The Hospital for Sick Kids
At the Taxidis Lab at SickKids Hospital, I contributed to memory research focused on how disrupted neuronal networks affect memory deficits in brain disorders like Alzheimer's. I was responsible for handling, training, and testing mice models, as well as collecting and analyzing data using MATLAB. I also maintained critical research documentation and managed detailed logs for each mouse colony. Additionally, I researched what information is being encoded during odor presentation, exploring how sensory inputs are processed and stored in the brain.
The lab's research integrates: (i) real-time calcium and voltage imaging alongside optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques during advanced behavioral experiments, and (ii) computational models that simulate neural network dynamics and oscillations. Our primary focus is on capturing, manipulating, and simulating neural activity in the hippocampus as mice engage in olfactory-based learning and memory tasks.
This experience sharpened my analytical and data management skills in a high-stakes research environment. I gained hands-on exposure to experimental neuroscience, deepening my understanding of how cognitive deficits are studied in lab settings. It also taught me the importance of precision, patience, and ethical responsibility in animal research, and sparked my interest in the technological tools that power scientific discovery.
