When Dayana came across the opportunity to participate in the Fellowship, she took full advantage of it, “The fellowship is a strategic investment in my career, providing the necessary resources, opportunities, and exposure to help me bridge the gap between my previous experience and the requirements of the US job market.”Dayana has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Université Inuka and experience as a Finance Officer in Haiti. She was placed within the Research Administration track at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Hospital, where she assisted senior research administrators in managing a range of research projects, “This experience allowed me to gain hands-on exposure to the complexities of handling multiple projects, from budgeting and compliance to coordinating with various stakeholders.”

The benefits of Dayana’s fellowship experience were immense, “​​The mentorship I received during the Fellowship has been invaluable in guiding my career trajectory. I was able to learn from experienced research administrators, which helped me gain confidence in my abilities and clarified my path forward.” She became exposed to workshops and trainings that deepened her knowledge of grant management, regulatory compliance, and emerging trends in the field.

Despite the success of Dayana’s fellowship, she did not secure full-time employment right away. She felt that the fellowship accelerated her career development and equipped her with the proper knowledge and skills to succeed in her job search and confidently pursue her career goals. Her hard work has paid off and she has continued growing in the research administration field, as she now works at Tufts University School of Medicine as a Research Administration Coordinator.

Dayana expressed deep gratitude to ABN and the funders and supporters of the Fellowship, “Your investment in this program has had a profound impact on my career and that of many others like me. The mentorship, resources, and guidance provided by the scholarship have not only given me the tools to succeed but also the confidence to pursue my professional goals with determination.”