My Journey to Becoming a Neuroscience Graduate Student at the University of Nevada, Reno

Since taking high school psychology and biology classes, I've been captivated by the human mind and body and all of the mechanisms that allow us to thrive and survive. My fascination with biology and psychology set the foundation for my academic journey, leading me to pursue a career in research. This is the story of how my passion for biopsychology and an unexpected pivot to neuroscience brought me to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) as a graduate student.

The Early Years: A Passion for Biopsychology

During high school, I developed a keen interest in understanding how the brain works, particularly in relation to sleep and the unconscious mind. The more I learned about the intricacies of the brain and its impact on behavior, the more I wanted to delve deeper into this field. I also loved my biology classes where I learned about mechanisms and molecules that shape our day to day lives, even though they are invisible to the naked eye. My goal was clear: I wanted to become a researcher in biopsychology and research the unknowns of the human brain – the processes of sleep walking and sleep talking, dreams, and even the process of how people can feel that someone is watching them or why we yawn when others yawn. As you can see, my interests were very broad but all focused in biopsychology in some shape or form. 

College Dreams: UC Davis

With my sights set on becoming a researcher, I knew that graduate school was essential. UC Davis was my top choice for both my undergraduate and graduate studies. It was renowned for its strong science programs and was the closest university to my hometown. My plan was to complete my bachelor's degree at UC Davis, focusing on biology and psychology, and then seamlessly transition into their graduate program. Spoiler alert – it didn’t go as smoothly as that. 

The Impact of the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unexpected challenge. Like many students, I faced disruptions to my education and research opportunities. My plans for gaining hands-on experience in a wet lab were put on hold. Despite this setback, I remained determined to pursue my research goals – especially since I had a requirement for an undergraduate research project through the University Honors Program. I developed my own project that could be done remotely, looking at the struggles faced by transfer students as they transfer from a community college to a university. While this was not biopsych research, I knew that I could write in my grad application that I was still doing research despite the roadblocks presented by the pandemic. I focused on highlighting my analytical skills, my ability to design and conduct experiments, and my passion for scientific inquiry. 

Discovering Neuroscience

As I progressed through my undergraduate studies, I continued to immerse myself in psychology and biology. I was particularly drawn to sleep research, eager to explore the unknowns of the unconscious mind. However, as I began the process of applying to graduate schools, I discovered the field of neuroscience. As silly as it sounds, I never even thought about neuroscience as a major – UC Davis didn’t have this as a major so I never considered it. This revelation was a game-changer. Neuroscience offered a broader and more integrative approach to studying the brain, encompassing everything I loved about biopsychology and more.

The Graduate School Application Process

With a newfound interest in neuroscience, I expanded my graduate school applications to include programs in neuroscience and psychology. I applied to several prestigious universities, including Stanford, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UNR. Each application required careful crafting to showcase my strengths and my readiness to embrace new research challenges. I will address this tedious process in a later blog post -_- 

Acceptance at UNR

After months of anticipation and hard work, I received an acceptance letter from the University of Nevada, Reno. UNR stood out not only for its strong neuroscience program but also for its welcoming community and the opportunities it offered for hands-on research experience. The excitement of being accepted into a program that aligned perfectly with my interests and goals was indescribable. Also, I appreciated that this university was close to my hometown so I could still stay connected to my family and friends. 

Looking Ahead

Now, as a graduate student at UNR, I am embarking on an exciting new chapter in my academic journey. I am now gaining wet lab experience, collaborating with fellow researchers, and contributing to the field of neuroscience. The journey has been challenging, especially navigating the uncertainties brought by the pandemic, but each step has reinforced my commitment to my research goals. 

As I continue on my journey, I am realizing that I am not in love with research as much as I thought I would be. While that has been a difficult realization to have – especially since I spent so much time on the goal of becoming a researcher – I am accepting that I would rather teach than do research. I am exploring this new avenue of a post-graduate career and look forward to that journey when the time comes. 

My path to UNR has been shaped by a deep passion for understanding the brain, a willingness to adapt to new opportunities, and a determination to overcome obstacles. I look forward to sharing my experiences and insights with the Good Grad Ugly community, offering support and inspiration to others on their academic journeys. Together, we can navigate the good, the bad, and the ugly of graduate school life.