Natalie Koh
PhD program entry year: 2018
Undergraduate:
University of Washington, Seattle - Molecular/Cellular/Developmental Biology, Psychology
Mentor: Andrew Miri
Research Project Description:
Despite more than a century of research, the neural mechanisms underlying motor control remain poorly understood. In Dr. Miri's lab, we are primarily interested in studying the roles of the motor cortex and other motor pathway-related regions in producing voluntary behavior in mice. My project involves using optogenetics with state of the art multielectrode array recording technology to query and analyze the effects of inactivating these regions on neural activity, muscle activity, and behavior.
Why did I choose NUIN for my studies?
I chose NUIN for multiple reasons. For one, the interdisciplinary nature of the program appealed to me, and has provided me with opportunities to learn from and/or rotate with faculty from various departments. I was also drawn to the design and structure of the PhD program, which has been crafted to be rigorous not only in terms of academic training, but also pays heed to the development of critical career skills in students.