Mugdha Deshpande, PhD Blazeman Foundation for ALS Research Postdoctoral Fellow

As I began the search for post-doctoral positions towards the end of my PhD, my goal was to take the training I had received in molecular biology and experimental design, to a system where I could study the basic cell biology underlying neurodegenerative diseases and make a contribution to these devastating conditions. [...] I wanted to build a foundation, both in terms of experimental techniques and a deeper understanding of the scientific literature in the field of neurodegeneration. [...] Also, I have been able to learn a variety of different techniques to manipulate these models and get a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, enhancing my ability as a scientist to ask critical questions and derive meaningful answers from my experiments. [...] who contributed as authors to our papers, and who have gone on to medical and graduate schools with a new appreciation and awareness of the challenges and promise in ALS research. [...] All the things that I have learnt here are going to be essential in the next step of my career, where I plan to look for industry positions that will allow me to continue the research into the cure for neurodegenerative diseases.