Student Research Highlights

As a top-tier research university, you'll find discoveries happening all around you at Brandeis. We asked some of our current students, "What are you researching?"

Caspian smiles at the camera wearing a red tie and black shirt.
Caspian Keys ’25

Major: Biology, Neuroscience

"I am researching the circadian cycling of genes in the mouse neocortex. Previous research has produced conflicting results, between weak and no cycling. We believe this is because past research has not looked at cycling in a cell-type-specific manner. My project seeks to use RNAscope, a very sensitive in situ hybridization technique that can label single RNA puncta, to characterize circadian cycling of genes in a cell-type-specific manner in four types of cells: excitatory neurons, astrocytes, and VIP inhibitory neurons in the neocortex and VIP neurons in the SCN, which serve as a control since we know these neurons cycle."

Ofri smiles on the left side of the frame.
Ofri Levinson ’25

Majors: Theater Arts, Multimedia Storytelling & Design

"This summer I undertook a research project in Israel about the kibbutz where I grew up, as groundwork for my senior thesis production in theater. The production is about the tension between heritage and progress in a society that fights for its identity, through the eyes of a newcomer to the kibbutz. I interviewed community members to learn about the history and future of the place they care about so deeply, and asked - what makes where you live your home?"

Ava smiles at the camera wearing a blue shirt.
Ava Towle ’26

Majors: Biology, Health: Science, Society & Policy

"I am researching how G-protein coupled receptors regulate temperature sensation in fruit flies! Understanding more about the molecular mechanisms of temperature sensation in flies is relevant to less readily studied insect disease vectors such as mosquitoes, and these receptors serve as targets for future vector control strategies."

Vince smiles at the camera wearing a blazer and collared shirt.
Vincent Calia-Bogan ’25

Majors: Biology, Neuroscience

"Neurons in the gustatory cortex have been shown to exhibit distinct "epochs" in their firing as they process a stimulus. My aim is to better characterize neuronal activity within these processing epochs, and (hopefully) provide insights into the interpretation of said activity."

Vince smiles at the camera wearing a blazer and collared shirt.
Natalie Saltzman ’25

Majors: Anthropology, Sociology

"My research took place at Lemelson-MIT's BioTech In Action invention education program for underprivileged high school students around the world. I conducted virtual ethnographic research involving observations, interviews, and coding to understand how this virtual program ran for students, and how to improve it for future sessions."