Torres' experience in research began when she helped to start a chapter of the Westinghouse Preparatory Program at her junior high school. At Ward Melville High School on Long Island, she began extensive science research with a social science project on gender discrimination in schools, surveying 1,000 students in the area.

Soon after she was speaking at the SUNY Research Support Symposium in 1997 and interning at the SUNY Stony Brook Department of Psychiatry. In the middle of so many hard core science gigs, Torres even managed a guest appearance in 1992 as one of the final contestants on the PBS game show, "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?"

Torres now plans to get involved in Radcliffe research programs. This semester, she has started to fulfill several pre-med requirements, is comping the photography board at the Harvard Year-book and the Independent and is already volunteering for the Science Girls' Club at The King School. The after-school program for elementary school girls will allow her to serve as a role model for younger students.

"I've been honored by the fact that I've always had women pushing me," Torres said. "I'd like to see more women get involved in science."

Torres herself hopes to pursue a career in neurology.

Fact Sheet

Name: Rebecca L. Torres '02

Originally From: Setauket, New York

Current Home: Holworthy

High School: Ward Melville High School

Childhood Memories: As someone who experienced Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Torres became interested early on in pediatric medical science.

Project: Her high school research on childhood Attention Deficit Disorder will soon be published by an established medical journal.

Curtain Call: Torres was one of the last contestants on the now cult-classic "Where in The World is Carmen Sandiego?"