Travel Award Winner Morgan Zipperly
Morgan Zipperly is a MD/PhD student working in Jeremy Day’s Lab at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The award will help to fund Morgan's trip to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cellular Biology of Addiction course at the University of Cambridge.
I’m thrilled to receive this travel award, which will allow me to attend the CSHL Cellular Biology of Addiction course at Cambridge University, where I will be able to interact with and learn from international leaders in the field Morgan Zipperly, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, Hello Bio travel award winner
Congratulations Morgan. First, can you tell us a bit more about what you're working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on my thesis project, examining how neuronal inputs from the prefrontal cortex to the nucleus accumbens influence medium spiny neuron activity, motivated behaviour, and acute cocaine reward.
What is it about your field of research that gets you most excited?
Addiction is an increasingly prevalent problem both in the US and globally, yet there are very few treatments approved to help this population of patients, leaving ample room for discovery and innovation. As an aspiring physician-scientist, I look forward to tackling this problem both clinically and from a basic science perspective.
Which scientists working today do you most admire, and why?
There are so many scientists today that I respect and admire…it is too difficult to name them all! In all honesty, that list would have to begin with the great scientists I work alongside each day in the Day Lab. I am constantly learning from them, and I am continuously blown away by their ingenuity and insight. They have influenced my development as a scientist in countless ways, and I know they each will accomplish great things throughout their careers.
What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing life scientists and their work?
I think STEM fields have come a long way in addressing equal representation, but there is still a lot of ground to be covered. We need to fix the “leaky pipeline” and make under-represented groups feel welcome and supported in STEM fields throughout their careers.
What’s your favourite science quote?
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead – his eyes are closed.” – Albert Einstein
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Thank you Morgan - we really hope you enjoy your visit to Cambridge in the UK!
You can follow Morgan on Twiitter @ZipperlyM
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