Undergraduate researcher studies autoimmune disease to improve lives

Academics were never at the forefront of Berhe’s interests as a child. However, access to labs, experiments and real-world applications presented science in a more engaging way than he’d ever experienced.

One biology course, in particular, shifted his interest from mechanical engineering to the tiny yet intricate machinery of the human body.

“The system was so complex that I couldn't believe that was happening at such a small scale,” Berhe said. “I know it sounds comical that one class made this whole switch over, but it really did.”

Encouraged by his sister, he applied to Oregon State and has followed his passions ever since.

Now in his third year, Berhe is fully immersed in research. He began working in Associate Professor Nathan Mortimer’s lab as a first-year student through URSA Engage, an undergraduate research program that connects students with faculty mentors.

Autoimmune diseases, which occur when immune cells mistakenly attack healthy tissue, stand at the center of his investigations. Using Drosophila fruit flies, he explores how immune cell communication malfunctions.

Berhe’s confidence in research has soared since he began. When Mortimer gave him a dense scientific paper to read as his first assignment, he was overwhelmed by its complexity. Thankfully, his mentor stepped in to ensure he was supported as a growing scientist.

“Dr. Mortimer made a very good transition for me, making sure that I was welcomed in his space,” Berhe said. Ever since, he’s become adept at the ins and outs of experimentation and scientific questioning. He credits much of his growth to his mentor’s invaluable guidance.

“I would be nowhere near this far in my research without him, his support and his understanding,” Berhe said.

Now, he wants to provide that support to other students. Berhe is in the process of founding the Alliance of Undergraduate Researchers in Academia, a club dedicated to advancing student research. From workshops on graduate school applications and technical skills to mentorship from principal investigators, he hopes the club will further enhance the student research experience at Oregon State.

“My goal is to create a community where undergraduate researchers at different levels of their journey come and get help from one another,” Berhe said.

Finding community

Beyond research, Berhe prioritizes fostering community. As a first-year student seeking ways to feel at home, the Ettihad Cultural Center immediately appealed to him. The center represents the Horn of Africa and North Africa, as well as Western, South and Central Asia. Its welcoming environment resonated with him so much that he became a community relations representative.

One of his proudest accomplishments is helping organize the Ettihad Cultural Festival, an annual event where diverse student organizations showcase their traditions through performances, food and art. Creating an environment where students feel embraced is deeply meaningful to him.

“You need to find your community that you can excel with and that you can lean on if you need support. Realizing that also contributed a lot to my success,” Berhe said.

In addition to his work at the cultural center, he serves as a diversity learning assistant in university dorms, leading discussions on environmental justice, advocacy, and belonging — crucial conversations for students still finding their place on campus. For him, the most rewarding part of the job is the one-on-one connections he builds. Whether guiding students to resources or simply listening, he strives to be the support system he once wished he had.

From DLA to undergraduate researcher, Berhe is consistent in his mission to provide. More than anything, he wants to ensure his work is meaningful. That’s why he wants to use biomedical research in the future to translate findings into clinical applications and improve lives.

His advice to others, especially those from similar backgrounds, is simple: pursue what excites you, not what others expect of you. The best way to give back to your community is by fully realizing your own potential.

“I know my contributions in biomedicine could be applied one day to help thousands of people,” Berhe said. “I might not lay out the whole road, but just laying out one piece means everything to me.”