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Natural Sciences: Ethan Chang '25

Major(s) and minor(s)

B.S. Neuroscience; B.S. in Applied Mathematics 

Minor in Psychology

Pronouns

He/Him

Hometown

Irvine, CA

Areas of interest/focus in research

Astrocytes, Glymphatic System, Mathematical modeling of integrative neurocircuits and neural populations, AI/ML/DL generalizing neural networks

Labs / departments / offsite programs where research was conducted

About me...

Hi! I'm Ethan, and I am currently a Senior! I grew up in Southern California and have two dogs at home (although I am a cat person)! I like trying new activities and enjoy reading, with my favorite books being "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway, "Exhalation" by Ted Chiang, and "The Martian" by Andy Weir.

Coming into university, I knew one of the first things I wanted to get involved in was research. After searching for a lab that aligned with my interests and reading up on their work, I reached out to the Nedergaard Lab. It is now my fourth year in that lab and I have been able to take the lead on some projects, present our work, and be listed as a co-author on some papers!

How has your experience as a researcher influenced your career objectives?

Research clarified what I want to pursue in the future. Coming to university, I thought I would pursue a career in medicine (pre-med track). However, after my great experiences in research and reflection on my drive within STEM, I know that research has to be a part of my life! I am leaning towards pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience, but am also considering MD-PhD programs!

Campus organizations, programs, activities, clubs, awards/distinctions

I am a member of the Students Association and RC MERT! I also occasionally go to the Book Club and the BCS/Neuroscience Undergraduate Council. I have tutored for some neuroscience courses as well. I enjoy archery and skiing!

Awards:

Fun Fact: when I'm not doing research you can usually find me...

I am usually in the library or hanging around campus with friends!

Areas where I may be particularly helpful

• Discover Grant app writing
• Interview skills
• Connect to research resources around campus
• Identify research interests and labs
• Cold-emailing labs to join

What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?

Don't be afraid to reach out to potential opportunities! Many of the great experiences that I have had came from simply asking the people involved. There are also many resources online, and the ability to find and utilize them is a great skill to learn. Find a general area of interest, acclimate yourself to the research, and find what drives you to pursue the unknown. Research is exciting and worthwhile to pursue, regardless of if you continue doing it in the future!

Email me at: echang28@u.rochester.edu