Nicole Black studies Biomedical Engineering at Boston University in Boston, MA. Originally from Michigan, this sophomore works in two laboratories on her campus: in her engineering lab, she studies cancer cells and their movement in the extracellular matrix, and at the Medical Campus, she studies cardiovascular disease. Nicole also volunteers with the Wizards, a BU program though which students travel to elementary schools to perform science experiments with the children. As a peer leader of her group, Nicole teaches students how fun and interesting science can be.

Nicole hopes to one day work in the medical technologies industry to develop better medical equipment, such as insulin pumps for those with Diabetes and devices that implement gene therapy. Nicole feels that her enthusiasm for creating jewelry goes hand in hand with her engineering interests, and her desire to give back to her community. Nicole founded Bead the Need, a group that creates jewelry for women in domestic abuse shelters and for low-income women looking to go back to work. One day, she hopes to sell her crafts at craft shows and on Etsy.