Category Archives: Neuroscience

Junior seeking bio/neuro alums with non-traditional career paths

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Hi!  I’m a junior planning to graduate with a neuroscience degree. While I’ve always been very interested in neuroscience and biology, all of the most popular career paths for a neuroscience degree (pre-med, research, professor) are things I have tried or researched, and I don’t see myself going in those directions. I was wondering if any alumni were in a similar position to me and have branched out to other neuro-related careers, or have any advice that can broaden my perspective on careers that I can look into?  Thank you.

Name: Jane Ussery ’21
Major: Neuroscience
Home town: New Fairfield, CT
Email: jussery@brandeis.edu

First year international student wants to connect with neuroscience/computer science alums

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I am a first year planning to major in neuroscience and computer science, and likely to minor in economics or psychology.  I am an international student, but I wish to work in the US after graduation, continuing specializing in comp sci or neuroscience.  I look forward to connecting with more neuroscience or computer science alumni, and knowing more about these fields. Another further, less urgent goal of mine is to have an internship in the Boston area next summer. Any advice or help will be appreciated!

Name: Long Yi ’23
Majors: Neuroscience, computer science
Minors: Economics, psychology
Home town: Beijing, China
Email: longyi@brandeis.edu
See Long’s LinkedIn profile

Neuro and math major pursuing research opportunities post-Brandeis.

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I’ve held research positions at Brandeis and several Boston-area hospitals.  I hope to work for a few years, specifically in research, before pursuing graduate studies/PhD programs.  Any advice would be appreciated!

Name: Tanaz Abid
Email: tnzabid@brandeis.edu
Majors: Neuroscience & Mathematics
Hometown: Lexington, MA
View Tanaz’s LinkedIn profile.

Seeking alumni with graduate degree in neuroscience

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I am graduating this May, and am interested in going to graduate school to continue my studies in neuroscience. Have any other alumni gone on to a neuroscience program and what have you done after? Any suggestions?

Name: Yuki Dai ’17
Email: yukidai@brandeis.edu
Majors: Biology, neuroscience

To reply to this ad, email Yuki directly at yukidai@brandeis.edu and cc: wisdomwanted@brandeis.edu for tracking purposes.

Archived Ad: Still undecided about med school

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I am currently a sophomore on the pre-med track with an intended double major in biology and HSSP, and an interest in neuroscience. I am interested but still unsure about pursuing medical school, and would appreciate any advice from anyone who might have been in a similar position. I would love to gain insight on why you chose to go to medical school or pursue an alternative career in the health field. If you are a recent grad, I would love to learn about your post-graduate/current medical school experience.

Name: Maytal Babajanian ’19
Majors: Biology, HSSP
Hometown: Roslyn Heights, NY

Archived Ad: Senior seeking career advice on food science / pharma

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Hi, I am a senior who is freaking out a little about post-grad life.

I would like some advice on how to find an entry level position that will help advance my career in a field in which I do not have any experience. I am a neuroscience and biology major who has an interest in pursuing a potential career in food science and pharmaceutical development; however, I do not have much of a chemistry background. Entry level positions in this field seem to require candidates with either the necessary classes such as a food science course or research experience but I have neither. Is it even worth me applying to a job that I have little to no qualifications for? Should I apply to a job that I do not want to do just to obtain experience so that I will become a more qualified candidate for the actual job I would like to do in the future? Any insight will aid me greatly! Thanks in advance.

Name: Ricky Braithwaite ’17
Majors: Biotechnology (MS), Neuroscience, Biology
Hometown: Chelsea, MA

Archived Ad: Gap year advice for graduating pre-med senior

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I am a senior on the pre-med track, but before medical school I will be taking a gap year to enhance my academic and clinical experience. Since coming to Brandeis I have not had the chance to explore all of my interests in healthcare, and this is where I am seeking advice. I have a keen interest in public health, and specifically increasing access to mental health education in minority communities. Within my gap year, I would love to explore the public health sector but I am having some difficulty figuring out how to do that. I would be extremely appreciative if anyone could offer advice on their gap year before medical school and what opportunities there are for students like me. Thank you!

Name: Megan Boateng ’17
Majors: Neuroscience and Biology
Hometown: Worcester, MA

Archived Ad: International Medical Internship Advice Needed

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Recently I became an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Turrigiano Lab and have discovered my interest in neuroscience and research alongside my pre-med track. I am looking into traveling abroad this summer and am currently searching for possible internships or volunteering opportunities in Europe within this field. This would be my first time abroad, so I would be very grateful for any advice and insight from your experience, specifically if you have done research or a medical internship abroad. Thank you!

Name: Hannah Lynch ’19
Majors: psychology, biology
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado

Archived Ad: Seeking Clinical Psychology Program Advice

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I am a rising senior graduating with a B.S./M.S. in neuroscience, and a B.S. in biology and psychology with a history minor. I am considering applying to clinical psychology PhD programs with a focus in neuropsychology and would like to learn more about careers in the field, what kind of volunteer or internship positions are available to gain clinical experience, and how to strengthen my graduate school applications.

