During my post baccalaureate program, I worked in the Benson/ Huntley lab at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. I worked under graduate students on two projects facilitating the microscopy component for identifying morphological synaptic alteration in autism and Parkinson’s disease rodent models. Techniques I gained: mice perfusion, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and deconvolution.

I worked in Dr. Tristan Shuman's lab, researching how hippocampal circuits control behavior in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Projects include examining how spatial coding deteriorates in an epileptic animal, as well as transplanting MGE progenitor cells into an epileptic hippocampus to try to rescue seizures and their associated cognitive deficits. Through this opportunity I am learning about behavioral observation on the linear track, how to set up calcium imaging recordings connected to miniscopes, and administering postoperative antibiotics/drugs. I observed surgical procedures such as implantation chronic EEG devices in the mice to monitor continuous seizure activity.

Implements plans designed by Behavior Analyst Certification Board Provide services to perform patient related applied behavior analysis tasks

I conducted a molecular development independent study project examining the development of the gustatory system in axolotls. I created primers to detect levels of the taste buds at different stages of developing axolotls embryos. I became familiar with biology-related lab techniques such as: RNA extractions, producing cDNA, RT-qPCR, and collecting explants.

I conducted an independent study observing the effect on 4% atrazine on anxiety-like behavior in Danio rerio (zebrafish). To measure anxiety-like behaviors I observe group behavior and individual behavior consecutively for 21 days (each week the concentration on the herbicide was increased. I used a scale to measure shoaling and school for group behavior and individual behavior was measured through thigmotaxis.

Researching the influences of sex and predator odor on anxiety in rats. The series of experiment are carried out using an elevated plus maze (EPM), and also testing the "one-trial tolerance"​ theory. Researchers observe the rats' performances to determine their anxious behaviors. Then their brains are extracted to observe the neural mechanism that governs anxiety.