Thaissa Peixoto
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
Gonzales Research Group
I used to ask my favorite psychology professors whether they needed an electrical engineer in their lab. They mostly said no, and I couldn鈥檛 blame them. I was pretty sure the two things I loved had nothing to do with each other. Occasionally, I got the feeling that what I was learning in psychology was actually a control system, or something about neurons acting like op amps and logic gates, but I never grasped that circuits were the beginning of sensing, understanding, and writing to the brain. Neural engineering was the field that had already figured out what I was just beginning to understand, and doing research at that intersection still feels like the coolest gig in the world.
My experience with VINSE began 2 years ago when I came to Vanderbilt as part of the VINSE Research Experience for Undergraduates. I had the most fun of my life in the cleanroom, learning as much as I could over 10 weeks. The people I met in VINSE, like Grace, Owen, Megan, and Ben, were a major reason I decided to come back. These days, I am increasingly interested in microscopy, experimenting with ways to fabricate cuff electrodes, and electroplating materials to enhance signal properties.
Within VINSE, there is a palpable encouragement to try whatever you can think of to answer your questions. For me and my PI, Dr. Daniel Gonzales, these questions center on Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) and its ability to modulate neural activity. We are particularly interested in using our lab鈥檚 flexible electrode arrays to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of VNS and its potential to enhance learning in Brain-Computer Interfaces.
Outside the lab, I am learning horsemanship, trying to fix a boat with the love of my life, and finding secret campsites. This summer, I can also be found growing tomatoes, eating French butter with bread, and visiting Dollywood.