Magdalen Stanford, BS

Magdalen Stanford is a recent graduate from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in both Biology and Physical Science, with biomedical and chemistry concentrations. She had the opportunity to take part in a summer research program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she investigated DNA methylation caused by Prozac® usage in the brain of rhesus monkeys. Under her chemistry professor at NSU, she conducted a research project that used a simple household microwave to synthesize nanoparticles in various solvents – all with the goal of determining potential size differences. As a biomedical and chemistry student, her current research interests are very broad – the Neuroprep program will allow her the opportunity to narrow down those interests in favor of the field she is most excited about. In her free time, you can catch her reading, crocheting, knitting, or sewing (while also listening to one book or another), or you can catch her hanging out with her best friend (i.e., dog) Edgar Allan Poe.

Neuroprep mentor: Bruce Carlson, PhD

The Carlson Lab uses weakly electric mormyrid fish as a model system for understanding neural mechanisms of behavior and the evolution of behavioral diversity.

Maggie’s current project employs anatomy and electrophysiology techniques to investigate the relationship between the swimming motor pathway and electric organ discharge command pathway in the brain of mormyrid fish.