From Missouri to North Carolina: Building a Lab Twice

When I began my first faculty position at the University of Missouri, building a research lab was one of my biggest goals. It felt like a defining milestone as a new Assistant Professor and a tangible way to bring my research vision to life. Over time, that vision became real through new research projects, recruiting lab members, establishing protocols, building a lab culture, and of course creating a lab name: Mathematics Potential Lab, which we love to call “MPL.”

But more than anything, it became meaningful because of the people. The students in the Missouri chapter of MPL were truly the heart of the lab, pushing our research into new impactful directions that I could have never accomplished without their brilliance and creativity. Our lab meetings were the brightest spot of my work week, and the students shaped me in lasting ways—not only as a researcher, but as a human being.

And then I transitioned from Missouri to the University of North Carolina (UNC).

Moving to UNC brought exciting new opportunities, but it also presented a profound shift. I arrived on a new campus without a lab, without students, and without the infrastructure I had spent years building. 

Amid the overwhelm and uncertainty of not knowing where to begin, I also felt hopeful about the possibilities ahead. Starting over gave me space to reflect: What do I want this lab to be? What lessons do I want to carry forward? What should I do differently this time? Though the process is demanding, it also offers a rare chance to shape not just a research program but a community and to share the joy of the lab with students at my new institution. 

So, I started again on the UNC campus. I re-branded the MPL logo, changing its colors from the Missouri black and gold to UNC Carolina Blue. I recruited, interviewed, and offered positions to undergraduate students, Masters students, and PhD students. Many of the students officially started with the lab in Spring 2026. And what a busy first semester it was! In addition to moving research projects forward via data collection and analysis, we also presented at the Science for All Summit in Chapel Hill, shared two research posters at the UNC Celebration of Undergraduate Research, and hosted math outreach tables at a local elementary school STEAM Night. As the lab continues to grow, I feel incredibly fortunate to work with students who are passionate about our mission and who bring excellence to everything they do.

Starting a lab again is a profound privilege, and I am grateful for it. It asked me to let go of something I built with care, but it also gave me the chance to grow as a mentor and researcher. The process has taught me that the goal isn’t to rebuild the same lab—it’s to apply what I’ve learned with new people and let something different emerge.

One year ago, I wondered whether the special magic of the lab could be recreated in a new way. Today, I have my answer: every week, when MPL gathers for our lab meeting at UNC, it is once again the brightest part of my work week.

By: Dr. Jessica Rodrigues