Woman of Troy

Undergrad Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto exemplifies the ideals of USC and the Davis School
By Jonathan Riggs

Dr. Kelvin Davies and Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto

As another school year winds down, Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto has a lot to be proud of. Not only did she excel academically with her gerontology and biomedical engineering courses but also athletically on USC’s varsity-level NCAA rowing team. She also earned her second consecutive Rose Hills Fellowship for summer research and won the award for the most innovative project at the 13th annual USC Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work.

Overseen by Kelvin Davies, Ph.D., D.Sc. and Jenny Ngo, Ph.D., Pomatto’s project, “The Oxygen Conundrum,” earned her a $1,000 cash prize as well as a unique USC Stevens Institute for Innovation skateboard.

“I first came across Laura as a junior in my class GERO 310: Physiology of Aging. She always had questions that went beyond the material being presented,” Davies said. “Laura is one of those very rare students who not only gets excited about her own research, but also re-invigorates the scientific passions of her teachers and mentors.”

Now a senior who is double majoring in biomedical engineering and gerontology, Pomatto remembers that course as her professional turning point, when she hit upon a way to combine her love of hard science and humanity.

“It was great having the support of Dr. Davies, someone who has over thirty years of research experience and was willing to put a fledgling like me in a lab environment and see what I could do,” she said. “Now every day I get to go to an intellectual playground-I love going to lab. I’m excited for the possibility the day offers, the ability to try different techniques, to learn and even when the experiment doesn’t work, to redo it and tweak it a bit and see if it triggers a change.”

Her research is part of her undergraduate honors thesis, which she is writing with some direction from Aaron Hagedorn, Ph.D., director of the Gerontology Honors Program.

“Laura is one of the most ambitious undergraduates at USC,” Hagedorn said. “She really has a great handle on mitochondrial research and made the leap from student to scientist much faster than anyone I’ve seen before.”

As she makes plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology, Pomatto’s goal is eventually to become a geriatrician and research scientist so that she can gain a more in-depth knowledge of the most fascinating system of all.

“I am fascinated by the intricacies of the human body: a system that no engineering firm or company has been able to replicate and that it is able to survive so much from physical and emotional traumas and to adapt,” she said. “To survive and persevere through so much and still find the courage to laugh, to choose different goals and aspirations and even when the system is declining to try and compensate and adapt for some of the limitations of age—it’s always fun to look for means to ‘fix’ the system.”

The multidisciplinary nature of gerontology, which places equal importance on social science and the individual humanity of each person as well as on biological science, appeals to Pomatto on multiple levels, to her head as well as her heart.

“I love gerontology because I love being around people. I get so much joy when I can make others laugh or smile that I want to pursue a career where I can do that on a daily basis. Gerontology is an experience we will all undergo, so why not learn as much about it from the experts: those who are currently undergoing it,” she said. “Plus, each individual is a treasure trove of stories, from romance to heartache, to laughter to sadness, to pain and pleasure, each usually very willing to share the lessons they have learned or moments they wish they could redo.”

“With her interest and enthusiasm, Laura has made great progress,” Davies said. “Keep an eye out for Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto: she is just starting out on a road that will lead to great adventures!”

“Laura’s passion, energy and sharp mind will enable her to accomplish many things in her graduate training and professional career,” Hagedorn agreed. “The Symposium award she won, the most prestigious award at the conference, is only the tip of the iceberg. I think she’ll do amazing things in the coming years.”

Pomatto credits the support of professors like Davies and Hagedorn for making her truly feel like a member of the Trojan family and for helping her discover her own unique career path.

“I have had so many wonderful opportunities and I will leave this university with a feeling of being part of a small community,” she said. “I know when I am 80, I will look back and get a sense of pride, that wonderful feeling in your chest, and can proudly say I was a woman of Troy.”

Photo credit: C. McDowell / The Image Artist © 2011