Claire Tang is a Biology major and Mathematics minor finishing her junior year at Emory College. She conducts neuroscience research in the Department of Biology under the guidance of Associate Professor Astrid Prinz, and is one of only three undergraduate recipients of a prestigious fellowship in Computational Neuroscience awarded by Emory and the Georgia Institute of Technology (see http://compneurosci.college.emory.edu/).

Claire grew up in Los Angeles and was a part of the Highly Gifted Magnet at North Hollywood High School. She always knew that she was going to major in the sciences once in college, and that she wanted to get involved in scientific research, so she chose Emory because of the diverse undergraduate research opportunities it offers.

After taking a sociology class on mental health, a psychology class on cognition, and a class on introductory neurobiology (BIO360/NBB301, taught by faculty from the Department of Biology), Claire discovered her passion for neuroscience. In her own words: “What interests me most about neuroscience is how it is the basis of things like psychology and sociology and everything that people do and are capable of.”

Claire decided to pursue her neuroscience interest while majoring in Biology, and added a minor in Mathematics because she was drawn to math classes that help her cultivate her mathematical view of science and the world. Through her course work and her research in the Department of Biology she has become part of the departmental community. Claire: “I have gotten to know a lot of faculty in the biology department and I'm really glad I chose Biology. It has been very rewarding to work in Dr. Prinz’ lab.”

Claire also enjoys the additional exposure to science she receives as a fellow in the Computational Neuroscience training program: “Receiving the fellowship was a huge honor. The thing that I enjoy most about it is definitely getting the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of undergrads, graduate students, and faculty that are involved in my favorite subject, neuroscience.”

After college Claire plans to attend graduate school and continue doing research. Her dream job would be to teach at a university. In her words: “I have always loved being a student, and I realize that it's because I love to learn. I don't think I could be satisfied with a life that didn't involve research in a field that I find fascinating.”

The Department of Biology is proud to have Claire!