Daniel Dykes

Daniel Dykes first got interested in neuroscience as he watched doctors on the fictional TV program 鈥淗ouse.鈥� Now he鈥檚 studying the topic at UAF and plans to eventually earn both a doctorate and a medical degree.

At North Pole High School, Dykes said, he made a 鈥渄umb mistake鈥� and got suspended. He enrolled in an alternative program and regained eligibility to attend the school, but he decided not to.

鈥淚 was already taking all my classes online,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I was like 鈥業 might as well just go here and finish my school up early so I have time to work and save up for college.鈥欌€�

Through the alternative program, he met a UAF admissions counselor.

鈥淪he told me all of the scholarships that I鈥檇 be getting and the research opportunities that I could do here,鈥� he said.

Dykes secured a scholarship with the Biomedical Learning and Student Training program. Through it, he receives tuition and a stipend, and he participates in two research labs.

In one lab, he鈥檚 helping study obsessive-compulsive disorder by collecting data on mice that are bred to exhibit such behavior. 鈥淲e鈥檙e testing the effects of social isolation on mice that have OCD,鈥� he said.

In the other lab, he鈥檚 helping with studies related to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, which can cause people living with the human immunodeficiency virus to have trouble with memory and learning.

鈥淚t is some cool stuff,鈥� Dykes said. 鈥淯AF has got some great research going on for neuroscience.鈥