Adapting to the two, often conflicting, cultures and ways of living has left me with hunger and curiosity to better understand how to create effective systems to address basic human needs. The social and cultural differences between Burkina Faso and the United States in dealing with brain-related disorders stimulated my interest in the field of neuroscience. In Burkina Faso, mental illness and disorders in every aspect were taboo. This applied to disorders such as bipolar, schizophrenia, and learning disorders. Because of the lack of discussions around this topic, many of us grow up not knowing or understanding these different disorders leading to limited resources and support. The United States culture has changed my perspective and understanding of mental disorders. Although, there is often still a stigma attached to mental disorders, many institutions, especially educational institutions, do better at educating students and providing more resources. Having honest conversations regarding these topics made me more interested in wanting to learn more about the brain and how it works because I had not previously been exposed to it. I appreciated that there was a focus on the biology of the brain and how it functioned, not just on the behavior; it was approached similarly to other diseases of the body. And it all made sense when I began my research in the Nautiyal Lab, studying how the serotonin 1B neural signaling underlies impulsive behavior. The idea that one receptor within the complex brain system could influence changes at a behavioral level, sparked my interest. How we could know so much, but at the same time be unaware of the whole story drives me to want to uncover more. As I began to work through problem-solving through my research, I began thinking about the implications of the research. The ultimate goal seems rather simple: by understanding how the brain functions, we can move toward treatments and solutions, and move away from the stigma and judgment. However, that simple solution was packed with issues of disparities both on the research and clinical front. When we do eventually find the answers to the causes of psychiatric disorders, the question becomes who is involved in the process of developing treatment? And how does this affect the people the treatment is guided toward? With the lack of diversity within the research community, I am not confident that the models being developed are inclusive of people who look like me, and whether health disparities directly affecting the communities are being taken into consideration. These are all questions that matter to me because as a Black woman studying African and African American studies during my undergraduate, I have come to understand that there is a history of linking people with similar identities as me to many health disparities, whether that be due to the built biases when it comes to our healthcare or the inattention to issues that disproportionately affect the community. Understanding how certain conditions affect different communities is what we have been trained to examine because we should not expect the answers to be the same when different issues disproportionately affect different communities. Thus, addressing issues in research should be approached from an equity standpoint, such as any other social justice issue. Taking all these factors into account, the goal was no longer just to find the answer to treating these disorders, but how to do so in a way that is inclusive of different communities, especially since my community was the driving force behind my decision to pursue neuroscience research. In addition to driving my motivation, the communities that I am in have played a significant role in providing me with the necessary support to succeed in a field that lacks representation. As a selected E.E. Just Undergraduate Research Fellow at Dartmouth College, I am part of a community that aims to increase the number of minority students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics both at an undergraduate and graduate level. As a fellow, I am surrounded by people that come from similar backgrounds as me, and I continuously feel seen. Having this community has been a strong source of support in my research journey; it has allowed me to explore my research interests without second-guessing the space in which I take up. Furthermore, also being in a space where I could, through mentorship, support other minority researchers, instilled an important objective for me in my journey. As researchers, we are tasked with practicing and producing responsible research, which ranges from our methodology and design to how we write and present our work. As I continue in my research journey, I am making a commitment to increase representation in the research that I do so that different communities can be reflected in the work that I do.
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Oct 18, 2024
Gantian Huang + 5
Open Access