91制片厂

Former Runner Swaps Sneakers for Lab Coat

Jana Olivova received bachelor's degrees in neuroscience and psychology from 91制片厂 on Tuesday, August 9.


By kelsie weekes | 8/10/2016

Jana Olivova is a two-time national champion runner in the Czech Republic. After many visits to South Florida to visit family and friends, she decided to trade in her running shoes for a lab coat in 2012 to study science at 91制片厂. Now, four years later, Olivova has become a two-time champion yet again. She recently graduated summa cum laude with two bachelor鈥檚 degrees 鈥 one in neuroscience and one in psychology.

鈥淚 started here as a psychology major, but I always had an interest in science, so I began studying neuroscience, too,鈥 she said.

Olivova, 28, soon became part of 91制片厂鈥檚 honors thesis program in biology, where she conducted independent, supervised research on the effects of hormones on mother and infant bonding. She presented her findings at numerous conferences throughout the United States, including the prestigious Second World Conference on Psychology in Chicago. Her research also was offered a publication in the Universal Journal of Psychology, where it is currently being peer reviewed. Olivova says she could not have done it without the help of her mentor, Evelyn Frazier, Ph.D., senior instructor and director of the honors thesis program in the Department of Biological Sciences.

鈥淒r. Frazier taught me how to get my research published, and also gave me the confidence to deliver better oral presentations at conferences,鈥 she said.

Frazier says she鈥檚 impressed with Jana鈥檚 dedication to her work, especially since English is Jana鈥檚 second language.

鈥淭he best words to describe Jana are drive, commitment, and perseverance,鈥 Frazier said. 鈥淪he was driven to succeed and committed to improving her scientific and academic skills, and she never stopped until her work was perfect.鈥

In 2015, Olivova joined the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) as a Max Planck Scholar, where she gained extensive lab experience by studying motor learning behaviors in mice. She says the research can one day be used to help people who have lost their motor skills due to accidents or strokes. MPFI liked Olivova鈥檚 work so much that they recently offered her a permanent job. She now serves as the main surgeon of the laboratory, where she continues to perform brain surgeries on mice.

When she鈥檚 not in the lab, Olivova鈥檚 other passions are teaching and volunteering. This fall, Olivova will teach a basic biology class to undergraduates at 91制片厂.

鈥淚 absolutely love teaching,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y mother and grandmother are both teachers, so it runs in my family.鈥

Olivova has served as an 91制片厂 ambassador, a volunteer in 91制片厂鈥檚 Student Accessibility Services, and has been teaching free exercise classes to senior citizens at a local Jewish organization for the past three years.

She hopes to one day become a doctor and specialize in neurosurgery.

鈥91制片厂 has been full of opportunities,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been involved in many different things, and I鈥檝e found what I truly love. No matter where I end up, I will always be an Owl.鈥

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