At this week's Round Table, Erina, Jack, and Kenisha spoke with Elena Waidmann, a rising fifth year graduate student in the lab of Dr. Erich Jarvis at Rockefeller University, who studies the neural and genetic mechanisms underlying mouse vocalizations. From participating in a neuroscience program through the Center for Talented Youth during high school to studying the neurological facial recognition processes of macaque monkeys in a lab at the National Institutes of Mental Health, Elena shared how all of her experiences have shaped her lifelong love of neuroscience. As a graduate student, she has learned the value of balancing and prioritizing various tasks because of the numerous projects she simultaneously works on. Everyday is different which keeps Elena on her toes as she is constantly surrounded by cutting edge research!
We learned about the relevance Elena’s research places on the advancement of gene editing, such as the FOXP2 gene for humans who have trouble producing speech, and the degree to which the research she conducts on mice can be DIRECTLY applied to humans. She also walked us through common misconceptions that individuals have in terms of animal communication systems, such as people underestimating non-primates and overestimating other primates.
Neuroscience intersects with MANY other fields of study and has a direct application to our everyday lives. If you or someone else you know are in high school and are interested in learning more about this exciting field of study, apply to the Summer Neuroscience Program at Rockefeller University in New York City. Applications open up in January 2024 for the Summer of 2024 cycle. Thank you for listening!
