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Emily Lin is a 2002 graduate of the Master's program. Upon finishing her degree, she took a position as lab manager and research associate in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph Bass, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Northwestern. Emily is currently a student at the University of Illinois-Chicago medical school.

"Ultimately, all human behavior, whether conscious or unconscious, stems from the processes occurring in the complex networks of nerve cells making up what is arguably the most intricate control system in our body. It was this romantic view of neuroscience that drew me to the field, and my education and research experiences in neurobiology as an undergraduate that only intensified my interest.

I wanted to be a part of the graduate program in neurobiology and physiology at Northwestern because it gives you the flexibility needed for such a vast and rapidly changing field. The course material is comprehensive, and the research allows you to experience the most recent discoveries in neuroscience. The program also appeals to many people because it’s one of the few in which you can complete course work and defend a thesis in just one year.

My thesis project was about the Clock gene mutation, which increases periodicity and reduces sleep time in mice. To obtain my results, I carried out tests for glucose metabolism, performed surgical procedures, and implemented various molecular biology as well as immunological techniques. This led to the exciting discovery that body weight constancy is affected by alterations in feeding and metabolic rate rhythms, which in turn result in dysfunction in glucose regulation. Thus, this project has suggested new targets for intervention in diabetes and obesity.”