PASSION INTO PRACTICE
Yonathan Janka was four years old when he first told his family he wanted to be a doctor, and he's never wavered.
"I've always had this drive to understand science and math," he said. "Those really pushed my capabilities and my understanding to not only see one solution to a problem but to generate multiple solutions."
When it came to college, however, there was only one choice. The combination of strong academics, well-funded and accessible research opportunities and a vibrant campus life experience sold Yonathan on The University of Alabama.
Where Ambition Meets Opportunity
Yonathan recognized UA's commitment to his goals when he first met his dedicated pre-health advisor at Bama Bound Orientation.
"Having that advisor tell me the things I needed to hear and not the things I wanted to hear — that was a big factor that helped me really push myself," he said. "UA started supporting me from day one."
Once on campus, Yonathan got involved with undergraduate research in neuroscience and has studied how traumatic brain injury affects the reward signaling pathway in the brain, using fish as a model organism.
He also landed impressive internships at Harvard Medical School, Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Expansive Research Opportunities
The University of Alabama provides undergraduate students like Yonathan nearly unlimited potential for experiential learning. Designated as an R1 Doctoral University by the Carnegie Foundation, UA's spending on research and development is ranked second among top research universities, according to the National Science Foundation.
"If there is a research interest you have, there is more than likely a professor on this campus who is doing that field of research or is connected to someone else who is doing that field of research," Yonathan said.
UA offers the resources to explore your passions.
Connecting on Campus
While Yonathan knew the opportunities at UA were best for him, the Kingsport, Tennessee, native had some concerns about coming to a large university. But from his first day on campus, that all changed.
"The BRIDGE (peer mentoring) program was my first experience as a student on campus. I remember walking in and seeing a room full of students who looked just like me, whose goals and aspirations also took them into pursuing higher education," he said.
"It probably took five minutes and the room was erupting in laughter and enjoyment. And from there we realized the number of resources we have and the community we have."
He recognized how important this opportunity was for him, and how valuable it could be for other students. That's why he's now a BRIDGE Builder, or peer mentor for younger students.
"Being a BRIDGE mentor is definitely a full circle moment," Yonathan said. "It's been an incredible experience getting to really learn from my victories and my mistakes, and to be able to share that advice with freshmen."
Providing the foundation for community is one way UA positions students for success. It's why students like Yonathan experience a small campus atmosphere, paired with the resources and opportunities only available at a major flagship university.
Invest in Innovation
Every day, Yonathan and other students work with world-class faculty, including more than 38 National Science Foundation CAREER professors. They're conducting real-world research in state-of-the-art labs in almost every college across campus.
UA's commitment to research is bolstered by capital campaigns leading to the almost-constant expansion and renovation of these facilities. Staying at the forefront of research means UA will continue to provide resources to take students wherever their ambition leads.
You can share in the success of students like Yonathan by joining The Rising Tide 2.0 Capital Campaign. Contribute to leading-edge facilities and programs today.
"With the multitude of opportunities on campus, I think that you can really mold yourself into the student that you want to be."
WHERE LEGENDS ARE MADE
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS UP TO YOU...
