For some, cells are simply part of the human body. For Nicholas Fiore, they are the future of his career.

Fiore, a junior bioengineering major, said he’s had a lifelong curiosity for the mechanics of cells. He credits his high school AP biology teacher as the figure who sparked his interest in the field by immersing him in the complexities of biology.

This fascination with medical engineering planted Fiore in the biology program at Syracuse University his freshman year. But with about 3,000 other biology majors at SU, Fiore wanted to stand out. Although the medical field intrigued him, Fiore’s aptitude for mathematics steered him toward medicinal lab work.

By developing smarter tools for surgeons, Fiore said his research will help people with ailments across the globe.

Fiore hopes to attain a Ph.D. in immunology or tissue engineering to make strides in stem cell research, and his ultimate goal is to work with the production of artificial organs.

But Fiore is ready to explore biology beyond the medical field.

“To be honest, my interests are scattered across the wide field of bioengineering,” Fiore said. “There is so much to choose from and I find them all fascinating.”

This summer, Fiore will take one large step for man and an even larger step for his career at an apprenticeship with NASA. He will conduct research at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston for the National Space Biomedical Research Institute.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved with NASA,” Fiore said. “I never thought I would have been chosen.”

Fiore’s hard work has prepared him to study human cell culture, mimicking 3-D human tissue to study the effects in microgravity. This research contributes to the investigation of Earth-to-Mars human space travel, Fiore said.

Fiore said he won’t let anything hold him back — not even microgravity — from exploring the limits of biology. He’s doing everything he can today to get a head start on his future, and encourages fellow students to do the same.

“Get involved, ask questions and develop your skills and relationships with professors,” Fiore said. “Spend sufficient time. Put yourself out there.”

Published on March 21, 2016 at 12:01 am

Contact: ghhughes@syr.edu