Raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Perla Fares began her college education at the prestigious American University of Beirut. However, in pursuit of such a new adventure, she decided to transfer to the University of Michigan-Dearborn in August of 2021 where she completed an undergraduate degree in biology and is now pursuing a master’s degree in bioengineering.

“My experience at UM-Dearborn didn’t disappoint my expectations as I seized opportunities and immediately got involved with research and student organizations upon my arrival,” she says.

The road from biology to bioengineering has been nothing short of momentous for this Difference Maker. One of the opportunities Perla quickly seized upon her arrival was joining UM-Dearborn’s rocketry team – the Michigan Aeronautical Science Association-Dearborn (MASA-D). She’s been with the team for over three years and holds the position of project manager.

Through her impressive accomplishments as a student, MASA-D member, and STEM champion, Perla demonstrates to us all that it’s never too late to pursue your passions and encourage others to do the same.

It IS rocket science

Founded in 2015, the Michigan Aeronautical Science Association-Dearborn (MASA-D) provides an avenue for students to learn about rocketry and put that knowledge to practice. The team is primarily composed of engineering and business students, making Perla’s addition to the team a welcome change.

“Being on MASA gave me the hands-on engineering experience that I was lacking,” she says. “MASA-D provided a supportive environment where I not only grew as an engineer, team player, and leader but also formed lasting friendships.”

Every year, the MASA-D team competes at the Spaceport America Cup in Las Cruces, New Mexico — the world's largest intercollegiate rocketry competition. Serving as project manager, Perla was tasked with raising and handling $60,000 for the competition along with planning and guiding over 20+ team members and two advisors to Spaceport America Cup.

Addressing gender disparities

Perla would argue that ‘women and engineering’ are as synonymous as any great pairing. However, as a woman in STEM, she is also aware of the stigma that exists between the two.

“Engineering is socially constructed to make everyone think it’s for guys and we wanted to change that by doing some kind of event targeting young girls,” she says.

The event in question was one Perla coordinated in collaboration with MASA-D and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) called Engineering Exploration Day. The event was held at UM-Dearborn and hosted over 35 Girl Scouts from local communities.

“The primary goal was to introduce engineering, specifically rocketry, and challenge gender stereotypes associated with its perception as a male-dominated field,” she says. “The event featured hands-on activities like crafting and launching paper model rockets, engaging in parachute drops, and partnering with Blue Origin.”

The event also added an interactive element where the girls wrote on postcards that will be sent to space. This event helped address gender disparities in the field and educated young women on the wonders of engineering.

Award-winning research

In the Fall 2021 semester, Perla joined the cellular and molecular physiology research lab of UM-Dearborn Professor Kalyan C. Kondapalli. During her time as a researcher, Perla says that her proudest achievement is completing a research project on the intracellular trafficking of SARS-CoV-2. She served as the lead author for the paper, which has been submitted to a journal and is currently undergoing peer review for publication.

“This accomplishment is particularly significant to me as it required two years of unwavering motivation, dedication, and commitment to see the project through to completion,” she says.

Perla's career opportunities are boundless with her background in bioengineering research, biological sciences, and engineering.

“Combining these skill sets from both backgrounds, I aspire to bridge the gap between science and engineering in my career,” she says. “Specifically, I am keen on pursuing a path in regenerative engineering, with the aim of integrating engineering into surgical medical practices.”