Najja Gandy | STARTneuro Current Scholar

Cohort 2024

Background: My name is Najja Gandy. I transferred from Mesa College and am a Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience major working in Voytek Lab. I am working with my mentor to research that seeks to highlight differences neural patterns in people with neurodevelopmental disorders more specifically the differences in aperiodic activity. We are working with datasets that include people with ADHD and/or ASD or have neither and what differences we are able to see in their EEG readings while they are at rest and while doing a task such as watching a movie. 

Post-graduation journey: My post-graduation plans at the moment are to apply to Grad school and earn a PhD in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience or obtain a PsyD. I am still learning about neuroscience and neuropsychology and hope to have a clear career goal in mind as soon as next quarter. 

A few words about STARTneuro: STARTneuro has been an AMAZING help to getting started with my long and short-term goals. Before coming to UCSD I was a Psychology major and I had stumbled across this program by pure chance and within weeks, I was learning and doing things I never thought I would be able to learn or experience. Even my family and friends have been extremely invested in my journey with STARTneuro. I wish I’d recommend this program to literally anyone who has a genuine interest to step outside of their comfort zone and push themselves to learn and experience new, challenging, and fun things.