Three other projects examined how neurons fire and interact differently as the brain transitions between states, like being awake or asleep, a process that reveals the brain’s remarkable flexibility. 

Working with Shanahan Fellow and collaborator Timothy Kim, PhD., Sümbül and UW professor Eric Shea-Brown, Ph.D., the team proposed a new mathematical approach to study complex patterns in brain activity over time, to decode the hidden rhythms of neural activity. 

Wang then worked to understand how psychedelics change patterns of activity in multiple brain regions and cell types, tackling how they fundamentally alter how the brain works.  

A massive scale of discovery

The transition from theoretical work to hands-on neuroscience data analysis brought unexpected challenges. “The scale of the dataset really surprised me,” Wang admits. 

That’s also why the Institute’s collaborative culture proved invaluable for Wang. Mentors and colleagues helped navigate massive amounts of data and vast landscape of possibilities, identifying important directions and projects. “People are always willing to help and explain concepts clearly, even if they are not directly involved in my project,” Wang said. 

Above all, Wang says she has grown as a scientist. Unlike Ph.D. working closely with an advisor and pen-and-paper calculations, the Shanahan Fellowship required Wang to move into her next step of her career, starting up multiple projects with different scientists and massive data mining. She supervised a research associate in her second year, which she says helped her become a better leader, gaining confidence in project management. 

Her advice for future fellowship applicants? Take the chance and go for it. “Don’t worry if you come from a primarily theoretical background,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to broaden the horizons of your current field of study. Here, we apply mathematics to tackle challenging problems and then bring those insights back into fundamental science.” 

Her inspiring work is a testament to what happens when we work the way neurons do: together. 

“This experience has shaped me into an independent and collaborative researcher with a broader perspective on the research landscape,” said Wang. “This fellowship serves as a proving ground for the next generation of fearless and interdisciplinary scientists and opens the doors for people from diverse backgrounds to join the world of neuroscience.”