“Research really changed the way I think,” said SMU junior Kyla Gijan. “It’s not just about results—it’s about learning to see connections between science, people, and the world around us.”
For Kyla, a third-year Biology and Health and Society double major and McNair Scholar, that perspective has grown through hands-on work in labs and communities, from studying epilepsy to exploring how city infrastructure affects health.
“I came to SMU as pre-med, but research changed my perspective. I realized health isn’t just about biology—it’s connected to society, ethics, and environment. That’s why I added a second major in Health and Society.”
Kyla is currently involved in four research projects that connect science, culture, and community. Her first began in Dr. Edward Glasscock’s Cardiorespiratory Neurogenetics Lab, where she studies epilepsy and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). The lab investigates how epilepsy alters the brain’s control of cardiorespiratory function, using genetic mouse models and an array of electrophysiological and molecular techniques.
“I’ve always been interested in medicinal herbs,” she said, “so when I found out Dr. Glasscock’s lab was connected to research on plant medicine, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of.” As part of her work, Kyla is completing her animal research certification and learning the fundamentals of ethical care in laboratory experiments.
Kyla also works with Dr. Nia Parson and a team of researchers in anthropology and engineering on the Infrastructure Desert Research Project studying how infrastructure inequality affects health outcomes in Dallas. Using interdisciplinary tools, the team explores infrastructure deserts (areas without sidewalks, crosswalks, or adequate lighting) and how those missing pieces shape people’s safety and health.
“We hope that the Daynamica app we utilize for the Infrastructure Desert Research Project will help the City of Dallas to create an app that citizens can utilize to report any discomfort or changes for the City of Dallas to be aware of,” Kyla shared.
Her independent research as a McNair Scholar brings together her interests in science and culture. She is studying the role of home gardens in preserving medicinal plant knowledge within Hispano communities in northern New Mexico. “It’s my first time doing ethnographic research,” she said. “Dr. Parson is helping me learn how to connect science with culture—how communities preserve healing traditions over generations.”
Reflecting on the challenges and rewards of research, Kyla said, “It’s challenging when experiments don’t go as planned or results aren’t what we expect. But in the lab, we don’t call that failure, we count it as growth. Every result, even if it’s not what we hoped for, helps move the research forward.” She offers advice for students starting in research: “It can be intimidating at first, especially when you see people with PhDs or lots of experience. But once you get past that, it opens doors. You might discover a passion you never expected.”
Through these experiences, Kyla has found both academic direction and personal purpose. She plans to pursue a career that combines nursing and public health. “I want to travel and help people through public health,” she said. “It’s not just about treating illness—it’s about understanding people and the systems that affect them.”
Kyla’s journey reflects the broader impact of undergraduate research at SMU where students learn to ask questions, think critically, and discover how their studies connect to real-world change.
