From summer science to grant awardee

For biology major Kathy Bonilla ’25, being a Redlands Bulldog means embracing opportunities, like applying for and earning a rare $5,000 undergraduate research grant. During U of R’s Summer Science Research Program, Bonilla began researching melatonin levels in over-the-counter products and is continuing the work for her senior capstone.

“There's not a lot of institutes that do research in undergrad, but at Redlands, we are,” Bonilla said.

Working over the summer with fellow biology major Vanessa Sherman ’25 and Professor Lisa Olson, Bonilla was encouraged to apply for the Sleep Research Society Foundation (SRSF) grant to further enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELSIA) testing, a technique used to detect and measure the amount of melatonin absorbed by the body from over-the-counter products.  

“I freaked out a little bit after I found out,” Bonilla said. “[The grant] wasn't limited to just undergrads, it was open to everyone around the country — undergrads, graduates, doctorates, and post-doctorates. I remember thinking, ‘if I get this, it’s going to be amazing,’ but at the same time also thinking, ‘are they [SRS] going to care about melatonin?’” Bonilla continued. “But I felt confident knowing that I was doing research that would benefit a lot of people and knowing I did my best.”

With each ELISA testing plate costing $500, the grant became a necessity for Bonilla to complete the research this spring and see the results.  

“Aside from pharmacokinetics (what happens to drugs in the body after consumption), we are doing a little fluorometry (running samples on the fluorometer) to see if there's actual melatonin fluorescing in these products,” Bonilla said. “I'm excited to see if we can detect any melatonin in these [products] - sleep spray, bubble bath, and kids bubble bath.”

Reflecting on the opportunity to conduct research alongside her peers and faculty, Bonilla sees Redlands as a unique community for students who want to study and grow within the sciences.

“[Overall] the sciences can be a bit scary and competitive to get into. But at U of R, the professors and students are always willing to help and be a mentor,” Bonilla said. “It’s a tight community in the sciences where no one is ever left out.”

Learn more about Redlands Student Science Research.