Embedded Files
This website has been migrated to asciencepro.org, as this program is now a non-profit organization called "Advanced Science Exploratory Program"
I am a fourth year Neuroscience PhD student at Stanford University. I attended University of California, Davis for my undergraduate work, where I obtained a Bachelors of Science in Ecology, Evolution and Biology, and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology.
I am a fourth year Neuroscience PhD student at Stanford University. I attended University of California, Davis for my undergraduate work, where I obtained a Bachelors of Science in Ecology, Evolution and Biology, and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology.
I first became excited about research when I took an undergraduate Biology class in my Freshman year at Davis. Having very little background in research, and not knowing really what it was about, I pursued an entry level Research Assistant position in her Ecology laboratory.
I first became excited about research when I took an undergraduate Biology class in my Freshman year at Davis. Having very little background in research, and not knowing really what it was about, I pursued an entry level Research Assistant position in her Ecology laboratory.
While I was there, I did genetic PCR analyses on ants - and, while that most likely sounds as wild to you as it did to me at the time, I was completely captured by the behavioral and genetic complexity of such seemingly simple organisms. This particular species of ants (Crematogaster) live in these incredible, unique colonies in the hollow thorns of a particular African tree called the Acacia drepanolobium, and we believe their genetic makeup completely predetermines how they form these complex colony associations.
While I was there, I did genetic PCR analyses on ants - and, while that most likely sounds as wild to you as it did to me at the time, I was completely captured by the behavioral and genetic complexity of such seemingly simple organisms. This particular species of ants (Crematogaster) live in these incredible, unique colonies in the hollow thorns of a particular African tree called the Acacia drepanolobium, and we believe their genetic makeup completely predetermines how they form these complex colony associations.
My work at this lab led to my professor offering me a summer position abroad, with her, collecting ant samples and running genetic analyses at the Mpala Research Institute in Nanyuki, Kenya. In light of this opportunity, I applied for and obtained grant funding from UC Davis for an independent research project I could conduct while there.
My work at this lab led to my professor offering me a summer position abroad, with her, collecting ant samples and running genetic analyses at the Mpala Research Institute in Nanyuki, Kenya. In light of this opportunity, I applied for and obtained grant funding from UC Davis for an independent research project I could conduct while there.
Needless to say, while my passions ultimately led me towards studying the human brain and its relationship to complex emotional behaviors, this initial experience opened my world to the incredibly exciting field of scientific research - a career built on asking important questions, and then building a framework to answer those questions.
Needless to say, while my passions ultimately led me towards studying the human brain and its relationship to complex emotional behaviors, this initial experience opened my world to the incredibly exciting field of scientific research - a career built on asking important questions, and then building a framework to answer those questions.
From there, I was a part of three other research positions while an undergraduate - one as a Research Assistant as part of the Autism Phenome Project at UC Davis, another as a Research Assistant within a Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at the Center for the Mind and Brain at UC Davis, and finally as a Research Assistant in a Cognitive Neuroscience lab with Dr. Adam Gazzaley at UC San Francisco in my last year as an undergraduate. I was offered a full-time position as a Research Associate and Lab Manager when I graduated from Davis, and worked at the Gazzaley lab for another two years to build my resumé and academic profile to best position myself to be competitive for PhD programs in neuroscience.
From there, I was a part of three other research positions while an undergraduate - one as a Research Assistant as part of the Autism Phenome Project at UC Davis, another as a Research Assistant within a Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at the Center for the Mind and Brain at UC Davis, and finally as a Research Assistant in a Cognitive Neuroscience lab with Dr. Adam Gazzaley at UC San Francisco in my last year as an undergraduate. I was offered a full-time position as a Research Associate and Lab Manager when I graduated from Davis, and worked at the Gazzaley lab for another two years to build my resumé and academic profile to best position myself to be competitive for PhD programs in neuroscience.
I began my PhD here at Stanford working with Dr. Amit Etkin within the Neurosciences program in 2015, and was awarded a five-year fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for my thesis work. In my time at UCSF and Stanford, I have published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, have presented over 20 peer-reviewed scientific posters, and have been invited to speak at national and international conferences in Neuroscience.
I began my PhD here at Stanford working with Dr. Amit Etkin within the Neurosciences program in 2015, and was awarded a five-year fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for my thesis work. In my time at UCSF and Stanford, I have published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, have presented over 20 peer-reviewed scientific posters, and have been invited to speak at national and international conferences in Neuroscience.
There is so much I have learned along the way - things I wish I had done, things I am glad I did, and overall skills and knowledge I have acquired that have contributed substantially to my success as a researcher. I am passionate about disseminating this knowledge to students just beginning their careers in the field, and thrilled at the opportunity to help those students foster their excitement for scientific research and best position themselves to exceed in their academic pursuits towards those goals.
There is so much I have learned along the way - things I wish I had done, things I am glad I did, and overall skills and knowledge I have acquired that have contributed substantially to my success as a researcher. I am passionate about disseminating this knowledge to students just beginning their careers in the field, and thrilled at the opportunity to help those students foster their excitement for scientific research and best position themselves to exceed in their academic pursuits towards those goals.
This program developed out of my passion for teaching, mentoring, and spreading excitement about the brain. Science has been something I have always found interesting, but was never something I realized I was passionate about until I found research. I had very little exposure to and knowledge of what scientific research was about. I entered college with a view that if I like science, I can "wear a white coat and study chemicals," or "become a medical doctor." I had no idea what an incredible and rewarding career path awaited me on the other end of high school. That single freshman Biology course with that particular professor was the single bridge that opened my eyes to the career options in front of me, and had I not enrolled in that course, I very likely would not have ended up here. Through this program, I hope to help build a new generation of passionate AND prepared scientists by educating them about the brain, how we study the brain in research, and helping my students develop a skillset that will better situate them to actively succeed in this field.
This program developed out of my passion for teaching, mentoring, and spreading excitement about the brain. Science has been something I have always found interesting, but was never something I realized I was passionate about until I found research. I had very little exposure to and knowledge of what scientific research was about. I entered college with a view that if I like science, I can "wear a white coat and study chemicals," or "become a medical doctor." I had no idea what an incredible and rewarding career path awaited me on the other end of high school. That single freshman Biology course with that particular professor was the single bridge that opened my eyes to the career options in front of me, and had I not enrolled in that course, I very likely would not have ended up here. Through this program, I hope to help build a new generation of passionate AND prepared scientists by educating them about the brain, how we study the brain in research, and helping my students develop a skillset that will better situate them to actively succeed in this field.
Report abuse