Beckman Scholar Bios

My name is Ahona Dam and I’m extremely grateful to conduct research with Dr. Bergstrom through the Beckman scholarship. Through my research, I will explore emotional learning and memory in the brain. Exposure therapy is often used to help patients who suffer from anxiety, PTSD, and phobias to reduce fear. In exposure therapy, stimuli similar to the original fear-inducing stimulus are presented to extinguish the fear response. In laboratory environments, extinction is often modeled by repeatedly introducing the conditioned stimulus (CS) without the unconditioned stimulus (US). Therefore, preclinical models do not adequately replicate real-world scenarios of extinction. I am interested in using a generalization stimulus (stimulus similar to the target conditioned stimulus) during extinction to test to what extent the generalization stimulus extinguishes the original fear response and the degree of overlap between memory representations in the brain. Outside of Vassar, I have conducted research with Dr. Peter Czarnecki at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where I helped with experiments relating to understanding specific IFT-A mutations causing polycystic kidney disease. In my free time, I love to create art (specifically with acrylics, watercolors, or oil pastels!). I also love going on walks, cooking, and making my friends laugh!

My name is Gabriel Grimes, and I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior at Vassar College. As a Beckman Scholar, I have the privilege of conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Megan Gall. Our work focuses on investigating the influences of seasonal variation in anthropogenic noise and vegetation density on the vocalization active spaces of Black Capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and White Breasted Nuthatches. Specifically, we aim to reveal how changes in noise levels and vegetation density across the four seasons affect the propagation of avian vocalizations. We conduct fieldwork at the Vassar Ecological Preserve to record vocalizations, quantify vegetation density, and conduct playback experiments to determine species-specific vocal propagation.

Beyond my research, I am actively involved in the Student Ambassador Program at Vassar College, where I help prospective students learn about the opportunities and experiences our college offers. I also volunteer at Beacon of Hope, a nonprofit crisis center in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. In my free time, I enjoy engaging in various hobbies that enrich my life outside academia including hiking, music, and cooking! After my time at Vassar College and with the lab, I plan to pursue medical school and use my understanding of environmental influences to not only strengthen conservation efforts for animals, but extend my care to human beings like ourselves.

Hi! My name is Abi Tramell ‘26, and I am a 2023 Beckman Scholar working in Dr. Jennifer Kennell’s lab, which focuses on the Haloacid Dehalogenase phosphatase family and their role in regulating metabolism/development in Drosophila melanogaster, aka known as fruit flies! Many of the HAD proteins remain uncharacterized in D. melanogaster, but based on gene sequence similarity, multiple genes seem to have genetic similarities to the HAD family genes found in humans. My project, therefore, strives to determine the role of the CG5577 gene found in D. melanogaster, as it could potentially be the ortholog to the PDXP gene that is involved in human metabolism. I have previously worked in Dr. Vicky Frost’s Microbiology Lab at Winthrop University, characterizing bacteriophages local to South Carolina through the SEA-PHAGES program. I also conducted research through the Pioneer Research program sponsored by Oberlin College, investigating the potential role of CRISPR-Cas9 in cancer prevention through the mentorship of Dr. David Veselik from the University of Notre Dame. In the future, I plan to obtain my Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics with an emphasis on Gene therapy. Outside the lab, I like to grow plants and help at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project by growing and harvesting vegetables that eventually make their way to the Deece! I will also be a part of Residential Life this year as a student fellow for Cushing House (Go Cushlings!). 

My name is Dariana Serrano, class of ’25, and my project in the Newman Lab focuses on understanding the role of astrocytes in memory. Astrocytes are star shaped cells in the brain that form the interface between the blood and the rest of the brain as part of the blood brain barrier. These cells bring resources into the brain from the blood and move waste out of the brain. My project focuses on activating these cells and then looking at how this affects a working memory task. Not only have I learned invaluable information regarding our research on astrocytes and memory and how it relates to the scientific literature as a whole, I have gained valuable practical skills that will translate to a career in medicine. In the future, I hope to achieve an MD/PhD to study neurodegenerative diseases.