Eric V
- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Harvard University

Expertise

Neurobiology, transcriptomics, evolution, instinctive behavior

Bio

I'm Eric, currently a fifth year PhD student at Harvard University studying the neural basis of instinctive behavior using transcriptomics, circuit tracing, and behavioral paradigms in mice. I started my journey to understand instinctive behavior by following anubis baboons in Kenya after graduating from Arizona State. Hoping to stay closer to home, I moved to studying affective psychology at UCLA before finally making the leap to neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Those experiences helped me get into Harvard University in Boston, where I've lived the last five years. The long, nomadic journey has taught me a lot that I can *hopefully* pass on to you! In my off time I love playing or watching sports (I played football, basketball, volleyball, baseball growing up) and producing probably poorly made music. Other than that, I'm probably reminiscing about the beautiful California sun or world's greatest cat, my Liger L. Ligerly.

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.

The neural basis of aggression

Whether you realize it or not, the brain is constantly calculating the proper adaptive responses to take. In situations of hostility, the brain activates your instinctive defense system. Over the last century, scientists have discovered several nuclei (collections of neurons) in the brain that contribute to this system. What are the commonalities of these nuclei? One avenue may be the connections these neurons make with other brain regions, whereas another avenue may be the genes these neurons express. Using publicly available data, this analysis is possible!

Coding skills

R, some python

Teaching experience

I've been a teaching fellow for MCB/Neuro 125 at Harvard for the last three years. I also spent two years mentoring in an underrepresented high school program that aimed to help first generation students understand the scientific process and get into college.

Credentials

Work experience

UCLA (2014 - 2015)

Research Tech

Baylor College of Medicine (2015 - 2016)

SMART PREP Scholar

Education

Arizona State University (ASU)

BS Bachelor of Science (2013)

Biology (Animal Physiology and Behavior)

Harvard University

PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate

Neuroscience

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Eric V - Research Program Mentor