Undergraduate Summer Scholar finds her niche in research
Miami has helped Elizabeth Hudak develop as a leader by providing opportunities to take on new responsibilities
Undergraduate Summer Scholar finds her niche in research
Miami has helped Elizabeth Hudak develop as a leader by providing opportunities to take on new responsibilities
Videography by Zach Burnett and Cameron Johnson
Growing up in Oxford, Elizabeth Hudak ’27, a Kinesiology major in the 4+1 program, always knew Miami University was special, and she saw so many opportunities here. “I have a lot of friends and family that are around here as well. It's a very good school,” she said.
Hudak also praises the faculty mentors that she works with — specifically Kevin Ballard, associate professor of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health (KNH); Jon Stavres, assistant professor of KNH; and Kyle Timmerman, chair and professor of KNH. “All of them are exceptional professors,” she said.
Hudak’s interest in Kinesiology — the study of human movement — sparked during her childhood. She was a figure skater for 10 years and also went through physical therapy. She went on to work for a physical therapy and neuropathy clinic during high school, learning a lot about the significance of patient-doctor interactions. Hudak mentioned, “That was the most important thing for me. When I was there, I became more confident in who I was and was able to converse with people freely instead of feeling trapped in my shell.”
Discovering her true passion in research
When Hudak started at Miami, she originally wanted to go into occupational therapy. Then she discovered research, and her entire trajectory changed. She feels that she’s really found her niche with research — and that’s also where she is happiest.
This summer, Hudak has been participating in the Undergraduate Summer Scholars program. The 10-week program offers a $7,000 fellowship and faculty-mentored research experiences for up to 45 undergraduate students at Miami each summer.
Her research project, with mentors Ballard and Stavres, is an inactivity study where participants’ regular activities are monitored. Then they are given an electric scooter to use instead of walking to assess metabolic patterns and cardiovascular health, which Hudak has always had an interest in. Her particular area of focus is measuring blood oxygenation — the amount of oxygen in the blood — using a near-infrared spectroscopy.
Hudak’s top takeaways from her research experience are to not be afraid to do what you love, don’t focus on perfection, and just keep going. “There's not one perfect paper; there's not one perfect email,” she said.
Attending conferences and providing advice
As part of her major, Hudak attends the Midwest American College of Sports Medicine conference annually — where she can connect with others who have the same research interests as she does. She mentioned, “So just talking with them and asking questions, answering their questions — it's a very nice resource to have.” She also considers her family a great resource as some of them have gone through medical school or training in the healthcare field.
For those considering coming to Miami, Hudak’s advice is simple: Do it — find your niche and have fun. Through her own experience and research, every day on campus is a fun one for Hudak.
Charting her path to success
Hudak appreciates that Miami is such a welcoming place — one that has allowed her to develop as a leader by providing opportunities to take on new responsibilities and being trusted to handle those responsibilities. Through her research — and encouragement from her mentors — she’s gained confidence in using the research equipment, setting her up for success as a future researcher.
For Hudak, there’s one certain spot on campus that holds a special place in her heart: Goggin Ice Center. In addition to her figure skating, her favorite memory at Miami is the first college hockey game she attended – and the RedHawks won! Additionally, her younger brother plays for the Miami RedHawks hockey team. “I really love Goggin, and I am looking forward to going skating this semester as well,” she said.
After graduating from Miami, Hudak plans to work in clinical research. “Because of Miami, I can. Because of Miami, I was able to do what I am doing right now, explore different pathways and be able to ultimately find that I want to go into research,” she said.
