Meet our Early Career Scientist Grant Winner Hugh Takemoto
We’re delighted to introduce Hugh Takemoto, the latest winner of our monthly Early Career Scientist Grant!
Since 2020, we’ve been supporting life science PhDs and postdocs with their career development by awarding a $500 grant to a different researcher each month. The winners have used the money to cover travel costs to science conferences, publishing fees, purchasing lab supplies and more! You can read some of our previous winner’s stories here.
Our latest winner is a PhD student working in Ede Rancz’s lab at the Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Marseille, France. Hugh will use his grant to help fund his attendance at the 2025 Modulation of Neural Circuits GRC Conference in Les Diablerets, Vaud, Switzerland on 18-23 May 2025.
When we asked Hugh how he felt about receiving the award, he told us:
I am thrilled to be selected for the Hello Bio Early Career Scientist Grant! This award will go a huge way in helping me finance my attendance at my first international conference in 2025. I expect this will be an invaluable experience since I have been asked to present my work and discuss it with prominent scientists in my field. Hugh Takemoto, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Marseille, France, Hello Bio Early Career Scientist Grant winner
Congratulations Hugh! First, can you tell us a bit more about your research work?
I am currently testing the predictive processing hypothesis which states that the brain functions through a constant process of updating internal models with novel incoming sensory information. The technique I have been specialising in during my thesis is patch clamp electrophysiology. I use this technique to test how the neuromodulator serotonin affects the computation of layer 5 pyramidal cells in the secondary visual cortex. Previous work from our lab highlights these cells as novel key players in predictive processing within the cortical circuitry.
What excites you most about your field of research?
I was initially drawn to neuroscience because it deserves a place at the table when discussing topics like consciousness. Predicative processing is a powerful framework for describing how the brain and mind work. Whether right or wrong, testing these hypotheses will help refine the questions we should be asking when addressing such seemingly mystical topics.
Which scientists working today do you most admire, and why?
I admire my lab partner Eleonora Ambrad Giovannetti for her selflessness, support and company throughout my PhD. I would also like to take this opportunity to honour all the scientists and doctors living, working and surviving in Gaza.
What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing life scientists and their work?
I think one of the major issues in science today is producing high quality data in the face of increased competition for funding. The current environment in neuroscience demands that researchers produce more – both coming at the cost of the quality of research and green scientific methods. The scientists of the future have the hard task of balancing this pressure to increase output with a sustainable approach to research, given the threatening climate crisis.
And finally… what’s your favourite science joke?
An electrophysiologist would rather use another electrophysiologist’s toothbrush than their data!
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Thank you so much Hugh! We hope you have a fantastic time at the conference in Switzerland later this year!
Connect with Hugh:
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LinkedIn: Hugh Takemoto
Are YOU a life science PhD or postdoc researcher? Why not apply for our next monthly grant!
Application is quick and easy, just fill out the form here: https://hellobio.com/early-career-scientist-grant-application
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