Talk to me a bit about your project here. 

I'm interested in sex and gender differences in autism and neurodevelopment. I think a broader scope on the gender and autism spectrums will help develop a better understanding of the male bias in Autism Spectrum Disorder and how ASD symptoms are sometimes different in females and males.

What initially drew you to the Michaelson Lab -- and the University of Iowa, for that matter? 

I was first drawn to the University of Iowa because I wanted to do research in human genomics. I'm interested in psychiatry, which is why I chose for my first rotation to be in the Michaelson Lab. I also wanted to gain some computational skills, so the Michaelson Lab seemed like a great training environment for me.

You're just about to finish your 12 week rotation -- what is the thing that surprised you most about your time in the Michaelson Lab? What will you take with you as you move on to your next rotation?

I did my undergraduate degree at Iowa State University and worked on plant genetics for four years, so I was naive in my understanding of just how complex the human brain is. This complexity was surprising for me, but it's also poses a fun challenge. I've gained a lot of important knowledge in neuroscience and bioinformatics, both of which will be useful in my next rotations. 

Two truths and a lie:

1) I'm left handed

2)  I'm an only child

3) I've lived in Iowa my whole life

 

 

 

 

(Number 2 is the lie)