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Sameera S

- Research Program Mentor

MD candidate at St. George's University

Expertise

neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases, addiction studies, behavioral psychology, cancer medicine

Bio

Currently, I am a medical student interested in oncology and neuroscience. As a women of color, I am also interested in public health, primarily women's health. In the future, I hope to find a balance between patient care and research, in both public health and cancer medicine. When I am not busy with school, I enjoy reading, dances, and Bollywood movies. I am also a major foodie, spending time exploring the restaurants around me wherever I go. During free time, I also love to travel and spend time with my family.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Improving treatment options for major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prominent public health issue, affecting millions of people. People struggle with MDD because there are so many barriers to treatment, as it takes time to find the right combination of medication, therapy, and a support system. Proximity and cost of treatment are also problems that people often struggle with. Is there a way to accelerate the healing process? Are there certain policies or guidelines that can be implemented to ease this process?

Estrogen and its impact on the brain.

Estrogen is known as a neuroprotective chemical that strongly influences the development of the brain. High levels of estrogen increase synaptic plasticity and dendritic spine density in the hippocampus, which improves a person's cognition and memory. How does the impact of estrogen on brain function influence neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration in regards to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, or autism spectrum disorder?

Coding skills

MatLab

Languages I know

Spanish (beginner), Telugu (advanced)

Credentials

Work experience

Sagebrush Treatment Center (2020 - 2021)
Substance use counselor, mentor
Ni Lab, Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience (2018 - 2020)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Inova Loudoun Hospital (2015 - 2016)
Intern
Center for Prostate Disease Research (2014 - 2014)
Summer intern

Education

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
BS Bachelor of Science (2020)
Clinical Neuroscience and Psychology, Dual Degree
St. George's University
MD Doctor of Medicine candidate
Medicine

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