Rodrigo De La Torre
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I am a fourth-year student at NYU pursuing a B.S. degree in Neural Science with minors in Global Public Health and Chemistry. I am particularly interested in the neural processes of learning and the extent to which this is affected by neurodegenerative diseases. In order to further investigate neurodegeneration, I spent my past two summers conducting research pertaining to this field. Last summer I worked in Dr. Henry Paulson’s lab at the University of Michigan on autophagic dysfunction underlying atrophy in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3) human embryonic stem cells. This past summer I worked in Dr. Anne Hart's Lab at Brown University on genetic interactions between ALS-linked mutant alleles. During the school year, I worked in the lab of Dr. Marisa Carrasco alongside PhD candidate Ian Donovan investigating endogenous perceptual learning and whether there is significant transfer of improvement to untrained visual areas. As I hope to pursue a PhD education in Neural Science, I would be afforded the opportunity to further delve into the molecular mechanisms behind learning and memory, which, in turn, could yield more effective treatments for those who suffer from a neurodegenerative disease and develop strategies for enhancing effective learning.
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