Alexis Vega-Medina

B.S. in Biology, University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez

Admission Year: 2019

Advisor: Dr. Pierre F. Apostolides

Current project: I’m broadly interested in circuit mapping, slice electrophysiology, 2-photon imaging and behavior to understand how neuromodulation can shape plasticity in dendritic arborizations during sensory integration. 

Other interests: valence and salience encoding, social behavior, tool development, machine learning, entrepreneurship

Teaching experience: I have trained high-school students in experimental design and usage of Backyard Brains outreach equipment, trained undergraduate students in fear conditioning, intracranial surgeries, and immunohistochemistry. 

Honors, grants & awards: IPAN fellow, PREP scholar, Rackham Merit Fellow


Service & leadership: NeuroBoricuas volunteer, BrainsRule! volunteer, Graduate student recruiter for PIBS at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez

Career Goals: I envision being a professor at a R1 institution in NYC with a joint-appointment in Puerto Rico to bridge segregated Puerto Rican  communities, and provide a rigorous interdisciplinary training environment open to all underrepresented minorities and non-traditional students. 

Hobbies: I enjoy cooking, photography, watching foreign films, reading, antiquing, gardening, meditating, traveling, and hanging out with my cat, Cajal.