Edward L
- Research Program Mentor
Industry expert at University of Washington
Expertise
Neurobiology, behavior science, psychology
Bio
From a young age, I have been fascinated with human behavior. I loved trying to figure out the “why’s” behind everyone’s actions before I even knew it was something I could study. I believe neuroscience at its most basic, or any science for that matter, is only 1) a curiosity to answer some question, and 2) the knowledge to ask that right question. Therefore, I want to teach science that is inspiring and empowering to my students to pursue their own curiosities. Currently, I work in the R&D department of GenScript, a biotech company. Prior to that, I was Research Scientist in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Washington, where I published my research on cannabinoids and treatment of pain. I graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Neurobiology and a BA in Psychology in 2017. I am broadly interested in neuroscience, molecular biology, and behavioral science.Project ideas
Systems Neurobiology and Anatomy:
In this project, you will learn the basics of neurobiology from higher functioning all the way down to the cellular and molecular level. You will explore how the different systems (visual, taste, motor etc.) work and how some diseases affect those systems to cause sickness. You will then choose a single system or disease and do an in-depth investigation. The final product you will make can be either a set of diagrams or a model explaining that system or disease with the purpose of teaching a layman (potential patient) everything they need to know about it. For example, diagrams of the ear and the auditory system can be used to show why exposure to loud sounds and noises will eventually lead to deafness.
Abnormal Psychology and I:
In this project, you will learn the basics of psychological disorders and abnormal psychology. You will explore current theories and treatments on common disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders and stress disorders. You will then tie scientific knowledge into researching current societal level issues. This research will range from reading scientific articles and news articles to something more hands-on such as a series of interviews with various people within your own community. This will culminate in either a written article or a series of podcasts or videos documenting what you learn and your progress through understanding these issues.
Behavioral Psychology and Behavioral Economics:
In this project, you will learn about the different schools of thought and contemporary theories on behavior. You will explore significant people and their discoveries on social psychology, behavioral psychology, and behavioral economics. At the same time, you will replicate some of the classic experiments and learn how to keep a lab notebook documenting your results. As you gain more knowledge, you will get opportunities to decide what you want to experiment on and design your own experiments. The results from those experiments will complete your lab notebook, and the end product is publishing that notebook in the form of a scientific article, a series of blog posts, or some media of your choosing.
Languages I know
Chinese, CantoneseCredentials
Work experience
Education
Reviews
"In the first few sessions, we focused more on learning different areas of Biology (which was my main interest at the time), but as I learned more, we started to focus on different ideas for this project. These sessions were very helpful and I learned a lot of new info, as well as, found new interests."