Jessica Nosike, Trumbull '2027

3D Modeling the Brain: Jessica Nosike's Journey into Neuroscience at Yale

Written by Kalista Villatoro

Edited by Charlie Wong

Jessica Nosike is fascinated by the brain. She spends hours examining its intricacies and loves thinking about how its different parts connect. Having first started research in high school, where she worked with C. elegans in an underfunded lab, Nosike was also interested in pursuing a research opportunity in Yale’s cutting-edge environment. Yet, despite her fascination with both the brain and research, the MB&B major from Trumbull college initially felt nervous about her ability to contribute to neuroscience research at Yale.

Looking for a summer research opportunity during her freshman year, Nosike came across the STARS Summer Research Program. The program involved a class offering research guidance, bonding activities with other students, and a stipend to compensate students for their contributions. Intrigued, she set out to find a lab – a daunting task for many students.

To start, Nosike sifted through publications from departments at the Yale School of Medicine, cold-emailing Principal Investigators (PIs) whose work excited her. The process was not always smooth. “A lot of PIs didn’t respond, and some labs were full,” Nosike recalls. However, her persistence paid off when a PI in the neuroscience department invited her to meet about the summer opportunity. They discussed the lab’s focus and current projects, and the PI introduced Nosike to her current mentor. I nspired by her mentor’s project, the collaborative lab culture, and the opportunity to work under a female PI, Nosike eagerly decided to join the team.

Nosike’s summer experience in the lab was transformative. Despite her initial concerns about working in neuroscience as a non-neuroscience major, Nosike was able to develop hands-on experience in research techniques and gain confidence in her abilities, When she expressed concerns about balancing a job with research during the school year, her PI offered to pay her for her work, an opportunity that not all undergraduate researchers receive. This opportunity further motivated Nosike to put all of her efforts into producing results. Nosike is currently involved in a project that utilizes imaging and staining techniques on a confocal microscope to create a 3D model of the brain, visualizing her cell of interest. As a pre-med student, Nosike values most the clinical context of her research, especially its relevance to conditions like hemorrhaging and strokes.

However, Nosike also finds the lab’s collaborative environment equally as rewarding. “Even if my mentor isn’t available, I can ask anyone in the lab for help,” she says. She fondly recalls lab birthday celebrations and their recent Secret Santa gift exchange, activities which have helped to foster the team dynamics that make their research successful.

For students looking to join a lab, Nosike offers invaluable advice. She emphasizes the importance of starting early, recommending winter break or early January as a great time to contact PI’s. While it can be easy to feel discouraged by unresponsive emails, Nosike reminds students that she also faced this obstacle, and that persistence with emailing pays off. She also advises students to prioritize their well-being. “Don’t be afraid to leave a lab if it’s toxic or not aligned with your interests,” she says. However, she stresses the importance of maintaining professionalism and staying on good terms with prior labs, which could help direct you to other opportunities.

Nosike’s journey demonstrates that research isn’t always linear but can be a deeply rewarding experience full of learning, persistence, and success. While navigating the STARS Summer Research Program, MB&B coursework, and research during the academic year, Nosike’s persistence, curiosity, and advocacy for herself have already helped her to explore her passions and leave a mark at Yale.