Stephanie N
- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Expertise

Clinical Neuroscience; Applications of Neuroimaging; The Emotional Human Brain: Integrating Neuroscience and Psychology

Bio

Hello! My name is Stephanie Njau, I am currently a PHD candidate at UCLA researching the therapeutic potential of ketamine as a rapidly-acting treatment for depression. My research aims to improve outcomes for psychiatric disorders by using brain mapping tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (i.e., neuroimaging). My favorite movie of all time is The Lion King. So naturally I had to name my cat Nala! We enjoy spending our weekends sunbathing in the sun together, napping and we are currently binge watching American Horror Story. Other hobbies include yoga by the beach, meditation and I am currently learning how to roller skate. Excited to meet you all!

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.

Mindfulness training in high school students improves interoceptive awareness, reduces anxiety and rumination

For this project, students would perform a combined experiment and literature review investigating the effects of mindfulness meditation on behavioral wellness. Students would be able to function as their own research subjects and track changes in their physical and mental health using an application. Students would be mentored on how to use statistical programs to analyze their data and create figures for potential publication.

Neurological Disease

For this projects, students would be asked to create infographics that describe a neurological or psychiatric disease of interest. These graphics should describe nervous system function at any level (molecular (e.g., genetics), cellular or systems (e.g., brain regions).

Coding skills

Python, Matlab and R

Languages I know

Spanish (Intermediate); French (Elementary)

Teaching experience

I am an aspiring educator with multiple years of experience teaching mathematics and science to undergraduate students. As a graduate student at University of California, Los Angeles, I was fortunate to gain experience in the departments of neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry as a teaching assistant/associate in the following courses: 1. Cellular Physiology, Motor and Sensory Systems in Neuroscience 2. Applied Positive Neuroscience: Skills for Improving Productivity and Wellbeing 3. Neuropsychology with Neuroanatomy Laboratory 4. Research Methods in Psychology

Credentials

Work experience

University of Los Angeles, California (2021 - 2022)

Teaching Associate

University of California Los Angeles (2018 - 2019)

Teaching Assistant

Education

Pomona College

BA Bachelor of Arts (2014)

Neuroscience

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate