Degrees
Expected Graduation in Summer 2025
Biography
Alyssa earned her bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Rutgers University in New Jersey. After deciding not to go to veterinary school post-grad, Alyssa joined a postbaccalaureate program at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in Baltimore to study age-related cognitive impairments. Her work at NIA led her to pursue a Ph.D. in the department of Neurobiology and Behavior in Dr. Marcelo Wood’s lab. Her thesis work focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying long-term memory formation and strategies to maintain cognitive well-being. Outside of research, Alyssa enjoys anything snail-related, dancing, and independent bookstores.
Why is science communication important to you personally?
My interest in improving public health, particularly developing strategies to address cognitive well-being during aging, led me to become involved in scientific research. I’ve been able to share my knowledge of approaches to improve public health outcomes in older age with the scientific community. In the future, I'd like to share that information with the general public and policymakers and use science communication as a tool to inform public health policies.