“Choosing GSAS for my graduate studies was a no-brainer,” recalls Shashank Gandhi. An alumnus of the Department of Biology, Shashank currently lives in Pasadena, California, and attends Caltech as a doctoral candidate in Biology. He looks back fondly on his time as a master’s student at GSAS. “I definitely enjoyed my experience. I was trained in the lab by some of the smartest people I have ever known.”
In Dr. Lionel Christiaen’s lab, Shashank researched the embryonic development and gene expression of sea squirts; specifically, Ciona intestinalis. “It is a close relative of vertebrates and a model organism for developmental biology of chordates,” he explains. He presented on his work as a finalist in the 2014 GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge, where he was challenged to explain the complexity of his scientific research for a general audience. “Not only was I able to improve my presentation skills, participating in the Threesis also gave me a platform to interact with the finest scholars representing a wide array of fields, like data science, mathematics, museum studies, and more.” His research on Ciona intestinalis was later published in the science journal Development.
Beyond his academic work, the two-time Threesis competitor played an integral role in the GSAS community as a member and officer of the Master’s College Program Board. “Being a part of the Masters College Program Board allowed me to build a wonderful community and lasting personal connections. My social circle was extremely diverse, which broadened my perspective on the world and even helped me to discover things I hadn’t known about myself.”
Since graduating from GSAS, Shashank has advanced in his research from invertebrates, now studying “the development and evolution of the neural crest, a population of cells unique to vertebrates. These cells give rise to facial cartilage and bone, as well as parts of the nervous system, endocrine system, heart, and more.” Shashank has a bright future ahead of him in the sciences, including more research publications to come soon.
To see Shashank’s 2014 article in Development, click here.
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