Michelle Wang, Pharmacology and Toxicology
Why Temerty Faculty of Medicine:
Temerty Faculty of Medicine is a world-renowned institution in the medical sciences with many ground-breaking research scientists from all around the world. The Faculty also has a plethora of research positions in a wide range of scientific disciplines and research types (animal models, clinical research, wet lab, etc). As an aspiring young scientist, it's exciting to meet and directly learn from the pioneers that revolutionized the field while having the opportunity to work in their cutting-edge biomedical research labs.
Why this Department:
I chose the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (PharmTox) for its interdisciplinary nature as this field lies in the intersection between pathology, physiology, molecular biology, bioengineering, and much more. This allows students to choose which aspects of PharmTox they want to pursue whether it’s addiction research or cancer therapeutics, the possibilities are endless! Some course topics include pathophysiology of diseases, drug interventions and mechanism of action, methods of drug delivery, personalized medicine, the drug development pipeline, and even commercialization of biomedical discoveries!
Current Research Experience:
I am currently a PEY student at Dr. Ann Graybiel’s lab in the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I am investigating the implications of mood disorders on cost-benefit decision making and its underlying neural circuitry in non-human primates, conducting cluster analysis of neural data, and fabricating neurochemical sensors. The goal of this project is to identify biomarkers and propel the development of new diagnostic and intervention tools for neuropsychiatric conditions. Concurrently, I am assisting Dr. Jeremy Y. Ng with a systematic review on complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine recommendations for disease treatment.
Future Education Plans and/or Career Goals:
After my undergraduate studies, I aim to pursue an MD-PhD program and conduct research in neuropharmacology. My career goal is to become a clinician-scientist and develop novel therapeutics for mood disorders.
Contact Ambassador Michelle Wang