Luis Zambrano Hernandez
My name is Luis, and I am a JMS PhD student. My academic journey began in 2016 when I resolved to pursue a first-level qualification in Social Sciences at South Lanarkshire College. I graduated with a Higher National Diploma (HND) three years later. Following that, I deepened my understanding of psychology by pursuing a bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University. During this time, I was introduced to the neurobiological mechanisms of human behaviour, which solidified my interest in neuroscience research. From there, I set out to gain a postgraduate qualification in neuroscience, leading me to an MSc in brain sciences at the University of Glasgow. The final year project of my master's degree allowed me to gain experience in wet and dry laboratory techniques, cementing my commitment to scientific research.
After completing my master's, I began corresponding with Dr. Cassandra Sampaio Baptista from the University of Glasgow about undertaking a PhD under her supervision. With her guidance, I was fortunate to be awarded the James McCune Smith Scholarship, which allowed me to begin my PhD journey.
Alongside my academic background, I have gained valuable work experience in healthcare, particularly with vulnerable populations. As a social care worker, I have had the opportunity to work closely with individuals with various neurological and neuropsychiatric diagnoses. This experience has deepened my understanding of the relationship between neuroscience and mental health. It has also inspired me to focus on translational research as the cornerstone of my laboratory work, aiming to drive real-world changes in addressing mental health challenges.
During my PhD, I plan to employ molecular and behavioural techniques to investigate the impact of chronic psychological stress on the cellular mechanisms involved in myelin plasticity. I will explore how this relationship may lead to changes in neural circuits that facilitate the onset and maintenance of addictive behaviour. The overarching goal of this project is to understand the innards of myelin-differentiated cells in rodents during periods of stress exposure and examine how this link may trigger latent drug-seeking behaviour.