Margaret MacGillivray – Immersion In Neuroscience Research

Ever since I took Daniel Li’s Neuroscience class, I’ve been fascinated by the field. There was a specific quote that stuck out to me: “Everything Psychological is Simultaneously Biological.” Essentially everything going on in our minds is the product of the communication between neurons, some biological mechanism. In the field of mental health, people struggling are often told that it’s “all in their head.” This suggests that everything going on in the mind is completely under our control, and therefore a decline in mental health can be improved by a simple change in mindset. However, there are biological mechanisms at play that affect everything going on in our mind. This means that by learning more about the brain, we can identify places that could be effective in treatments. 

Instead of just learning about neuroscience, I wanted to actively contribute to research during a time when new technologies are making it more effective. My main goal is to 1: contribute to Neuroscience research and 2: learn more about the field. The actual way I will do this has changed a bit since my pitch! 

The initial plan was to go up to Cornell to work with Howard Bass and study auditory processes in fish. However, I’ve actually found a lab in New York City that better aligns with my interests in mental health and addiction where I’ll be able to do more hands-on research. It’s Kenny Lab at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine that specifically focuses on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of drug addiction and schizophrenia, with an emphasis on the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in these processes. Current projects include the utilization of vector-based delivery systems to modify gene expression in the brains of rodents to identify novel signaling cascades that may play a role in addiction-like behaviors. Two postdocs – Dr. Stephanie Caligiuri and Dr. Lauren Wills – have agreed to mentor me. I will be able to lead and assist in projects that specifically deal with these acetylcholine receptors as they relate to both nicotine and alcohol addiction. I’ll be working at the HESS Medical Center. I’m thinking that if this goes well, I’ll do it full time for the whole senior project!

This will contribute to the academic and experience buckets, as I’ll be getting hands-on experience assisting in academic topics. I’ll also be volunteering at God’s Love We Deliver to contribute to the service bucket. There is definitely a connection between neuroscience and the work of God’s Love We Deliver, as access to food affects mental health. Overall, I’m really excited to explore this field that I’ve never worked in before!

I will be successful if I have a better understanding of the field of scientific research. This will be measured in three different ways. The first way is the production of valuable scientific findings. I will be actively contributing to research on substance addiction by running experiments, and have been informed by the postdocs I’ll be assisting that I’ll get credit on the publications that I help with. If I can have helped on findings that will further the field of addiction rehabilitation and understanding, I’ll have succeeded in a part of my goal. The second way is by simply understanding what it means to work in a lab and help scientists, which will definitely be achieved by being in a lab environment for so many hours a day. The third and final way I’ll measure success, which is the culmination of this project, is that I’ll have a better idea about whether or not neuroscience is something I want to pursue in the future. I’ll know if it’s something I want to double major in by being surrounded by people who have gone down the neuroscience academic track. 

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