Name: Dena Goldblatt ’17
Majors: neuroscience, biology, psychology 
Hometown: Warwick, RI

Archived Ad: Novice Seeks Research Position Advice

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I became interested in scientific research late in my undergraduate career and was wondering if it’s possible to obtain an entry-level research position (such as a research technician or assistant) without any previous research experience. Are there any programs besides Masters programs that can help to teach me lab techniques/ equipment?

Name: Andrew Saechew ’15
Majors: Neuroscience, biology, chemistry
Hometown: Attleboro, MA

Archived Ad: Seeking Entry and Experience in Public Health

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I am a third-year student majoring in neuroscience and psychology. Medicine and biomedical research are careers I have strongly considered but ultimately decided against. I still wish to improve peoples’ health and quality of life, but just at the population level. My experiences include research in health psychology (Brandeis lab) and immunology (NIH/NIDDK internship at Stanford). I have also been a Teaching Assistant in a social science statistics course. The most rewarding aspects of these jobs have been collaborating and working as a team, as well as interpreting data. Therefore I am considering a career involving study design and data analysis. I am now seeking to transition into the field of public health. At the moment, I am planning on working for a few years before pursuing an MPH (epi/biostats). Advice on entering public health and maximizing my future experiences before graduate school would be greatly appreciated. It would be extremely helpful to talk to alums about what they are doing and how they got there. I would also love to hear about any summer openings or opportunities you think I should know about. Positions in a health department or clinical research opportunities are of particular interest to me. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Name: Won Young Cheong ’17
Majors: Neuroscience, Psychology
Hometown: San Jose, CA

Archived Ad: Psychology Major Seeks Neuroscience Research Advice

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I am a recent Brandeis alumna who is having difficulty finding work in research. Though as a pre-med student I have a strong science background, I majored in psychology (with a minor in computer science) rather than neuroscience (which I find far more satisfying and engaging). I am now looking to gain practical experience participating in neuroscience (or related biology) research before applying to graduate programs to gain a better understanding of the realities of a career as a researcher as well as to improve my scientific foundation and expand my research skill repertoire. I have found my major to be quite limiting–though I do have science coursework, I have struggled to find research positions because my major disqualifies me from the majority of lab positions I have come across and I worry I will not be able to get the experience I need to prepare me for graduate studies. I would love to be contacted by someone who can give me advice on how I can, having majored in psychology, reposition myself for a scientific career and make this transition– it would be extremely useful to speak to someone who has made this jump. I would especially love to be contacted by someone who can connect me with a potential employer or even an internship.

Name: Alice Gelman ’13
Majors: Psychology
Hometown: Boston, MA

Archived Ad: Pre-Health Advising Staff Seeks Brandeis Alumni for Mentor List

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The Brandeis pre-health advising team is compiling a list of Brandeis alumni who are currently enrolled or have graduated from medical, dental or veterinary school to connect with current undergraduate and post-bac Brandeis students embarking on the application process. While pre-health staff members function as the primary advisors, we are looking to connect students with an additional resource in the health care field. If you are interested in serving as a mentor (primarily over email), please email phaalumni@brandeis.edu for more information.

Archived Ad: Location Questions for Neurology Geared Gap Year

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I am currently a senior in my last semester at Brandeis. At the moment, I’m trying to figure out something to do in a gap year (or two) and currently I’m leaning towards positions in healthcare or in clinical research, specifically neurology if possible. I’ve tried my best to look through research labs in Boston and keep tabs on the job search boards for MGH and Beth Israel, as I would like to stay in Boston for my gap year. None of the applications have yielded any results, so, I’m asking for advice about other locations I should look into or if, perhaps, I should just look in my hometown. Thank you for your time!

 

Archived Ad: Recent Alumna Looking to Gain Experience in Neuroscience Research

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I am a recent Brandeis alumna who has been having difficulty finding work in research. I made the mistake of majoring in psychology rather than neuroscience (which I found to be a far more engaging and satisfying direction) and am now looking to gain practical experience participating in neuroscience (or related biology) research before applying to graduate programs to gain a better understanding of the realities of a career as a researcher as well as to improve my foundation. I would love to be contacted by someone who can give me advice on how I can, having majored in psychology, best reposition myself for a scientific career and make this transition. Majoring in psychology seems to have been the a huge obstacle for me and I am afraid it will hinder any effort I make to break into science even though I have a solid science course background, having been on the premed track as an undergraduate and taken courses thereafter.

 

Archived Ad: December Grad Seeks Neuroscience and/or Psychiatry Research Advice

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I am a senior graduating in December with a B.S. in Neuroscience & Biology. I am looking for help in finding organizations or labs that are looking for someone to start towards the end of January/early February. My specific interest is in neuroscience and psychiatry, but I am open to other research areas as well. I’d love some guidance in who to reach out to and the best way to do so.

