"During my undergraduate program, I had the opportunity to conduct research at the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment exploring sociability in children with autism spectrum disorder. Our team examined how feeding interventions influenced children's behavioral responses and interaction patterns, challenging the notion that certain behaviors are inherent symptoms rather than conditioned outcomes.

My overall goal is to investigate how cultural and environmental systems influence brain development, behavior, and the emergence of chronic health conditions such as addiction, depression, and diabetes. At the core of this pursuit is the desire to understand the underlying influences of behavior and decision-making, and how they are shaped, reinforced, and sustained within complex systems over time. More broadly, I aim to bridge the realms of neuroscience and behavior analysis, and contribute to the growing effort in understanding the nature of consciousness, not just as a neurobiological phenomenon, but as an emergent property of dynamically interacting systems that extend beyond the individual brain.

I was drawn to the NGP at FAU because of its commitment to integrative, cutting-edge research and the opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives across disciplines. In particular, the program’s lab rotations stood out as a valuable opportunity to move beyond my immediate area of expertise and explore adjacent fields within the broader neuroscience landscape, fostering a deeper synthesis of methodologies, techniques, and theoretical approaches. The program’s stellar faculty, along with its strong partnership with the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, were also especially compelling, offering a rich environment for bridging approaches to better understand the brain, mind, and behavior."

"I majored in Psychology at Coastal Carolina University with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Biology. While I was there, I did research with Dr. Ryan Yoder on the effect of temporary anoxia/hypoxia on juvenile leopard geckos in ovo and worked to create a brain atlas for the geckos. In the future I hope to do research on the intersection of neuroscience and immunology. I chose FAU because of the diverse research being done and the amazing opportunities available to students that I can't wait to be a part of!"

"I majored in Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology with a minor in Psychology. My overall goal is to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and contribute to the development of innovative, patient-centered therapies. In my undergraduate program, I worked in an applied industrial microbiology lab studying Acetobacter contamination in beer tap lines, which strengthened my foundation in experimental design and data analysis.

After completing my undergraduate studies, I earned a Master’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida. There, I conducted a literature review focused on microbial infections as a potential risk factor for Parkinson’s disease, deepening my interest in neurodegeneration and disease pathogenesis.

My role as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center in Boca Raton has provided me with hands-on experience conducting Phase I–IV clinical research trials focused on investigational therapies for patients with Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders. This position has allowed me to engage closely with patients and contribute directly to research that evaluates the safety and efficacy of emerging therapies. Witnessing the real-world impact of these studies has deepened my understanding of the urgent need for innovative treatments and strengthened my commitment to advancing therapeutic research in neurodegenerative diseases.

I was drawn to the NGP because of its interdisciplinary training and the opportunity to work with faculty conducting cutting-edge research. I learned about the program while researching graduate programs known for their strong focus on neurodegenerative disease research and innovative therapeutic development. The program’s faculty publications and the impactful work showcased on the university’s website highlighted a collaborative and dynamic research environment that perfectly aligns with my academic and professional goals of further understanding neurodegenerative diseases."

"I majored in neuroscience at The University of St Andrews in Scotland. My overall goal is to perform theoretical work at the intersection of computational neuroscience and philosophy to help solve problems in the alignment of artificial intelligence with human values. In my undergraduate program, I worked in a research lab which used immunohistochemistry and behavioral techniques to study adult neurogenesis and memory in mice, though I specifically utilized those techniques to study the effects of environmental enrichment on indicators of anxiety in mice. These ideas intrigued me due to their implications in how influential the environment is in shaping the development of emotional processes, which could be relevant to creating embodied artificial agents that can adapt to the environment along similar lines.

I was drawn to the NGP because of the variety of cutting-edge techniques one can learn and projects one can undertake, and the access to research settings that share my focus on solving some of the most important problems of the future, such as navigating the moral and philosophical problems that come with the development of potentially conscious artificial general intelligence. The Center for the Future Mind was a very exciting example of this to me. The interdisciplinary focus of the program made it stand out as well, particularly the intersection between philosophical questions surrounding machine consciousness and theoretical neuroscience approaches to understanding AI from an algorithmic perspective."

