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Neuroscience major Natalia Ibanez ’10 (Flushing, N.Y.) presented research on epilepsy at the national meeting for the International Society for Neuroscience and Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. Her attendance at the conference was funded by a grant from Support of Mentors and their Students in the Neurosciences from Underrepresented Minority Groups.
Ibanez worked under the guidance of Lisa Gabel, assistant professor of psychology, to study neocortical dysplasias, cellular abnormalities associated with both epilepsy and cognitive impairments in humans. By conducting seizure studies with mice, they observed whether the severity and location of the dysplasias are correlated with seizure susceptibility. Ibanez conducted the seizure study, analyzed the behavior of the mice, and performed post-mortem analysis of the brain, taking images of the brain tissue, and performed the statistical analyses.
“I learned the amount of time it takes to carry out a research experiment and the dedication that is necessary. It truly brought the whole scientific experience to life and showed me that the scientific papers we currently read in numerous classes are performed by people just like me. Being able to meet the scientist behind the scenes makes it a lot more personable,” Ibanez says.
After Lafayette, Ibanez plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She says the conference provided invaluable opportunities to speak with well-established researchers and graduate students to learn about the graduate school experience. “It reinforced my original plans to attend graduate school and my passion for neuroscience itself,” she says.
Ibanez believes Lafayette’s close student-faculty interaction has been very beneficial to her. “I have had the opportunity to work with Professor Gabel for the past three years, and over those years I have learned a tremendous amount of useful laboratory techniques along with receiving a close mentorship. Professor Gabel has given me sincere advice to help me achieve my personal goals. Without her, it would have definitely been very hard to get where I am now.”