Aleena Kallan

Aleena Kallan is a biological sciences major from Plano, IL

Hometown: Plano, IL

High School: Yorkville High School

Year: Expected graduation: 2026

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I was granted NIU's Presidential Scholarship when I first started at NIU. This financial support has allowed me to not worry about the financial burden of an undergraduate degree and focus on school itself. I am incredibly fortunate and grateful for this opportunity, and I highly recommend any high school senior eligible to apply. I have also received the Patricia Vary Scholarship from the biology department. This money supported me through my summer so I could pursue unpaid experiences to help my professional goals.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
As a kid, I imagined myself becoming an elementary school teacher. I loved how teachers change and shape the lives of our future, and I wanted to be the person that my favorite teacher was to me. However, junior year of high school confirmed a new passion I had: medicine. I grew up surrounded by the medical field and found excitement in related courses. By pursuing opportunities like shadowing and interning, I was able to lean into my decision and explore the world of medicine. I still, however, have a great passion for teaching. I intend on pursuing medical school to practice medicine and eventually pass on my knowledge by teaching.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am a biological sciences major with a chemistry minor. I decided on this course because of my passion for medicine and enthusiasm to learn all things surrounding science. By pursuing biology, I can fulfill the courses required for the pre-med track while enjoying the elective science courses offered in the department.

Have you conducted your own research through Research Rookies, Honors capstones or theses or any other faculty-guided research opportunity?
Yes

Tell us about the research you are doing and why it interests you.
I am participating in research in Dr. Pallavi Singh’s microbiology research lab. I pursued research to fulfill a desire to solve problems in the world around me. I currently focus on establishing a culture-based method to detect different pathogens in the gut microbiome of bison. We do this by collecting fecal samples from bison at different farms in Illinois, then isolating the bacterial DNA found in the sample. This research interests me because the purpose of our research is to promote food safety and ensure the bison meat the public consumes is safe.

How has conducting research strengthened your education and experience at NIU?
I believe that research is fundamental to applying classroom knowledge and gaining hands-on experience. This experience has enhanced my overall development of skills, including problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability and critical thinking. Most of all, research is a great way to challenge myself in academic exploration and discovery. Through this journey, I have faced obstacles and setbacks; however, these experiences have only fostered resilience and self-confidence.

How will your research experience help you in the future?
Having been a part of my research lab since spring 2023, I have been able to grow and develop confidence in my microbiology techniques. I plan to take these experiences with me to my future endeavors and expand my knowledge further in other areas of research. Not only that, but I have also made wonderful connections I can rely on for guidance and support. My faculty advisor, Dr. Singh, has been incredibly encouraging, and I know I will be able to go to her for anything, even after my days at NIU.

Who at NIU has been important to your success doing research and why?
There are many people who are fundamental for my success in research. It all started with an NIU alum, Yousuf Khan. Yousuf was a mentor to me during his time at NIU and he taught me the foundations of microbial research. Ritesh Ray is the Ph.D. candidate I work with and whose project I am working on. Ritesh is my day-to-day point person for research and his invaluable knowledge in microbiology supports and guides me through our work. The constant support and encouragement from him and others in our lab is a large part of what makes research fun and enjoyable for me. The person I owe it all to, however, is Dr. Pallavi Singh. Dr. Singh took a chance on me as an inexperienced freshman, and I could not have been more grateful. As my faculty advisor in the lab, she has been there for every big decision related to research and as a lending hand when navigating academics outside of research. Her experience and incredible amount of knowledge fuels our project, and I know she always has my back in any experience I dream to chase.

What advice would you give to an incoming student as it relates to research at NIU?
My advice to an incoming student about research is to keep an open mind. Research is all about learning! Any person in any field can contribute to the expansion of knowledge, and there is no such thing as failure in research if you embrace your mistakes and learn from them. Anyone can make a great impact on the world by letting curiosity drive their project!

