A Full Circle Moment, But Make It a Heart <3
Dr. Horacio de la Iglesias (left), Elena Vu (middle), Micaela E. Romero (right) at the NIH ENDURE research symposium in August, 2026.
In terms of a science career, my time in the field has been short, to say the least. I enrolled in my first class at Green River College in 2022. I took on my first science and policy mentee in 2024. And in 2026, distinguished scientists, revered State House representatives, and journalists are talking about me as a leading voice in solitary confinement reform in Washington state.
It’s all still a little surreal. I’m especially thankful that my partner, who helped open these doors in the first place, now gets to be in the room with me, too.
A recent article published by Prism Reports this month brought so much of this work full circle. "Bees, Solitary Confinement, and the Fight for Change in Washington State" connects the research I’ve done with bumblebees to the advocacy work that started me down this path in the first place. Carolyn Bick, the journalist who wrote it, has become a dear friend over the last year, and she managed to tell our story in a way that brought all of the pieces together and really tugged on my heart, a recurring theme in recent weeks.
The article talks about my research, how that research is making its way into policy and legislation, and the lived experience behind why this work matters in the first place. My partner was interviewed for the piece, too, because no dataset and no observation of bumblebees can replace lived expertise.
The science, the lived experience, and the policy all in one place, saying the same thing. We have to address solitary.
This summer, I transitioned to the de la Iglesia lab, working on research that connects directly to policies surrounding the Sunshine Protection Act through studies on circadian rhythm and its impacts on K-12 students. But what makes this such a big step for me is getting to work in the renowned Horacio de la Iglesia lab, whose work is adjacent to what I’ve done in social isolation and what I’d like to get into with circadian rhythm impacts of 24-hour lighting in solitary confinement.
And there’s another full-circle piece to that. Horacio is the person who gave me my start in neuroscience when he accepted me into the NIH ENDURE program in 2024 with Dr. Chudler. Now my mentee, Elena, just presented her ENDURE research at the end of August, and she’ll go on to present at the Society for Neuroscience with her cohort, just like I did with mine.
Four years ago, I was sitting in my first college science class trying to keep up while working full-time. Now I’m preparing for graduate school applications and getting to watch my mentees prepare for their own incredible ventures working with people that share my values.
At the same time, my mentees have been doing some pretty incredible things of their own. Elena presented her ENDURE research at a symposium in August. Samantha is chairing the Legislative Youth Advisory Council this upcoming session and passed a statewide resolution at the Democratic convention over the summer to disaggregate racial data for MENA individuals. Juwayriyah is working toward the MCAT, looking at opportunities to serve on a state board or commission, and searching for CNA or research positions. And Aimel just graduated and is preparing to do maternal health research.
Watching them grow has honestly been one of my favorite parts of all of this, again, another tug on my heart. RhOOTs in STEM started because I wanted to make sure the doors that opened for me could stay open for others. Seeing these young women start walking through those doors, making space, and then finding doors of their own makes me want to keep growing what we have. My goal will always be to support, and then to uplift them beyond what I’ve achieved.
I had a lot of time to put toward passion projects, too. Building new websites for movements like free2lead.org, Tarra Simmons’ re-election campaign, building business strategies with Just Us Solutions and Redemption Law, growing Micaela Elys Collaborative, and supporting the most community-oriented PTA.
As the fundraising chair, I’m putting together a huge Trunk or Treat at Jenkins Creek this fall with company vehicles, local partners, and families coming together for the kids at my son’s school. I love hosting events and creating spaces where people can connect, and where communities actually feel like communities.
For the first time, this work feels truly connected. In rhythm.
These moments are all big reminders of that. The research, the advocacy, the people who helped me get here, the people I’m helping along the way, and the communities I’m connected to. They’re all part of the same story.
And I think that’s what makes this moment feel so full circle.
Not because I’ve arrived, but because I’m connected.
Join Me September 28th
On September 28th, I’ll be hosting a forum and fundraiser in the U-District for House Rep. Strom Peterson, who was also interviewed for the Prism article, to continue the conversation around justice.
That same morning, I’ll be presenting for UW HOPE at a mock solitary confinement cell at 10:00am, talking about isolation from both the research and advocacy sides of this work.
If you’ve never stood inside one, come experience what isolation looks and feels like from 9:00-12:00 pm in the Quad.
And if you’re free that evening, come join us for the forum. Bring someone with you. Let’s keep the conversation going.
