A day in the life of a neuroscientist - Anushriya Ganti

My name is Anushriya Ganti and I am a year 11 Epsom Girls Grammar School student whose dream is to pursue a career in medicine. I have always had a strong passion and interest for science - specifically with regards to the captivating human anatomy - and have consequently aspired to acquire a medical vocation. Hence, when the chance to participate in a neuroscience competition arose, I quickly pounced at the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the complex and riveting processes of the human brain. Personally, I find that the brain’s significance within the human body and the sheer number of bodily functions and processes which it controls makes it one of the most fascinating and integral parts of the human body, and it was this fascination that had intrigued me to participate in this prestigious competition. 

I found the Brain Bee competition to be mentally taxing as a multitude of hours were put into learning and revising various education modules ranging from the senses to sleep, pain and neurological diseases. Despite the stressful and exhausting times associated with the Brain Bee competition, the complexity and significance of the human brain inspired me to continue deepening my knowledge of human anatomy. Learning about the numerous neurological diseases evoked the problem-solver within me and perked my interests, causing me to desire a compassionate, rewarding and engaging career path in clinical neuroscience. 

After a series of tests in the Brain Bee competition, I managed to place in the top 10 students in the North Island and received the prize of ‘A day in the life of a neuroscientist’. On the collection of my prize, I was overwhelmed with emotions of joy, happiness and the eagerness to venture in the extensive oceans of neuroscience, and discover the various compelling vocational opportunities which this career field has to offer.

The Brain Bee experience continued to provide me with life-changing opportunities, beginning with deepening my knowledge and feeding my curiosity about the complexities of the human body, and ending with the transformative opportunity of learning about the adventures of leading neurological researchers. During the internship, we visited the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank, the human anatomy museum, learnt about MRI’s, and listened to multiple neurological researchers speak about their PhD studies. These experiences as well as the entrancing PhD projects allowed me to solidify my interests in neuroscience, and have made me inspired and committed to pursuing a promising vocational pathway within clinical neurology. As an individual who seeks a rewarding and thought-provoking profession which feeds my curiosity and passion for the human body, the internship at the Centre for Brain Research allowed me to discover a new profound interest in neuroscience which will hopefully lead to a career in neuro-surgery in my future. 

Hence, I will be forever thankful for the life-changing experiences which the Brain Bee competition and CBR internship have provided me, as they have enabled me to discover my true passion in life. I have been inspired and aware of my new profound interest within the field of neuroscience, therefore allowing myself to picture a future in clinical neurology with the hopes of feeding my curiosity for science, whilst bettering lives and the future of medicine. I am extremely grateful to the Neurological Foundation and their support with the Brain Bee programme and CBR internship, as their help has played a crucial role in enabling me to learn and grow into the aspiring neurosurgeon I am today.

Anushriya Ganti, Epsom Girls Grammar School