Team

How I got into science

I was lucky to grow up surrounded by science, whether that was going to science camps over the summer to dissect hearts and eyeballs, or going on nature discovery trips with my local nature conservancy (Thank you, Shaver's Creek!). Out of my experiences, biology always interested me the most. I loved feeling like I was stepping into a miniature world with all sorts of moving parts.

My fascination with neuroscience began later on, during a project I was completing about different cell types in the body in middle school. I'm a cellist and, at the time, was obsessed with learning about Jacqueline duPre, one of my all-time favorite cellists. She dealt with multiple sclerosis later in her life, and I wanted to learn more about this disease that had hindered her playing so drastically. During this summer project, we had learnt about the demyelination of neurons and how, among many things, that could lead to multiple sclerosis. Afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about how such a small biological misstep could lead to such profound impacts. I remember intensely reading about different neurological pathologies and how they affect our brains. I came to the conclusion that I needed to learn more about the mechanics of the vast and complicated organ, that is, our brain. Something else I realized about neuroscience was how intersectional it is. Whether that was learning about how we process music and art, or the neural basis of emotions like nostalgia, I was enthralled with the idea that our brains can turn the intangible into tangible physiology. In my opinion, the joy of neuroscience is the unknown; there is so much about our brains that we have yet to understand. So to me, it's comforting to know that there will always be another question to ask and another problem to solve.

My passion for neuroscience has continued ever since then. I joined the Ramirez Lab right before I started my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and have enjoyed every bit of it! I'm so glad I get to work on impactful and fascinating research with Dr. Ramirez. In the future, I hope I get to work on cellular-level neuroscience, especially as it applies to different neurodegenerative diseases.

Non-science biography

I grew up in a small college town in Pennsylvania (State College!) with my mom, dad, and older sister. During that time, I got to explore my many interests and made some of my closest friends. In 2021, my family and I moved to Massachusetts, and we now live forty minutes out of the city. Outside of science, I have many hobbies to keep me busy. I love all things art, whether that's doing crafts like felting, scrapbooking, and crochet, or creating paintings or even learning about art history! I also love making miniatures and find the process of building each project so satisfying. Also, art-related, I've been a cellist for most of my life, and I love playing music of all kinds. I've gotten the chance to play in numerous orchestras and chamber groups, all of which have been so formative for my life. Making music with other people is the best! On that note, I'm also a ballet dancer and discovered my love of performing through that. Beyond creative mediums, I have also developed a passion for public health and work as an editor for a public health journal.

One thing I’m sorry I’m not sorry about

The cutest dogs are the weird crusty ones.

What I look for in a scientist

Someone who is curious, open-minded, and is patient with others. I love meeting scientists who are passionate about what they're working on and are also not afraid to be wrong.