Neuroscience Graduate Students

Why did you choose BCM?

I chose BCM because of its great diversity. Not only is the community of scientists diverse, but also the research that is being conducted. This gave me the unique opportunity to experiment with different techniques and experimental questions. BCM's community is also very passionate about the research and science that is happening in each lab, so it provides a great spirit of encouragement.

What is your Research Interest?

My main research interest can be explained in one word "decode." I am in a unique position where I have access to human intracranial eCoG data from epilepsy patients. Thanks to them, we can ask important questions that can otherwise not be answered with non-human models. I am particularly interested in spatial navigation and mapping out place cells, as well as how they can be modulated with different forms of stimulation. I'm also interested in how thoughts about specific concepts are represented at the single neuron level. Additionally modeling how we make choices based on the underlying neural environment through abstracting these complicated processes with mathematics is another avenue I frequently explore. Although these interests may all seem completely unrelated, they all share the same driving force, which is communication among neurons. My goal is to better understand and decode this "language."

Why did you choose your mentor?

I chose my mentor for many reasons. Immediately we sat down to discuss my interests and how he could help me come up with a project that satisfied both of our interests. Something unique about my mentor is that no idea is "too crazy" for him, so the sense of support has been there since the beginning. He has a very flexible mentoring style, where he can be as hands on/off as you need depending on where you are. It seems to me that he is swimming in opportunities and his idea of science and discovery is very fun to partake in! Which brings me to the main reason I chose my mentor, which is that he is never shy about sharing ideas for new projects and asks for my input in his own research endeavors.        

What aspects of training have been most influential in preparing for your intended career?

Classes have really been influential in setting up a strong foundation for my research. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount I could learn within my first year of grad school! I would also owe a lot of appreciation to journal clubs and seminars. Learning how to read a paper, dissect it, and present your take on it has been incredibly helpful in my science communication skills and with my experimental design.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Being in the TMC has enhanced my experience. I appreciate the ability to collaborate with other hospitals and research institutions. This has directly impacted my research because I work with patients across different hospitals. Additionally, being so close to Rice University has allowed me to take Rice courses critical for my advancement.  

What are your career plans?

I am leaning towards a career in industry. I really enjoy working with loads of data and finding creative ways to wrangle it into something interpretable. I am still deciding whether I want to pursue a career in tech, startups, or even venture capital. My main motivation is to continue doing research but on a more global scale. Working on making science accessible to all is something that drives me towards a career in industry.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

I am originally from the Houston area, so I would say I enjoy being so close to my family! Escaping to my parent's house when things get overwhelming is a special privilege of living here. I know that is not the case for every student, but Houston is such a welcoming place, that it's not hard to find a home away from home. At first glance, it may seem that Houston is "flat" in all senses of the word, but that couldn't be further from the truth! (well except for in the physical sense). Houston's diverse community allows for fun experiences with cultural events, food, and overall exploration of the city.

What advice to you have for prospective students?

I would say that the most important piece of advice is to keep an open mind. I feel like a lot of graduate students come in with a specific idea of what they want to do, who they want to work with, and with what model species even if they don't want to admit that to themselves. Yet, as you go through your graduate career, you really could not be more surprised and intrigued by areas of research that you never even knew existed or thought would interest you! Don't fear the unknown, but rather embrace it and view it as a "fun" way to learn. This is obviously very scary to do, but it may lead students to an opportunity that turns out better than what they expected. I would also suggest asking questions and for help whenever possible because so many of us have been in the same boat and are more than willing to offer a helping hand.

Why did you choose BCM?

I chose BCM because it has a tailored neuroscience program, which is extremely well organized. They value communication and interactions between students, science wise, but also community wise. I remember that when I was interviewing, I felt extremely welcome and that was important to me, to feel part of something. Also, BCM offers a lot of amazing mentors covering different aspects of neuroscience.

What is your Research Interest?

