel Hospital. Their multi-institutional project examines RSV vaccination among older adults, focusing on vaccine delivery patterns and barriers in emergency department care, grounded as much in mentorship as in research.

"Dr. Kumar treated me like a real researcher from day one," Mascarenhas said. "He trusted me with meaningful responsibilities and pushed me to grow - even when I didn't think I was ready yet."

Under Kumar's guidance, Mascarenhas learned how to design surveys, collect data in a clinical setting and analyze results, skills she said would have felt intimidating without a mentor invested in her success.

"Undergraduate mentorship matters because everyone deserves someone who believes in their potential before they fully believe in it themselves," Kumar said. "It's about nurturing talent, sharing opportunities and helping students take their first confident steps into the world of research."

Mascarenhas' research examines RSV vaccine acceptability among older adults, who face serious health risks from the virus, particularly those with underlying conditions. The team surveyed patients in the emergency department - a setting that reaches individuals who may not regularly access preventive care - and explored whether offering the vaccine at no cost could help close gaps for underserved populations.

"Dr. Kumar helped me think creatively about where public health interventions can happen, not just where they traditionally exist," Mascarenhas explained. Throughout the process, Mascarenhas said Dr. Kumar balanced high expectations with patience.

"He encouraged me to do data analysis even though I had never used the software," she said. "When I made mistakes, he didn't criticize - he taught. That kind of mentorship builds confidence."

Ann Mascarenhas and Dr. Vijaya Arun Kumar present their research in May at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine national conference in Philadelphia.

That confidence opened new opportunities. Following the RSV project, Mascarenhas is collaborating with Kumar on four additional studies. She credits UROP with creating space for meaningful faculty mentorships that extend beyond a single study and shape long-term goals.

"I remember sitting in my first public health class and realizing I was exactly where I needed to be. Working with a mentor who believes in you - that's what makes you stay," she said. "People are always impressed that I'm an undergraduate doing this level of research. What really stands out is that Wayne State faculty take the time to mentor students so deeply."

As she prepares to graduate in summer 2026, Mascarenhas plans to pursue graduate study and continue research focused on improving access to care for vulnerable populations.

"I'd love to stay here for grad school," she said. "I've already seen what strong mentorship can do. That's what this journey has really been about: Having someone believe in you while you're learning how to serve others."

UROP is set to transition into the Office of Undergraduate Research, with its official launch planned for March 27 at the Warrior Scholars Conference for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work.

Learn more about UROP.

By Darlene A. White