Penn as an institution is strongly driven by an unparalleled dedication to medical research. As a firm believer in a well-rounded education, I believe that pragmatism, community service, and research should accompany an education, and I perceive that Penn follows the lead entirely. I am amazed by the variety of research opportunities that Penn offers its undergraduate students through CURF. After extensive research, I found projects that are a perfect fit for my discipline. They are led by Mrs. Yuchi Han and Dr. Carlo Bartoli. Both professors are directing research related to the body's cardiovascular system; where one works with issues related to LVAD patients developing gastrointestinal angiogenesis, the other concerns the diagnosis of cardiac conditions such as atrial fibrillation, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and pulmonary arterial hypertension through echocardiograms and MRI. I immigrated to the United States after finishing eighth grade, so I had a lot of time there to do research. My first hands-on experience with research was in the laboratories of Agha Khan University Hospita...