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Hiya, I’m Danielle! I’m a postdoc split between three groups, which underscores the interdisciplinary nature of my research. My work focuses on how multimodal neuroimaging and neuromodulatory interventions (such as Temporal Interference (TI) stimulation and psychedelic drugs) can develop both a mechanistic understanding and therapeutic interventions for substance (mis)use\/dependence.<\/p>\n
Growing up in a small fishing town in Florida cultured my love for biology, which I explored at Florida State University through a BSc in Biological Sciences. In the last semester of my undergraduate degree I took a human physiology course that had a scant two weeks of neuroscience. It wasn\u2019t much, but it was enough to pique my interest, which I followed through interning at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience while waitressing on canal boats at night. This experience solidified my passion\u00a0for neuroscience, which I pursued through the MSc Translational Neuroscience at Imperial, from 2018-2019. The MSc not only gave me a theoretical foundation of neuroscience, but also unlocked a whole world of coding, brain stimulation, and neuroimaging analysis. I utilised and developed my newfound computational neuroimaging skills throughout my PhD at the University of Surrey, before rejoining Imperial as a postdoc.<\/p>\n
Compared to a hired post-doc position, a fellowship enables an early career researcher to pursue their own line of investigation and develop research independence. Given how my project unites neuroimaging, substance (mis)use\/dependence, TI stimulation, and psychedelic neuromodulation, the Imperial College Research Fellowship was my primary choice. No other institution could better support my diverse research interests. My application process was also unique in that I applied in tandem with Kate Godfrey. Kate is a fellow post-doctoral researcher in the Division of Brain Sciences is also exploring the potential synergistic mechanisms of combining psychedelic-enhanced neuroplasticity with TI\u2019s noninvasive, focal, deep brain electrical stimulation. Rather than consider each other as a competitor, we strategized how our areas of expertise could complement one another\u2019s application. Against the odds, both of us received the same fellowship! This highlights something I have always appreciated about Imperial \u2013 the willingness to support collaborations and build a stronger, more diverse research platform.<\/p>\n
While my initial exposure to neuroscience was described above, my MSc at Imperial was where I learned neuroimaging and coding. Both of these tools have been at the core of my research practice since I learned them. Neuroimaging enables us to visualise brain structure and function noninvasively, and while all neuroimaging modalities have limitations, I\u2019m learning to conduct multi-modal imaging to build a more comprehensive understanding of brain function. Coding is something I never contemplated doing until Imperial \u2013 however, it\u2019s one of the most useful skills I have learned. I liken it to being able to walk into a wet lab and being able to use any tool you want, often for free. The breadth and depth of analysis methods offered computationally are seemingly endless, and I am continually fascinated by how computational neuroimaging sheds new insights into brain function.<\/p>\n
Definitely the people. As part of three different labs, I get to work with people from all over Imperial, and each lab has its own culture. Yet, uniting each lab is a shared passion for translational research. This human-centric approach is deeply appealing to me, as my research is driven by a desire to help others, especially underserved communities. Moreover, the consistency in which cutting-edge technology is used to conduct robust, high-quality research means I am continually improving my research, thanks to the collaborative efforts of my colleagues.<\/p>\n