Alumna Spotlight: Stephanie Toleno, ‘23

Accomplished alumna Stephanie Toleno, B.S., ’23, is ready to take her significant scientific talents and apply them to a different discipline — medicine. The outstanding first-generation college student graduated in just three years with the honorary title of summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and a minor in philosophy.

“I’ve been fascinated by the natural world since childhood and spent hours exploring outdoors and marveling at nature’s mysteries,” shared Toleno. “This early curiosity and love for knowledge inspired my lifelong commitment to studying the sciences and pursuing medicine, as well as sharing my knowledge with others.”

After a captivating introduction to Dr. Nwadiuto Esiobu’s research at the beginning of her General Microbiology course, Toleno eagerly sought to join her lab and finally secured a position during her final semester at FAU. Toleno was among the first members of FAU’s Microbiome Innovation Cluster (MIC) research organization, which she feels was a tremendous honor. Nwadiuto Esiobu, Ph.D., a professor of biological sciences, and director of the Esiobu Microbial Biotech Laboratory within FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, oversees the MIC.

Florida Atlantic University, in collaboration with Florida International University, received a four-year, $1 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to establish South Florida’s first-of-its-kind FAU Microbiome Innovation Cluster in December 2023. The program aims to train a diverse workforce with new sets of tools and skills to confront emerging challenges in the areas of food safety, biosecurity and agricultural productivity, and the declining interest of the next generation in food, agriculture, and natural resources careers. The MIC will develop a new curriculum in wholistic plant health and embark upon creating a culture collection of indigenous beneficial bacteria whose many applications are at the nexus of environmental, agricultural, and public health.

“The organization is unique in and of itself, and it is dedicated to using groundbreaking research on microbial communities to tackle countless areas of biosecurity,” said Toleno. “I am excited to see what this organization achieves down the road.”

In the MIC, Toleno’s research focused on the issue of environmental toxins. As the cyanotoxin microcystin becomes more prevalent in aquatic environments, her team explored the effects it may have on the gut microbiome — an important microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract of all mammals. The project also studied the potential restorative effects of a food supplement found in broccoli called sulforaphane.

“Dr. Esiobu served as a source of inspiration for getting me involved in research as an undergraduate,” stated Toleno. “Her mentorship was amazing! Despite her own busy schedule, as well as the busy lives of her researchers, she always found a way to push us to get everything done.”

As an undergraduate, Toleno and her research partner presented their findings on campus at the 2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium, as well as the 2023 Science Fest, where the pair earned an Honorable Mention award for their poster.

Even after her graduation, Toleno continues to be involved with the MIC research group, as well as the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) National organization. With the MIC, she has helped develop promotional materials for the growing organization and continues to work on her publication. With AMSA, she attends online meetings to stay informed about timely issues and opportunities within the medical field.

Currently, Toleno is applying to medical schools for the 2024-2025 cycle. She shared that working with the MIC solidified her interest in research and provided her with the tools and skills she needs to continue to be a part of new scientific discoveries.

“Delving into a topic closely intertwined with human health has been profoundly rewarding,” said Toleno. “As I transition into medical education, I am more committed than ever to advancing research that addresses critical issues in our rapidly evolving world.”