Ph.D. Candidate in Neuroscience
I've worked in a number of labs, from cellular (a model of Huntington's disease) to organismal (salamander limb regeneration), from chemical (extracting and measuring vitamin D) to behavioral (RATS!). Lessons learned:
1. Research is cool!
2. Research is tedious...
As a young'un, I am also exploring what I want to do with my life. Do I want to examine science first-hand, pipette in paw, becoming an expert in a single discipline, publishing and producing creative ways to solve problems? Maybe.
Or would I prefer science from an outside perspective, delving into the literature and interviewing researchers, disseminating a wide range of information to the general public like those science magazines and books I so enjoy? Maybe I'd like to do that too.
I'm not yet certain. But in the meantime, I'll try my hand at both!
But one thing is certain: a great rift currently divides the scientific community and the rest of society. As a neuroscientist and lover of words, I hope to erect a bridge between the two—if not a sturdy steel suspension bridge, at the very least some rope rungs on which everybody may hold on.
Besides blogging, I enjoy tinkering around on my clarinet, doodling, doggies, rowing (proud alum of St. Mary's Crew), reading anything with words, and cleaning my apartment to the Beatles. And, of course, loving on brains of all shapes and, er, sizes!
| My 4+, spring 2011 sprint season. Or, why I, an overworked college student, continued to wake up at 5 AM everyday. |
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| I rowed a marathon on Dec. 4, 2010. Most painful/coolest experience ever! |
• National Association of Science Writers
• Society for Neuroscience
• Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
• Nu Rho Psi Neuroscience Honor Society
• Institute of Food Technologists
• National Honor Society
Honors:
• Research Assistantship
(2011, Penn State University)
• Neuroscience Award
(2011, St. Mary's College of MD)
• Research Blogging 4X Editor's Selection
• Award for Literary Achievement (2007, HoCoPoLitSo)
• Publications in Creative Communications essay and poetry anthologies (2005-2007)