I am really into basic science. My research interests include decision making and executive control, specifically I am interested in studying the neural correlates of choice and planning. Something that I'd also like to investigate is what is driving curiosity in our brain and how that happens. I am interested in investigating those questions using machine learning as well as reinforcement learning approaches coupled to human electrophysiology/spikes data.

Why did you choose your mentor?

What I prefer about Ben is that he is an extremely energetic person, he is always full of ideas that span on different topics. I feel he does his best to offer his students the opportunity of learning, discovering, and understanding what they'd like to study. He is an amazing writing teacher, and he always stimulates me to read more! I became an avid reader since I joined his lab! He is empathetic, compassionate, and careful, and that is really valuable. I also feel he knows how to support students when they feel defeated and how to push them to do better. I have also chosen Ben as a mentor because he is able to show me my potential, and without him I would not always be aware of having it.

What aspects of training have been most influential in preparing for your intended career?

My master's degree in biomedical engineering was a game changer. While achieving it I started to study neuroengineeering and I understood that I was interested in studying the brain. Then I was in Boston for almost a year where I studied sleep and epilepsy, which was fundamental for my applications to grad schools.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Absolutely! I feel that it promotes interdisciplinary interactions, and it offers so many perspectives on different research topics. Whatever you are studying you are always able to find someone to talk to who will enrich your knowledge. For instance, working with human electrophysiological data I spend time in the epilepsy monitoring unit at St. Luke's Hospital and the interactions with the patients and surgeons make it always an enriching experience.

What are your career plans?

I would say that being a computational person, after my PhD I would like to move to industry, maybe working as a data analyst. I would not exclude the possibility of an academic career, but right now it is not in my plans.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

Houston is an extremely diverse city, and the food is just amazing. Here you can find so many different cultures and coming from a city where the culture is not that diverse, for me it is extremely interesting and exciting! Houston is a big city which can be scary, and it may take time to get used to it. You can find people coming from every part of the world, in one hour you can be at the beach, and if you feel you need a break from the crowds of the city you can go camping in many natural parks. If you are careful, you can also find nice art exhibitions or really cool DJ-sets (I am really into techno :)) One year ago I would have never thought I'd say that, but Houston became my second home!

What advice to you have for prospective students?

Just never stop putting effort and being committed to what you are doing. I think is important to set goals and at the same time be flexible in achieving them, because things change all the time, but we can also make changes. I would also say don't be afraid of grad school; it is a process, and you need to trust it. I cannot explain enough how much I have been improving myself since I have been at Baylor. Be strong; I crossed an ocean to be here, and I am still convinced it was the right choice!

Why did you choose BCM?

I really liked the students and faculty of BCM when I interviewed. Everyone is so smart and driven, yet friendly and fun. I knew BCM would provide an excellent environment for my growth as a physician and a neuroscientist.

What is your Research Interest?

Mitochondrial impairments have long been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. However, we lack a complete understanding of mitochondrial contributions to neurodegeneration, especially because most of the research examining Alzheimer's-associated mitochondrial dysfunction has been neuron-centric. Glial mitochondria have been relatively neglected but may serve important roles in the health of the aging brain. Thus, I am interested in how glial mitochondrial dynamics change in Alzheimer's disease and contribute to disease risk.

Why did you choose your mentor?

Hugo and Josh are both dedicated, wise, and compassionate leaders. I felt at home when I rotated in both their labs, which are in adjoining spaces. I was thrilled when they agreed to co-mentor me. Their research, areas of expertise, and even personalities complement each other. I'm learning so much from them and feel privileged to call myself a member of both teams.

What aspects of training have been most influential in preparing for your intended career?

Learning to work with others and asking for help have been essential. You need to collaborate to be successful in science. Also, I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to refine my presentation and communication skills. I want to be able to share my ideas and research not only with the scientific community, but also with the public.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Absolutely! The TMC is the NYC of biomedical research. The TMC not only offers abundant research and clinical opportunities, but also an inspiring environment. Walking to and from lab every day I can feel the enthusiasm people have for medical excellence. Also, if you need a good doctor, or (hopefully not) acute care, there's no better place to be than the TMC.