 

Archived Ad: Aspiring Pediatric Occupational Therapist Seeks Advice

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I am currently a junior double majoring in Neuroscience and HSSP and am very interested in pursuing a career in pediatric occupational therapy. I have had experience shadowing and assisting occupational therapists but would appreciate any insight into organizations/programs that may offer interns a more integrated experience. I appreciate your time and insight.

Archived Ad: Graduating Neuroscience Major Looking to Learn about Chronic Pain/Stress Management Careers

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I am a graduating Neuroscience major looking to learn more about chronic pain and/or stress management, and what careers I could pursue in this field, clinical or otherwise. Working alongside a chiropractor this summer helped me realize that I want to help people to lead functional and productive lives despite their health issues. However, I do not think I am ready to become a clinician just yet, so I would like to know more about types of positions where I could gain practical experience in the interim between now and graduate school. I am particularly interested in the use of complementary therapies, but I would appreciate any type of information or advice that you could offer. If you work in this field, I would love to hear about the steps that you took to get where you are now, and what you would recommend I do in the next few years. Thanks!

Archived Ad: Junior Interested in Neuromarketing, Consumer Behavior, & Brand Equity Research Seeks Advice

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I am a junior with a background in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Economics. I have an interest in neuromarketing, consumer behavior, and brand equity research and would like to get involved in marketing that uses neuroscience (e.g. EEG, eye-tracking, biometrics) or some sort of science to study consumer behavior. I find this intersection fascinating and want to contribute to this uprising field. For this summer, I hope to gain hands-on experience in marketing and neuroscience before graduation in May 2015. As of now, my plan is to work for 2-3 years after college and then jump into graduate school for a Ph.D in Cognitive Psychology (or a related field). After that, I plan on coming back to the industry. I am currently seeking advice from anyone who has experience in marketing and neuroscience and whether graduate school is necessary for this field. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions from any alumni.

Name: Alicia Park ’15
Major(s): Cognitive Science
Hometown: Waltham, MA
View Alicia’s LinkedIn profile.

Archived Ad: Neuroscience/Biology Double Major Curious about Clinical Research Associate Careers

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Neuroscience and Biology double major looking for full-time opportunities or advice on clinical research and monitoring.  I learned about this field at the recent Biotech, Health & Science Forum sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center and I would like to find out more about becoming a clinical research associate. If you work as a CRA, I would love to speak with you to learn more about your experience and how you got into your field. Thank you so much for your time.

Name: Sara Dejene ’14
Major(s): Neuroscience, Biology
Hometown: Arlington, MA

Archived Ad: Senior Neuroscience Major Seeks Advice on Research Careers

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Neuroscience major/philosophy minor seeking advice on employment opportunities for full-time work after 2014 graduation in neuroscience-related fields. Highly interested in pharmacology, drug-design, biological bases of all mental illness/disease, as well as any neurological disorders, brain imaging. Would like to know more about not only research opportunities, but also work in industry. Familiar with Java programming, ELISAs, RT-PCR, HPLC, Photoshop. Thank you very much for your time and I really look forward to speaking with you!

Name: Anna Yatskar ’14
Major(s): Neuroscience
Hometown: Odessa, Ukraine

Archived Ad: Sophomore Looking to Explore Careers in the Health Field

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I am currently a sophomore with an undeclared major but am interested in pursuing a double-major in Neuroscience and HSSP (Health, Science, Society, and Policy). I am interested in learning what alumni have gone on to do with these majors. I am looking to form a career in the health field but due to its vastness, I would appreciate learning what variety of opportunities are out there. Any and all advice is appreciated! Thank you for your time!

Name: Sheetala Balasubramanian ’16
Major(s): Neuroscience, HSSP
Hometown: Orange, CT

Archived Ad: Interdisciplinary Complex (Dynamical) Systems Major Seeking Advice on Non-Academic Research Careers

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Interdisciplinary complex (dynamical) systems major looking for advice about non-academic research careers! My major combines physics, neuroscience, and economics on a foundation of mathematics and computer science. After working in a lab, I have a strong interest in continuing working in research but I’d like to understand what options are available for me outside of research in academia. I’m also unsure whether to rush straight to grad school or explore options before pursuing further education. I would love the chance to learn about your career path. Thank you very much for your time and help!

Name: Vincent Wong ’14
Major(s): IIM Complex Systems
Hometown: Muncie, IN

Archived Ad: Aspiring Neuroscience and/or Public Health Researcher Seeks Advice

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Hello! I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience and HSSP. I am primarily interested in cancer research but I am also interested in general neuroscience and public health related research as well. Seeking advice on a career in research (academia and industry) and how to apply to lab positions. I have worked in three labs so far, two as a student researcher (currently working on a thesis) and one as a lab technician. I am investigating the factors contributing to the differences seen in glucocorticoid sensitivity between older and younger women and men. I would love to talk to you about your career path, how you got to where you are now, and other relevant or future opportunities. Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate it!

Name: Kristin Ha ’14
Major(s): Neuroscience and HSSP
Hometown: New York, New York
Varsity Sport: Fencing