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The most surprising aspect of my time at NIU is the warm and inclusive community. There are so many good people here who want to help you and see you grow. If you have the courage to put yourself out there, you’ll grow in ways you’ve never imagined. There are so many opportunities and experiences NIU has given me that have allowed me to grow personally, academically and professionally. I will forever be grateful.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
The easiest way to get connected is to get involved! There are many different organizations and programs at NIU that target many needs. From support, to community, to fun, to professional guidance, find organizations that interest you and meet new people. You will start to see familiar faces and make amazing connections that make NIU feel like your home away from home.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I love meeting new people and making connections, so I have joined multiple student organizations on campus. The first organization I joined was the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student Association. BUSA provides such a welcoming biology community with wonderful people who encouraged me to become their technology and recruitment officer. I also joined Phi Sigma Beta Epsilon Honors Society and am their vice president. Phi Sigma gets involved with STEM-related events and offers resources to biology students. As a pre-med student at NIU, I really wanted to find a pre-med community to lean on and connect with. That is why I took the initiative and started the NIU chapter of the National Pre-Med Association. This project has allowed me to meet other pre-meds to focus on related initiatives like MCAT studying, volunteer opportunities and more. On top of that, Yousuf Khan, Yaileen Velazquez and I put together a mentorship program (Huskie Health Professionals) to connect NIU pre-med students with current medical students. We want NIU students to have every opportunity available to pursue their professional goals. Additionally, my positive experience in research influenced me to pursue a role as an undergraduate research ambassador for OSEEL, the student engagement department of NIU. In this position, I get to mentor new students entering research in the Research Rookies program and advertise the benefits of participating in research across campus. Though I am involved in many roles across campus, my passion shines through each individual role.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Huskie Academic Success Center; the biology department; the pre-professional advisor, Tracy Ash; and the faculty here at NIU have all played a large role in making me feel safe and supported. Whether it’s academic assistance, a place to talk or personal support, I’ve learned that there is always a place at NIU to help you.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The Honors Program at NIU offers so many opportunities to find support and make connections. I often find myself checking the Suitable app to attend fun or informative events going on in the honors community, and it has allowed me to meet wonderful people.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I enjoy how involved the Honors Program lets you become. There are events year-round at all different times that allow people with busy schedules to participate. The program also has great resources like the Honors Fellows, mentors and staff who support your any need.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
Dr. Pallavi Singh has been one of my favorite professors. I was in her microbiology class, BIOS 313, and she is my faculty advisor for research. She has made a great impact on my time at NIU by always being supportive and pushing me to be the best version of myself I can be. Her class was very fun and interesting, and her knowledge and passion about the field is undeniable.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Going to class is what keeps me on track. Even if professors post the lecture, I find myself falling behind if I rely on the resources online. Going to class forces me to hear the material at least once, so I can go back and fill in the gaps that didn’t make sense after the lecture.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot on campus is the map collection room in the library. I love it because it only has two tables so you can be secluded to study while being surrounded by maps and globes. With a wall of windows, it’s a safe space to retreat and get work done outside of my room that simultaneously provides a calming view of nature.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
There are a lot of factors that go into deciding where to go to college. My advice would be to narrow down what is most important to you in a college and pursue that. Whether it’s the size of college or distance from home, what matters most to you should lead your decision-making.

Why is a college education important to you?
I have always had big dreams of pursuing medicine, and higher education is fundamental to the process of getting there. A college education is a necessary stepping-stone to meet my professional goals. In addition, I know it is a privilege to pursue what you love, and I never take the opportunities I have for granted.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
My schedule is always jam-packed with class, extracurriculars and work. It does get difficult to balance; however, building time in to relax and recharge is what gets me through the long days. It’s easy to prioritize my work over my other responsibilities, but I’ve found when I do so, I burn out much quicker. It is important to build time into your schedule to do other things besides your academic tasks.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I find it easiest to follow the Instagram pages of organizations I love participating in and finding them on Huskie Hub to stay updated with all their events and activities.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I love to hang out with friends, try new food spots and catch movies with my family to recharge.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
A lot of my work centers on campus jobs like tutoring and research, but I also work as a medical assistant and volunteer with the Red Cross. I also love to play the bass guitar with my family in a little garage band. My variation in job and hobbies keeps me occupied but also provides me with an outlet when I need a break from school!

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your NIU Huskie story?
I am very grateful I chose NIU because of all the opportunities I’ve had and the wonderful people I have met here. I will always be happy I chose to pursue my undergraduate degree at NIU!