What are your career plans?

I'm not sure how exactly I want to do it yet, but I know I want to make the world a better place through science and medicine. I also know I want to never stop learning.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

Houston is bustling and festive like any big city, but it's full of friendly folks like a small town. Any activity or cuisine you can think of is within reach, and you can't beat the quality of life. Also, I've never had to shovel snow here.

What advice to you have for prospective students?

Work hard, eat your vegetables, and follow your heart. Remember that anything worth doing can be done.

Why did you choose BCM?

I chose BCM because of how close knit the Neuroscience program is here. After my interview weekend I could tell how well all of the students knew each other and got along; I could see myself doing well. I have so many friends from different years who are always available to give me advice or support, especially while I went through my first and second year of classes and my qualifying exam.

What is your Research Interest?

I hope to understand how the genetic instructions encoded in every cell are differentially expressed along the Anterior-Posterior axis to contributes to cell identity and morphogenesis, particularly in the nervous system, throughout development and how disruptions in these processes can contribute to disorders of the CNS.

Why did you choose your mentor?

I chose to join Dr. Williams' lab because she is a very involved mentor. She has her door open often and we can pop in to discuss ideas we have or ask for help. I also really like the makeup of the lab, with two post docs and a lab manager, as well as another student who is further in her career, so I have a lot of people to turn to as I start my Ph.D. Most important of all, I have always found gastrulation fascinating so naturally I fell in love with Zebra Fish as a model system because you can watch them progress through their development with just a light microscope.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Being so close to many other research institutions makes collaboration and productive discussion much more accessible. Our lab participates in a monthly aquatic models meeting where labs from multiple institutions get together to discuss the projects they're currently working on and ask for input or feedback.

What are your career plans?

I hope to become a professor one day. My biggest supporters and inspiration are my science teachers and intro bio professors. I hope to be that type of mentor to new scientists so that I can foster their passion for learning and research.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

The food! We have so many options here. I love trying new things and we have so many cultural festivals throughout the year! There are also just so many types of grocery stores and restaurants here. I also love being so close to Hermann Park, especially in the summer, because there are lots of different shows that you can catch at Miller Outdoor Theatre. If you don't mind the heat, there are so many places to explore here.

What advice to you have for prospective students?

Don't have all your rotations set up before you start your first one. I thought I knew what lab I was going to end up in, but I changed my fourth term rotation right before it started to Dr. Williams' lab and ended up loving it. Leave yourself some room to explore and go to chalk talks and seminars. You never know whose research might catch your eye.

What is your Research Interest?

I am fascinated by how visceral organs can relay the state of the body to the brain. We have all felt hunger pangs after a skipped lunch or that 'filling feeling' after a heavy dinner. I am interested to understand how mechanical signals evoked by contraction and distention in the gut play a role in sensing hunger and satiety. My research won't cure a disease, but it has the potential to uncover molecular targets to treat obesity and feeding disorders.

Why did you choose your mentor?

I feel supported and encouraged to be creative and critical in answering questions that truly excite me. I come out of every one-on-one meeting with the ability to think more deeply and objectively about my research. I also appreciate Dr. Marshall's superpower of putting me back on track when I veer too much.

What are your career plans?

I hope to make significant contributions to science as a PhD student (and someday as a PI).

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

I love the proximity of the art museums to the campus and the good food.

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Enjoy the process and find a mentor who is ready to support your dreams.

Why did you choose BCM?

The students were immediately welcoming and very honest about the pros and cons of studying here. Their honesty let me know they'd be there for support and advice when I hit roadblocks. We were taken care of at every step, whereas other institutions left it up to me to arrange flights, and transportation to hotels or to campus. Additionally, the science at BCM and the Texas Medical Center in general is amazing and I knew I would be able to pursue any scientific questions I had here.

What is your Research Interest?

My main goal is to characterize the role of TDP-43 in the development of limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, or LATE disease. In addition to determining the mechanisms of LATE, I am interested in overlapping pathology with other diseases like Alzheimer's, and how TDP-43 may be involved in comorbidity of LATE with other diseases.

