Undergraduate university: University of California, Santa Cruz

Thesis: Investigating viral infection as a potential trigger for Parkinson’s disease

Mentor: Darren Moore, Ph.D.

Experience: Vanessa worked in the Smith Lab at UCSC investigating Mn-induced changes in gene transcript levels of key PFC catecholaminergic system proteins TH, D2 and DAT in an animal model.

Hometown: Aptos, CA

Hobbies: Reading, arts and crafts.