Preferred Name : Matt​

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Start Date in the Lab: 09/02/2025

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🔬 Research Focus 

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What question or problem are you most excited to answer through your work? I am fascinated by the neurobiological mechanisms by which direct current stimulation can promote neuroplasticity in damaged spinal circuits. I wish to be a part of the team who can provide a more effective solution for those who suffer from chronic spinal cord injuries.

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What techniques or approaches do you use most often? We will be using transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation while simultaneously collecting EMG data to determine changes in diaphragmatic output following stimulation in both anaesthetized and awake rats. In the future, additional pharmacological intervention will be applied with stimulation with the aim of testing a combined rehabilitation approach.

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💡 Scientific Journey 

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What inspired your interest in neuroscience, physiology, or the study of breathing and spinal cord injury? I’ve always had a love for neurobiology, but what drives my passion everyday is knowing my mom’s struggle with disseminated histoplasmosis, a rare opportunistic fungal infection most often affecting the lungs. While she doesn’t suffer from lung-related symptoms, she has lost most of her vision. Her recent surgery on her eyes successfully restored some of her vision, which in turn keeps my passion for precision medicine alive. Even though I’m studying spinal cord injuries, I am most happy knowing I will be improving the quality of life of people I will never meet face-to-face.

 

Was there a key experience, mentor, or project that shaped your path in science? I had two mentors that helped guide my path in neuroscience: Dr. Chelsea Vadnie and Dr. Kira Bailey. Without them I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be where I am. 

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🌍 Broader Impact 

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How do you see your work contributing to improving human health or understanding the nervous system? It is easy to get wrapped up trying to find novel mechanisms or new pathways not yet discovered, especially in neuroscience. But, at the end of the day, the research we do is meant to bridge science and medicine. Consequently, I am proud to know that I am a part of team that is testing and designing a system that targets the most vulnerable population of individuals sustained spinal cord injuries to improve their quality of life.

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🧭 Future Goals 

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What are your professional aspirations (short- or long-term)? Down the road, I want to get a PhD in neuroscience, so one day I can have a lab of my own and I can tackle my own specific questions. Even further than that, I see myself in education.

 

Are there specific skills or collaborations you hope to build during your time here? I’m excited to be more hands-on with in-vivo research. While I have experience in the past, I will learn the whole process from beginning to finish and this will allow me to develop new ideas for future projects for myself. Additionally, I want to collaborate with other labs, particularly those that use stem cells or gene-therapy via viral vectors as a method of tackling complex illnesses/injuries.

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🎨 Beyond the Bench 

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What do you enjoy doing outside of the lab? I like nights at home where I can listen to music and cook good food. I also like photography and being in nature.

 

Favorite hobby, sport, or creative outlet: Cooking
 

Fun or quirky fact about you your labmates might not know: If you look at my nails on my left hand, there is a good chance they are not the same color as the nails on my right hand. I have a habit of marinating meat in lots of spices, especially turmeric, and only ever mix with my left hand (and yes, I wash my hands… you try and get turmeric out of your nails first try!)

 

Favorite brain region (and why, if you’d like!): No contest: anterior cingulate cortex. It’s essentially your brain’s hub for tenacity and willpower. But what makes it my favorite is knowing it morphologically changes as you engage in challenging activities that you’d rather avoid. It’s physical tissue that matches its strength and size to the energy you invest in the things you least enjoy. It’s a reminder that sometimes the little things in life you don’t want to do are often the ones that grow you the most. 

 

☕ Quickfire: 

One word that describes your research style: Thorough

Favorite lab technique or piece of equipment: Fluorescent microscopy

Coffee order or lab snack of choice: Cold brew or espresso Current playlist or podcast while analyzing data: Reggae/slow jazz or Modern Wisdom podcast In another life, I’d be a ___: Eagle

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​Best advice you’ve received in science: Stop comparing yourself to others and have confidence in your work. You are meant to be here, and you will get where you are meant to go at your pace.