During this past semester, I took a full course load studying neurogenetics, pharmacology and the biotechnology industry. This coming semester, most of my time will be spent on thesis work in Professor of Medical Science and Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Justin Fallon’s laboratory. My experience working with the wonderful members of the Fallon lab as an undergraduate was a major factor in deciding to pursue a Fifth-Year Master’s and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.
In the Fallon Lab, I perform behavioral experiments on mice that have neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disease. The goal of my research is to reliably characterize how clinical symptoms of these mice present so that upcoming candidate therapies can be assessed for efficacy. I feel very fortunate to be a small part of the amazing research that is being conducted in the Fallon Lab and at the Carney Institute for Brain Science. I am confident that research conducted at Brown will have a profound effect on future treatment of the world’s most challenging diseases, like ALS. Moreover, I am excited to be pursuing a Biotechnology degree as it encompasses the entire process from bench to bedside.
Researching in the Fallon Lab has given me the opportunity to apply my knowledge of neurodegenerative disease in a practical way; it is one thing to read textbooks and papers, but to actually be designing and performing experiments has been incredibly helpful in my development as a scientist. Combined with my coursework over the past year, I am increasingly interested in how basic research discoveries can lead to life-changing therapies. At the moment, I am most excited by the field of diagnostics, and I plan on going to medical school in the near future. I am looking forward to a life of learning and helping to provide meaningful treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
Even though I have spent many years at Brown, this year felt different. I think one reason was because it was the first semester that I wasn’t simultaneously studying my other passion – music. The impending thesis due dates were also somewhat daunting, but it is coming along! Overall, this semester has been my most productive semester to date. I greatly enjoyed my classes and professors, I have learned a lot and made some interesting discoveries in the Fallon Lab. Beyond this, I participated in MIT’s I-Corps program for a new blood testing technology. I also started a project at Alpert Medical School combining music and medicine. I feel that there is tremendous synergy among these fields and am inspired by works of scientists Oliver Sachs, Daniel Levitin, Stephon Alexander and others. I am working with musicians and clinicians at The Miriam Hospital to create an online course on the healing powers of music.
Although I wasn’t studying music in the fall, I was happy to be playing in the Brown Jazz Band again this year; it is incredibly restorative and fun. Lastly, I am so fortunate to have had amazing mentors and friends throughout my time at Brown.