Hi, my name is John Dones, and I am a first-generation college student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering with a minor in Spanish. My college journey began with TRIO Student Support Services, where I later served as a Peer Mentor for a full year, supporting first-generation and low-income students throughout their transition to college.
I currently work as a Research Assistant in the Radniecki Lab, where I contribute to environmental engineering research through hands-on wet lab work. I am also deeply involved in the OSU community as an active member of Isang Bansang Pilipino—the Filipino Student Association—where I also serve as a peer mentor. Beyond that, I participate in the Biomedical Engineering Society and the Japanese Student Association.
In Summer 2024, I completed the Johnson & Rosalie Internship, helping design, maintain, and analyze anaerobic digesters in the Radniecki Lab. Through this experience, I built a strong foundation in technical wet lab skills, including gas chromatography, chemical assay testing, solids analysis, and data interpretation. In Summer 2025, I expanded my research experience further by working in the Tala Lab, where I gained hands-on cell culturing experience.
To incoming students, my biggest advice is to try everything you can during your first year. College is full of opportunities—new clubs, jobs, research positions, and activities. Don’t be afraid to explore, sign up for something unfamiliar, apply for the position you want, or even cold email a professor whose work interests you. Your first year is the perfect time to experiment, discover what you enjoy, and build your path forward. Just try, try, try—take advantage of your flexibility while you have it.
Helpful Resources
I really recommend taking a look at the peer tutoring schedules at Johnson Hall and the tutoring center webpages to find out the times and subjects that you can get help in. I utilized these webpages a lot during my first year when I was struggling with Math and Physics.