Hey everyone! My name is Faisal Zaidi, and I am a senior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. I am currently on the pre-med track and hope to pursue a career in Cardiology or Neurology in the future. Currently, I conduct research in Dr. Steven Blanke's Microbiology lab. I am the Director of Philanthropy for the Illini Thaakat Foundation, a member of the McKinley Health Center Student Advisory Board, and a volunteer at the Carle Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic. I think the most impactful activity that I have been involved in so far has been my research lab because it trains you to think like a scientist and it requires a completely different way of thinking/problem-solving! In my free time, I love to participate in sports such as basketball and football. I have played intramural flag football and I hope to play intramural basketball in the near future. Besides sports, I love to hang out with my friends and explore different restaurants on campus. I realize coming into college as an MCB major can seem very daunting. I consider myself to be an approachable person, so feel free to reach out to me if you have questions regarding the MCB major, college/career advice, or just anything in general!