"I majored in Health Science with a concentration in Behavioral and Mental Health. Throughout my degree, most of my research was in mathematics, including work in AI and cryptography. These experiences sparked my interest in applying formal systems to explore questions about the mind.

My long-term goal is to use mathematical modeling to better understand how we think, bridging the gap between biological mechanisms and behavioral outcomes. I was drawn to the NGP because its computational neuroscience track closely aligns with this goal, offering the opportunity to study complex systems involving neural activity, cognition, and behavior."

Diversity in Science ~ Michael earned the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship! This fellowship was created for students pursing doctorate degrees at Florida universities to build equity, diversity and inclusion for under representation of African American and Hispanic populations for those in pursuit of a career in research and teaching at a college or university level.

"During my undergraduate studies, I majored in Neuroscience at the University of Miami, where I developed a strong interest in how both biological mechanisms and social experiences influence brain health, particularly in marginalized communities. As a research assistant in Dr. Sannisha Dale’s SHINE Lab, I supported projects examining how microaggressions, stigma, and systemic discrimination affect mental and physical health outcomes in Black women living with HIV. Through this work, I gained valuable experience in behavioral assessments, survey data collection, and applying trauma-informed, intersectional research frameworks. I also served as a NIH-funded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow in Dr. Helen Bramlett’s lab at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, where I investigated the role of Gasdermin D knockout in reducing neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury. In this role, I developed technical skills in tissue processing, histology, microscopy, and the analysis of inflammatory markers in mouse models.

I was drawn to the NGP because of its interdisciplinary focus, collaborative training environment, and opportunities to rotate through labs at institutions like Max Planck and UF Scripps, which are conducting cutting-edge neuroscience research across multiple levels of analysis. I am also deeply inspired by the program’s commitment to community engagement through initiatives like MobileMinds, which brings neuroscience education to Title I schools and underserved communities across South Florida. This blend of rigorous research and public outreach strongly aligns with my goal of becoming a professor dedicated to advancing health equity and making neuroscience more accessible to all."

"At Baylor University, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. I was drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of the field and knew early on that I wanted to pursue further education with the ultimate goal of helping individuals with neurological disorders. During my time at Baylor, my initial exposure to research came through a clinical project that assessed the effects of live musical performances as an alternative therapy for depression and agitation in older adults with dementia. After graduation, I became the lab manager for Dr. Tracy Centanni’s GAPP Lab at the University of Florida, supporting projects involving neuroimaging (EEG) and interventions for communication disorders. A central part of my role involved collecting high-density EEG data on the perception and expectation of musical rhythms and tones, aiming to explore the shared neural resources involved in processing both reading and music.

Currently, my research interests focus on traumatic brain injuries and other neurodegenerative diseases. I hope to use my graduate studies and future career to investigate their causal factors as well as their functional and cognitive effects.

I was drawn to the NGP for its broad opportunities to explore neuroscience across multiple domains. I aspire to become a well-rounded scientist and to develop my skills across the various areas of emphasis within the program. The program’s structure, including first-year lab rotations and a wide range of coursework, offers the ideal environment for this growth."

"I received my BS in Psychology with a minor in biology and a certificate of neuropsychological testing at Arkansas State University. During undergrad, I worked in two Laboratories: Dr. Lorin Neuman-Lee’s herpetological physiology lab, where I examined immunocompetency and hormone levels in a range of reptiles and Dr. Maureen Dolan and Mr. Shea Harris’s mentored NASA SPOCS team at A-State, which sent plastic biodegrading waxworms to the International Space Station. After undergrad, I began working in industry at a small biotech company doing gene therapy work on lysosomal storage disorders. Studying these neurodegenerative diseases helped fortify my resolve to work in neuro research.

My overall goal at FAU is to study the complex interplay of the Nervous system and the Immune system. I was drawn to FAU NGP because of the diverse research topics and supportive, collaborative mentors. I am excited to learn new techniques and form strong connections."