Micaela Charles
San Antonio
Summary
Focused driven neuroscientist and future neuropsychologist seeking to contribute to the Salk Institute SURF program by engaging in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of neural circuits, disease mechanisms, and computational or molecular approaches. Motivated by Salk's mission to "unlock the secrets of life itself," I aim to develop rigorous research skills, contribute meaningfully as a team player to ongoing scientific discovery, and deepen my curiosity by pushing the boundaries of my knowledge in neuroscience, immunology, and cancer biology.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Course-Based Research & Laboratory Project- UTSA
UTSA
San Antonio
08.2022 - Current
- Conducted neurobiology and genetics experiments involving PCR, microscopy, electrophoresis, dissections, data analysis, and behavioral data evaluation
- Designed research-style written reports and powerpoint projects integrating experimental findings with literature
- Analyzed cognitive and behavioral datasets using CogLab, Excel, and MATLAB
- Completed in-depth reviews of scientific literature on neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, neuropsychopharmacology, and memory plasticity
- Gained experience forming hypothesis, interpreting data, and applying statistical reasoning to biological datasets
Education
Bachelor of Science - Neuroscience
The University of Texas At San Antonio
San Antonio, TX12-2026
Skills
- Laboratory & Molecular Biology Techniques
- Micropipetting
- PCR
- DNA extraction
- Solution preparation and buffer calculations
- Microscopy
- Neuroanatomical tissue identification
- Neuroscience
- Analysis of neural circuits and synaptic physiology
- Interpretation of behavioral assays
- Understanding of neuropharmacological mechanisms
- Familiarity with neurodegenerative and psychiatric disease models
- Strong ability to read and interpret research articles
- Research style scientific writing and figure analysis
Computational & Data Analysis Skills
- MATLAB
- CogLab
- Microsoft Excel
- Adobe
- Python (intro)
- R (intro)
- PubMed and Google Scholar proficiency in literature searching
Accomplishments
Dean's List (1 semester)
Timeline
Course-Based Research & Laboratory Project- UTSA
UTSA
08.2022 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Neuroscience
The University of Texas At San Antonio