How/Why Research? I decided to get involved in undergraduate research in order to engage with a particular microcosm of my field of study more fully. Ever since, research has been an avenue for me to appreciate the complexities and finer details that lie at the cutting edge of Neuroscience research while also enabling me to develop a better understanding of the research process itself. In my remaining year, I hope to continue to supplement my learning with research that challenges me to think critically and expand the breadth of my skills.
Research Experiences: I began my undergraduate research at Dr. Mulligan’s Cognitive Psychology lab, where I investigated various memory related experiences such as the testing effect. The following semester (Fall 2019), I began my work at the UNC Neuroimaging Research and Analysis Laboratories under Dr. Styner as a Gil intern, after which I continued to serve as a research assistant (Spring 2020). I worked on a project called the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), which seeks to identify biomarkers for the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Specifically, I looked at the extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid volume as a biomarker and conducted both cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis on the data that I first collected from various MRI scans as a Gil intern. During the summer of 2020, I will continue with the data analysis phase of this project as a part of the Summer Award for Research Intensive Courses (SARIC). Throughout these experiences, I have grown to appreciate the rigors of the research process as well as the rewards that accompany them.