Sanika G
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Harvard University
Expertise
Developmental and molecular neurobiology; biophysical and circuits neuroscience; learning, memory, and neuroplasticity; sensory processing and attention
Bio
Hello! My name is Sanika Ganesh and I'm a first-year Ph.D. neuroscience student at Harvard University, and I'm excited to meet you! I've just completed my first year at Harvard. During this time, I finished graduate courses in neurobiology and data analysis. I also rotated in three different laboratories with Professors Michael Greenberg, Chinfei Chen, and Bernardo Sabatini to find a home lab for my Ph.D. thesis. Prior to graduate school, I completed my degree in Molecular and Cell Biology: Neurobiology at the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkeley, I worked with Professor Daniel Feldman to lead an independent research project for my undergraduate honors thesis. My project combined molecular methods and circuits neuroscience to investigate how the brain adapts to changes in its sensory experience through changes in gene expression. Outside of my research, I enjoy volunteering and mentorship opportunities such as this one! As a college student, I used my skills in research to study how to improve education for students with disabilities and underprivileged backgrounds in India. Specifically, I examined the link between creativity and academic performance among deaf students in India, with supervision by Professor Richard Ivry. I also enjoy teaching lectures, working as a tutor, supervising students in the lab, and mentoring students to publish articles in scientific journalism. When I'm not in lab, I enjoy playing music and writing creatively!Project ideas
Learning and Memory in the Brain: How does the brain store information and adapt to its environment?
In this project, you will write a research review about how the brain learns and remembers experiences. You will learn about topics such as: - how genes and proteins are regulated by activity in neurons and their effects on ongoing neuronal processes - how synapses and circuits change and adapt to their environment - how the brain develops throughout the lifetime of an organism and regulates critical periods for neuroplasticity - cutting-edge methods in neuroscience to study these questions You will learn skills such as: - locating research articles - reading and discussing the scientific literature - presenting journal articles - writing in a scientific style You will need some background in biology to work on this project. High school biology is sufficient. Recommended for 10th grade and above.
Neurobiological Diseases and Disorders: What are the mechanisms of disease in the human brain?
In this project, you will write a research review about how diseases and disorders affect the development and/or function of the human brain. You will learn about topics such as: - neurobiological diseases and disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Rett Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), etc.) - the molecular and circuit mechanisms of such diseases and disorders - relationship of neurobiology and psychology - current techniques, animal models, and behavioral data used to study questions about the human brain You will learn skills such as: - locating research articles - reading and discussing the scientific literature - presenting journal articles - writing in a scientific style You will need some background in biology to work on this project. High school biology is sufficient. Recommended for 10th grade and above.
History of Neuroscience: Key Figures and Events That Transformed the Field
In this project, you will write a journalistic article about historical events in neuroscience. Specifically, you will learn about facts and figures that were integral to the field, and what mysteries remain to be solved. You can determine whether you'd like this article to be more focused on history or science. You will learn about topics such as: - Nobel-prize winning research advances and techniques - the discovery of basic neuroscience tenets - relationship between neurobiology and history (including issues such as war, women in STEM, etc.) - how to pursue and build a career in science You will learn skills such as: - locating sources - reading and discussing science history - navigating textbooks and older science literature - presenting your work as a cohesive story You may want some background in biology or history to work on this project, but this background is not required. Available for all grades in high school.
Touch, Sight, Taste, Smell, and Sound: How does the brain mediate sensation?
In this project, you will write a science article about how the brain regulates sensory processing. You will learn about topics such as: - anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous systems - how different aspects of the nervous system communicate to process information - integral advances in neurobiology to understand sensory systems - mechanisms of neural coding - relationship of the senses to diseases and disorders You will learn skills such as: - locating research articles - reading and discussing the scientific literature - presenting journal articles - writing in a scientific style You may want some background in biology to work on this project, but this background is not required. Available for all grades in high school.