Shania Gonzalez

Undergraduate Researcher

gshania@umich.edu

I am an undergraduate at Williams College studying psychology and neuroscience with the goal of pursuing a PhD in behavioral neuroscience. 

My primary research interest is in understanding cognitive function, particularly the learning and memory system. I am particularly curious about what makes this system resilient through time, and what neurobiological mechanisms behind it fail in neurodegenerative states. My motivation for pursuing a PhD and a career in research is to one day increase accessibility of scientific knowledge to low income, bilingual, and immigrant households that are directly impacted by a neurodegenerative disease. This also fuels my interest in translational research, as I want the research I produce to be informative for these families. 

I am incredibly grateful to be part of the Kaczorowski lab this summer and working with a translational model of Alzheimer’s disease. The mentorship this lab has provided for me, as well as all the opportunities I’ve had for learning and harnessing new skills, has been invaluable. I have seen myself grow as a researcher, and I plan on bringing my new skills and knowledge back to Williams and beyond. 

Outside of research, I enjoy dancing, listening to music, cooking, and watching reality TV!