In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers explore the challenges, opportunities, and unexpected lessons they encountered as immigrant scientists in the United States.

Part 1: Michelle Lanuza has her sights set on a career designing communication systems for airplanes, yet each new opportunity comes with the same obstacle: her immigration status.

Part 2: For Saba Banaian, the opportunity to study biomedical engineering in the United States comes with a painful cost: she can't return home to Iran for five years.

Michelle Lanuza is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State, originally from Guatemala. Growing up surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, she developed a love for nature, often spending my free time hiking volcanoes and backpacking. She enjoys reading, playing the piano, cooking with friends, and watching and playing soccer. Michelle’s passion for understanding how machines work and solving problems began in high school, inspiring her to pursue a career in engineering and, ultimately, to continue her studies in materials science.

Saba Banaian, 25 years old, from Iran. She is a Ph.D. student at Boise State University and a professional violinist with the Boise State Symphony Orchestra. It has been a year since she moved to the United States to continue her graduate studies in biomedical engineering.

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