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Neuroscience alumna applies ������˾�� skills to ALS research

Ph.D. candidateHannahGreenland�21spends her time at Indiana University School of Medicine researchingAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a nervous system and neurodegenerative disease that affects motor skills and impacts nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.Specifically looking atALS proteins in mouse and cell models, Greenland hopes to help people with ALS by understanding how the proteins affect spinal motor neurons. �I�mlucky to enjoy what I do.It�svery personal,� shared Greenland. �My work is fascinating because it�s a developing field andthere area lot of ways that this can be seen in the future.�Her fascinationwithneuroscience andthe idea ofhelping people with her researchinfluenced her search forcolleges, shaping both herundergradand post-gradeducation path.

A neuroscience��������ǰ������Ի� French andFrancophone studiesminor at ������˾��,Greenlandnoticed the College whenlooking for small institutions with a recognized neuroscience path.�I knew I wanted to go into neuroscience right away,� said Greenland. �������˾�� was one of the only small colleges that offered the program.�Her immediate connection to the facultyand studentsshe met during visitsto campushelped solidify her choice. �I found myself interested in what students were pursuing with their studies, and I wanted to be part of that.�

As a STEM major and humanities minor,Greenland�s college curriculumconsisted of classes witha multi-disciplinary view of the world. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person classes and limited lab time, Greenland had to learn how to completeresearch and lab workina very differentenvironment than she was used to. Completing her seniorI.S., titled �,�in this controlled environment may have been stressful, but Greenland appreciated the time she did have to work on her project. �Living on campus during this time, I went intolabto do my research despite labs for classes not being in-person,� said Greenland. �It gave me somewhere else to go on campus, gave me anotherreason to be there.�

Greenland�s I.S.was away for Greenland to get back to her researching interests during this time of stress.Focused onobservingdifferent colorsand genesof bettafish, Greenland wanted to find out ifthe color of betta fishimpactedtheir recognition of other fish of the same color, emphasizing the cross-section between vision and pigmentation.While Greenland found no conclusive evidence of this,her work with I.S. prepared her for hercurrent work as a Ph.D. candidate at Indiana University School of Medicine, where she has been working towards adegreeinmedicalneuroscience since 2022.�There�s a culture of curiosity in all different areas of my work, and ������˾�� made me want to continueresearchingevenaftergetting mybachelor�sdegree,� said Greenland. �������˾�� really helped me think this was possible and enjoy the journey of completing my own research.�

Meeting Indiana University representatives while at a graduate research event at ������˾��, Greenland praises the College for its ability to connect students to post-grad opportunities. �Sometimes you do little things and don�t know the result until the future,� said Greenland. �I got really lucky.� With her current work, Greenland is able to build off the preliminary research skills she learned from the College. �I find my work rewarding, and I�m enjoying the research process even through daily struggles and failures. I�m nowhere close to being done, but I go in everyday, do my work, and try again the next day,� Greenland shared. �������˾�� gave me the opportunity to learn about research, not just through I.S., but my classes.�

Featured image: Hannah Greenland ’21, photo provided by subject.

Posted in Alumni on January 28, 2026.