From Undergraduate Researcher to Future Physician-Engineer: Dylan Nelson Earns Outstanding Junior Award
When Dylan Nelson was named the Biological Engineering Department's Outstanding Junior this spring, his first reaction was surprise.
In fact, he almost did not apply.
"I get imposter syndrome really bad," Nelson admitted. "For a while, I thought there was no point in applying."
Today, however, Nelson's accomplishments tell a different story. The Utah State University Biological Engineering student has earned competitive research funding, led the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) student chapter for two years, conducted independent research in age-related macular degeneration, and recently secured acceptance into one of the College of Engineering's premier undergraduate research programs. His ultimate goal is ambitious: becoming an MD-PhD and helping develop the next generation of medical technologies.
Nelson's interest in science and medicine began long before he entered a laboratory.
"I've always had a passion for understanding how the body works and understanding healthcare in general," he said.
When he arrived at Utah State University, he knew he wanted to pursue either engineering research or healthcare. What he did not yet know was how closely those two interests could be connected. That changed when he discovered the research of Associate Professor, Dr. Elizabeth Vargis.
At the time, Vargis and her research team were investigating applications of hagfish-derived biomaterials and developing models related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide.
"It was actually Dr. Vargis' research with Bruch's membrane and hagfish slime that brought me here to Utah State," Nelson said. "I came here with the purpose of working for her."
As he became more involved in the lab and gained experience working in healthcare settings, his interest grew into something much deeper.
"I realized this wasn't just something I thought was interesting," he said. "It was something I wanted to make a career out of."
Today, Nelson hopes to pursue an MD-PhD in Biomedical Engineering and eventually work in electrophysiology, a field focused on the electrical systems of the heart.
"I hope to work in the electrophysiology field and develop new devices and techniques that can improve patient care," he said.
One of the things that surprised Nelson most when he arrived at Utah State was how accessible research opportunities were for undergraduate students. After hearing about Vargis' work during a campus visit, he began reading publications related to her research and decided to contact her directly. During his first week as a freshman, he sent an email introducing himself and explaining that he wanted to work in her lab.
"I told her I knew I wasn't ready," Nelson recalled. "I didn't have the skills yet, but I was willing to learn."
Vargis encouraged him to begin attending weekly lab meetings. For just over a semester, Nelson consistently showed up, listened, asked questions, and learned from graduate students and faculty researchers. That commitment eventually opened the door to hands-on research opportunities.
Looking back, Nelson credits Vargis' mentorship style for helping many students become involved in research.
"She's willing to give opportunities to anyone who's willing to work toward them," Nelson said. "You need to attend meetings, be respectful, ask good questions, and show that you care."
He believes that philosophy is one of the reasons Vargis is considered one of the university's strongest undergraduate research mentors.
Nelson's first major independent research opportunity came through an Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities (URCO) grant from Utah State University's Office of Research. The grant provides funding for undergraduate students to design and conduct their own research projects.
For his project, Nelson focused on improving a laboratory model used to study age-related macular degeneration. Building on work previously conducted by researchers Emilee Rickabaugh and Dillon Weatherston, Nelson expanded the existing model by incorporating a new tissue layer known as the choroid, the blood vessel network that supports the retina.
Using hagfish-derived biomaterials, he worked to grow vascular cells on specialized membranes to better simulate the conditions found within the human eye.
The project was challenging.
"There were a lot of roadblocks," Nelson said. "But that's part of research."
More important than the experimental results, Nelson said, was what he learned throughout the process. He learned how to troubleshoot problems, search scientific literature for solutions, and adapt when experiments did not go according to plan.
"One thing that one of my professors, Dr. Britt, taught me is that sometimes you can learn as much from six hours in the library as you can from six days or even weeks in the lab," Nelson said.
The experience helped transform him from a student assisting on projects into a researcher capable of designing and leading his own investigations.
This year, Nelson's work earned him multiple forms of recognition. The first was the department's Outstanding Junior Award, which recognizes excellence in academics, research, and service. Although he initially hesitated to apply, encouragement from friends convinced him to submit an application.
After reflecting on everything he had accomplished, he realized how much progress he had made since arriving at Utah State.
"It may not always be easy to see in the moment," Nelson said. "But when I looked back and wrote everything down, I realized I'd accomplished quite a lot."
Soon after receiving the award, Nelson achieved another milestone when he was accepted into the Engineering Undergraduate Research Program (EURP), a competitive College of Engineering initiative that funds approximately 450 hours of undergraduate research. The award will support three additional semesters of research and allow him to continue building on his work in biomedical engineering.
Nelson worked closely with Dr. Vargis and graduate students in the laboratory to prepare the proposal.
"We were awarded it a couple weeks ago," he said. "I'll start this summer and continue the research for the next three semesters."
Beyond the laboratory, Nelson has spent the last two years serving as president of Utah State's Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) student chapter. When he stepped into the role, membership had declined and student involvement was limited.
"It was a really big learning curve," he said. "At the time, we were trying to rebuild the club."
One of his first priorities was building a leadership team composed of students with different strengths and skills. Together, they focused on increasing participation and creating opportunities for students to connect with industry professionals.
One highlight was organizing industry tours, including a visit to Ottobock, a global leader in prosthetic technology. Students were able to see how medical devices move from concept and design to manufacturing and patient use.
"We wanted to focus on helping students understand industry," Nelson said.
The effort paid off. Club attendance grew, and BMES became a stronger resource for students interested in biomedical careers. As Nelson steps down from the presidency, fellow researcher Clay McFadden will take over leadership of the organization.
Although Nelson has already accomplished a great deal as an undergraduate researcher, he sees his current achievements as only the beginning. His long-term goal remains becoming a physician-engineer capable of combining medical expertise with innovative engineering solutions. Whether he ultimately pursues an MD-PhD or another advanced pathway, he hopes to continue developing technologies that improve healthcare and help physicians better serve their patients.
For Nelson, success is not about avoiding challenges or overcoming every moment of self-doubt. Instead, it comes from recognizing progress and continuing to move forward.
"Sometimes we get stuck looking at where we are," he said. "But when you look back and see how far you've come, you realize just how far you can still go."
That perspective has helped him overcome imposter syndrome and remain focused on the future.
"My decisions brought me to where I'm at," Nelson said. "And my decisions and choices are going to take me where I want to go."
From leading student organizations to advancing biomedical research and pursuing a future in medicine, Nelson is already building the foundation for that journey—one decision at a time.