Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

May 5, 2025

Abigail Arnold | Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Geeking Out With…is a feature in which we talk to GSAS students about their passions. You can check out past installments here.

Mike Vivian is a fourth-year PhD student in Neuroscience. He is a member of the Grienberger Lab, where his research focuses on how specific cells play a role in the mechanisms of learning and memory. He joined Geeking Out With… to talk about his research and how he works to pass his love of science on to others.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

What does your current research focus on?

My lab is interested in understanding the neural mechanisms that underlie learning and memory. We do this by looking at how different parts of the brain communicate with each other in awake mice. The mice we study in the lab run on treadmills and, over time, learn how to get a water reward. We look at mechanisms in the hippocampus, a part of the brain which is important for learning and memory, and try to understand how the different cells there contribute to the mouse’s behavior. I’m looking at a specific cell type called interneurons; there are not as many of them in the hippocampus as there are of other cell types, but they are very important for modulating and interacting with the other cells. I’m trying to understand their role when the mouse is learning and how they influence the activity of other cells in the hippocampal circuit. I use a special microscope called a two-photon microscope to look at the activity of the interneurons while the mouse is learning. The microscope is specialized to look at the activity of cells located deep within the brain while the mouse is running on the treadmill.

How did you become interested in this particular area of neuroscience?

I got my BS in Neuroscience at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They didn’t have a lot of research in systems neuroscience there, but I actually took an elective in my last year in which we read a paper by Eve Marder, which is how I discovered Brandeis. I looked into the university and found other similar research, which attracted me to the neuroscience program here. Learning systems are made of many different interactions, so a lot happens in them that’s unpredictable. Many labs here are trying to figure out how we can look at some of this unpredictable behavior, from large to small neural circuits.

How do you share your scientific interests with others?

I’m very interested in being able to talk about science, and a big part of that is teaching others about it. In college, I worked on the Alabama Brain Bee, which is a trivia competition that’s part of a nationwide program. High school students compete to answer questions about science and move on from the state to the national competition. Their family and friends can come watch them compete as well. We wanted to expose high school students to neuroscience and get them excited about it, so in addition to organizing the Brain Bee, I was involved in other ways of teaching high schoolers about neuroscience, like showing them sheep brains and teaching them about different parts of the brain.

As a grad student, I have been involved in teaching and mentoring. In addition to serving as a TA at Brandeis, I also had a really cool experience through Christine Grienberger, my PI. She teaches a specialized course for scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and brought me as a TA to teach one of our techniques. This was a highlight of my time here, since I was able to spend three weeks talking about science and teaching what I do so others could take it back to their labs.

More recently, I’ve been a part of the Galaxy Program at Brandeis as well. It’s run by Kene Piasta and helps prepare first-year undergraduates for the beginning of college. As graduate students, we mentor them and do seminar-style weekly group meetings where we go over topics like time management and study skills – things they may have been able to get away without knowing in high school but need to brush up on for college, which is a big thing for people in STEM.

In the Neuroscience PhD program, we also do peer mentoring for the first years, which I enjoy. I’ve been part of this since I started, so I now have three mentees. We get coffee throughout the year and check in.

How do you feel that you’ve grown in your teaching and mentoring roles over time?

Back in undergrad, I just wanted to be able to talk about science in any context or form. Now, I feel that I’ve learned a lot and can help teach students who were in a similar situation. I didn’t know much about science going into college and was a first-generation student, so I want to give back to students and do more programs where I can talk to undergraduates and mentor them, answer questions, and tell them what not to do too! Now that I’m in graduate school, I want to help students and share my journey.

Is teaching and mentoring others something you want to do as a part of your career?

I’m not exactly sure what my career will look like, but I’m interested in trying to figure out a career in science communication. I want to be able to just talk about science every day, all the time, so whatever allows me to do that would be great. I am involved in the Career Development for the Sciences (CDS) group and want to both find out more for myself and help others with their process.

Are there any people or resources at Brandeis that have helped you in your exploration?

Marika McCann, of the GSAS professional development team, has been very helpful for understanding careers; her seminars are great, as is the Career Fellows program, and she helps us with CDS too. It’s really given me a better perspective on what’s out there beyond academia. When I started the PhD program, I thought there was only one thing to do with a PhD, so it’s great to see all different options. The SciComm Lab is also a helpful place. I love the people on my committee too and talk to Don Katz a lot – he’s always willing to talk about anything.

When you’re not working on science, what do you like to do?

I try to socialize with other grad students and catch up with people and friends in the area, whether that’s walking around a park or grabbing a drink. I enjoy being able to hear other people’s stories outside of the lab. My roommates and I also have a lawn, so I do a lot of lawn care. I enjoy mowing the lawn and planting flowers and herbs.

What advice do you have for other students exploring their passions?

You’ve got to take any opportunity that’s out there and explore. You shouldn’t feel you have to continue with everything you try for years and years, so put yourself out there as much as possible. If you have time, go to a seminar, a career fair, or a Brandeis graduate student event. These are great ways to see what’s out there, and you can explore further by talking to and networking with the people there. Talking to people at events about their careers has really helped me. Hopefully, one thing that you talk about sticks, and that leads to a passion. For me, that process is still ongoing, which is why I try to involve myself in as many activities as possible to see what’s out there.