Rudo Ndamba graduated with a Bachelors’ degree in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology from Whitman College. As an undergraduate, she conducted her thesis research on the functions of a novel family of nine Arabidopsis proteins called the PIRLs through investigating pollen grains using molecular biology techniques. After graduation, she went on to take a gap year at the University of Rochester where she was part of a group that investigated piRNAs which are a class of small RNAs that have been shown to primarily silence deleterious selfish elements, known as transposable elements. She also worked with the Flaum Eye Institute to investigate the role of cataract surgery in decreasing intraocular pressure and number of medications for patients with primary open angle glaucoma. Rudo served on the board of her undergraduate institution’s Women in STEM as well as the United Nations’ Youth Association. She is driven by her motivation to empower young people from marginalized backgrounds to pursue careers as scientists and clinicians so that they can improve the circumstances within their communities and hopes to use this program as a steppingstone to such initiatives.