Nashali M
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Mayo Clinic
Expertise
Neuro-immunology, behavioral neuroscience, depression, antidepressants, Alzheimer’s, gut-brain axis
Bio
My name is Nashali Massa, and I’m a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. My research focuses on how aging influences the brain’s response and recovery following sepsis, particularly through neuroinflammatory and vascular mechanisms. I’m also interested in the gut-brain axis and how gut homeostasis and systemic inflammation influence neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders. More broadly, I’m interested in how processes outside the brain can shape brain health and disease. Outside of research, I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, going to farmers’ markets, working out, and spending time at the beach.Project ideas
Gut-brain axis in the development of depression (beginner research paper)
This project explores the relationship between the gut microbiome and the brain, with a focus on how changes in gut homeostasis may influence depression and mood-related behaviors. Students will learn fundamental concepts in neuroscience, the gut-brain axis, microbiology, and mental health while developing skills in scientific literature searching, critical reading, and interpretation of research findings. The student will use scientific databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant primary research articles. With guidance, they will learn how to evaluate experimental evidence, compare findings across studies, and identify proposed mechanisms connecting the gut and brain, such as immune signaling, microbial metabolites, and neural pathways. Depending on the student's interests and experience level, the final project may take the form of a scientific research paper, literature review, research proposal, poster, or science communication article explaining the evidence connecting the gut-brain axis to depression.
The effects of sepsis in the brain (beginner research paper)
This project explores how a severe systemic infection such as sepsis can affect the brain during illness and recovery. Students will learn about neuroinflammation, immune-brain communication, the blood-brain barrier, and how factors such as aging may influence neurological outcomes following systemic infection. They will also develop skills in scientific literature searching, critical analysis, data interpretation, and scientific communication. The student will identify and evaluate scientific literature related to sepsis-associated brain dysfunction and long-term neurological outcomes. Depending on the student's interests, they may focus on a specific topic such as microglial activation, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, cognitive impairment, or aging. Students may also examine a small, curated set of transcriptomic findings to learn how changes in gene expression can be connected to biological mechanisms. Potential final products include a scientific research paper, literature review, research proposal, scientific poster, or science communication article about the effects of sepsis on the brain.