Bioengineering PhD Student to Study Neuroscience at the Marine Biological Laboratory

Connor Neifert, a PhD student in the Department of Bioengineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, was recently accepted to a prestigious graduate program at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) where he will study the neuroscience of behavior for eight weeks during the summer of 2024.

“This program will develop my fundamental understanding of neuroscience,” Neifert said. “The goal of my research is to find the best possible therapies to help people suffering from neurological injuries. I need to fully understand the mechanisms and suspend judgment. At MBL, I am excited about the prestige of the program, but I am most excited about having access to the most cutting-edge research.”

The MBL is located in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and is sponsored by the University of Chicago. Top students and researchers have met for intensive summer sessions at the MBL annually for over 130 years. Alumni include more than 60 Nobel laureates as well as members of national academies. Neifert will attend with the support of a Convergence Grant awarded by the Department of Bioengineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

“Because Connor is working on preclinical trials related to stroke and spinal cord rehabilitation, what he learns at the MBL will be directly applicable to patients.”  

Dr. Seth Hays, associate professor of bioengineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

“This is a chance for Connor to branch out and gain exposure across the country,” said Dr. Seth Hays, associate professor of bioengineering and director of preclinical research for the Texas Biomedical Device Center (TxBDC) at UT Dallas. “The MBL is recognized as the top training program, and because Connor is studying bioengineering, he will benefit from fundamental research in neuroscience.”

Neifert studies vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) under Hays, who focuses primarily on motor applications of vagus nerve stimulation therapy for conditions such as stroke. The therapy is based upon foundational research on the vagus nerve and neuroplasticity conducted by Dr. Michael Kilgard, professor of neuroscience and Margaret Fonde Jonsson Professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at UT Dallas. Other researchers are focusing on programs examining auditory systems and neurological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. UT Dallas’ combination of traditional therapy along with VNS is currently undergoing clinical trials.

“Because Connor is working on preclinical trials related to stroke and spinal cord rehabilitation, what he learns at the MBL will be directly applicable to patients,” Hays said. 

Neifert previously studied biomedical engineering at The Ohio State University. He connected with UT Dallas researchers through the TxBDC, a collaborative effort engaging practitioners of multiple disciplines, all working toward the common goal of creating new biomedical technologies and therapies.