Hi everyone! My name is Deepa Rajan (pronounced Dee-Pah Rah-Jen), and I am a 21-year-old scientist currently living in Bangalore (pronounced Bang-ah-loor), India and working at the National Centre for Biological Sciences. I grew up in Austin, Texas and I went to college in Nashville, Tennessee at Vanderbilt University, where I studied neuroscience and violin performance.
Neuroscience is a field centered around understanding how the brain works. During my college years, I worked on creating a medicine that would improve the memory of people with Alzheimer’s disease, which is a brain disorder that makes some elderly people forget parts of their life. After I graduated from Vanderbilt University, I decided to travel to India so I could study the brains of insects. India is full of many different types of ecosystems, which are communities of plants and animals, so it is an ideal place for observing insects both in the wild and in the laboratory, where I do most of my experiments. I am interested in finding out how certain insects identify objects, make decisions, and learn, just like you and I do!
When I am not exploring the world as a scientist, I like to write and play the violin. I am actually working on my first novel right now! I also enjoy spending time with friends and family. My parents and my younger brother live in Austin, Texas. I look forward to getting to know you and sharing this wonderful country!