Why did you choose your mentor?

There are many reasons that I chose to be co-mentored, and by these two scientists, most important is that I genuinely feel that they both believe in me and take me seriously as a growing scientist. I also feel comfortable being honest and asking for help from both mentors, which will be important later on when I inevitably mess something up.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Yes. For any technical or conceptual question regarding your research, there is probably someone here that could help you. Listening to faculty chalk talks I am constantly amazed by the research happening here.  Even just in the NRI (Neurological Research Institute), I have been able to reach out to people from various labs to discuss or learn techniques that people in my own lab are not familiar with.

What advice to you have for prospective students?

Make sure you feel comfortable with the current students and other interviewees while visiting different institutions. These people will potentially be your support system for the next 5 years, so you want to make sure you get along with them. Make sure to ask faculty questions during your interviews, about their mentorship style and whatever else you need to know to determine if they could be your thesis mentor. Make sure there are at least a few faculty you could see yourself working with, but also know that your interests or needs may change over the course of your first year. Also be realistic about the location, and if you would be happy living there. School is hard enough, so you want to be sure that you like where you live and that the things you enjoy doing are available for you in that location.

Why did you choose Baylor College of Medicine?

I chose Baylor because of the strong sense of community.

What is your research interest?

Specifically, I am interested in the role of neuropeptides in modulating long-term associative memory in C. elegans.

Why did you choose your mentor?

I greatly appreciate Rachel's approachability and enthusiasm for science!

Did Baylor’s location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Baylor's location allows for a great environment for collaboration.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

There's always something fun to do!

Why did you choose BCM? 

With an excellent reputation in neuroscience, world-class faculty, a large assortment of exciting research labs to explore, and outstanding access to resources in the Texas Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine was already easily on the top of my list for graduate school. However, it was the comforting sense of community and support I felt amongst the diverse faculty and student body that really set BCM above the rest.

Did Baylor’s location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience? 

Definitely. It's astounding being surrounded by such important and innovative healthcare institutions, and going to lab is a constant reminder of how integral and interdependent our research is to the advancement of healthcare. In addition to enhancing the relevance of my own research, it also keeps me constantly thinking of the applicability of my research and opportunities for collaboration at neighboring institutions, a unique perk at BCM.

What are your career plans? 

As of now, I plan to continue in academia to eventually teach and do research at a university. However, I am still open to other scientific careers.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston? 

The food and the outdoors. As a new Houston resident, I have been a little limited in going around Houston due to COVID-19 so I have only really been able to explore the restaurants and parks. That being said, the food here is phenomenal - there's a ridiculous diversity of cuisine and many local restaurants, and so far nearly all of them have been delicious. Likewise, the nearby museums and parks are also fantastic, especially when you've been working indoors all day.

What advice to you have for prospective students? 

When choosing graduate schools, don't only look for the science - look for the people. It's pretty easy to get caught up in just following the most interesting, prestigious, or groundbreaking labs, but never forget that you are primarily in grad school to learn how to do good research, which means having great mentors at your institution to learn from and genuinely support you. This can be the PIs, the senior researchers in a lab, the program coordinators, and the senior graduate students. Talk to the graduate students in the labs/institutions you are interested in - they will most likely respond more quickly than their PIs and give you honest opinions about their lab and grad school.

Why did you choose BCM?

It sounds corny, but I chose BCM because I had this gut feeling that this was it for me. I remember leaving Rush Record when the interview weekend was over and being genuinely sad to leave the people I had just met. BCM has a wide variety of research topics, and the quality of research is top tier. I had identified multiple faculty I was interested in working with coming into interviews, and my list doubled by the time I left.

Why did you choose your mentor?

I chose Kim because she's extremely supportive, good-natured, and encourages me to chase after what I'm interested in. Kim pushes me to grow as an independent scientist while providing as much input as I want and need from her. I appreciate the flexibility I have in Kim's lab to explore many different avenues surrounding the synapse.

