Hey y’all! My name is Brittney Sheena and I am a rising junior at Tulane University majoring in neuroscience and minoring in public health. With the assistance of the Newcomb College Institute, I have the pleasure of working as a research intern this summer at the Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Laboratory (BANGL) run by Dr. Stacy Drury at Tulane Medical School.
This internship is a great opportunity for me to employ the knowledge I have gained in my academic classes to actual research. The lab examines the role of genetics and epigenetics on neurodevelopment of children. The objective of the research is to mitigate the biological impacts of childhood adversity and life stresses to provide improved overall health outcomes. As a summer research intern, I will be working on the Infant Development Study, which focuses on ways to alleviate stress on mothers during pregnancy and after pregnancy. Additionally, the study explores ways the mother-child bond protects children from adversity on the neurobiological level and examines how improved relations lead to improved neurodevelopment.
I look forward to expanding my research skills this summer. I will learn to extract DNA, collect data, and conduct visits with mothers. I hope to increase my critical thinking, ask meaningful questions, and explore future directions of the research. Because there are various aspects of the lab, I am excited to learn various techniques, engage in interpersonal interactions, and contribute to the overall objectives of the lab.
This internship relates to the NCI’s mission of empowering undergraduate women in the 21st century. I will be working on a project that increases information about the childbearing experience and creating ways for mothers to safeguard their children from biological harms.
I cannot wait for what this internship holds for me. I’ll update you as my journey progresses!