What aspects of training have been most influential in preparing for your intended career?

Since I either want to continue in academia or do bench work in industry, getting lots of experience at the bench with different techniques has been really helpful. Additionally, being able to work both individually and as a team, and networking has been critical. Understanding how to ask for help and find resources to solve problems will be very important in any career I end up in.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Definitely! The amount of resources immediately available is such a perk of being here. There's ample opportunity to collaborate with people from the UT's and observe patient behavior, if you're interested in direct human research.

What are your career plans?

Currently I plan to explore pharmaceutical research in industry.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

There's so much to do here! There's lots of museums, parks, restaurants, art, music...whatever you like to do, there's an opportunity to do it. As someone from a cold climate, I also appreciate being able to enjoy the sunshine more throughout the year.

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Listen to your gut and keep an open mind. It's ok if you don't know exactly what you want to study or do with your life after your Ph.D.! Utilize the faculty and students (especially the students) to get any information you want or need about the program, area, etc. Everyone is here to help you make the right decision for yourself. Ask a LOT of people their opinions on things, but don't take every opinion as objective truth. Everyone has different experiences, just use them to help yourself make educated decisions.

Why did you choose BCM?

I knew BCM was the right place to pursue graduate school when I experienced the collaborative environment during the SMART program internship. It is in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, as students we have a unique opportunity to learn from the best scientists and clinicians.  

The Neuroscience program is a student-centered environment where there are opportunities for growth: academically, professionally and in research pursuits. During the interviews I felt supported to pursue futuristic research like space health.

What is your Research Interest?

I am interested in merging the fields of neuroscience and space health to find ways to countermeasure the effects of outer space risks (microgravity and radiation) specifically for neurological states. For example, examining the effects of radiation on neurogenesis and cognition.

Why did you choose your mentor?

I chose my mentor because she encourages me to challenge myself and supports my career goals of working for NASA. She is a kind mentor who understands and prioritizes the wellbeing of her students!

What aspects of training have been most influential in preparing for your intended career?

I believe communication is the key to success so networking to me has been most influential, to meet professionals working in my field of interest. Another aspect of communication is learning to present your research in a clear and concise manner, which I am always actively working on by attending writing workshops and participating in scientific conferences.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Being at TMC makes conducting translational research a very vivid and relevant experience. Having access to ongoing clinical trials and the latest technologies enhances the learning environment for a well-rounded PhD.

What are your career plans?

I plan to be a research scientist at NASA to study neuroscience in the context of space medicine and to eventually apply to become an astronaut.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

I appreciate the cultural and culinary diversity the city has. Although it has been overwhelming to adjust to the big city life.  

What advice to you have for prospective students?

Surround yourself with successful people and a good support system.

What is your Research Interest?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is multigenic, where various disease factors converge and perturb many, but common biological processes. I am interested in compartmentalizing brain transcriptome into gene coexpression networks and then identifying driver genes of the network that impact disease phenotype when manipulated, using Drosophila models of AD.

Why did you choose your mentor?

Dr. Shulman created a very supportive lab environment where everyone in the lab is willing to help each other. Dr. Shulman managed to balance between having a big and well-established lab and being able to provide good mentorship to every student.

What aspects of training have been most influential in preparing for your intended career?

The most influential training I have received during my graduate school at Baylor is the proper ways to handle experimental data, which include making biological interpretation of experimental data, assessing rigor and reproducibility, making mechanistical hypotheses and predictions. Also, my training in coding and bioinformatics will be very helpful for my future career.

Did Baylor's location in the Texas Medical Center enhance your experience?

Yes. Being in the TMC allowed us closer communication with scientists in other research institutes and physicians in hospitals. It's important to receive input from physicians when you are studying diseases.

What are your career plans?

I aim to look for post-doc positions after I graduate and then look for faculty positions.

What do you enjoy about living in Houston?

The Chinatown is amazing!!

What advice to you have for prospective students?

Find a lab that makes you happy because grad school is already hard enough!