This week's spotlight features Anne Charles, an upcoming senior with a passion for Neuroscience and Global Health. Charles is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, but has called Durham home for the past three years. She is currently majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Global Health.
Charles's interest in Neuroscience began during her junior year of high school. While waiting for the Florida HOSA State award show to start, she began observing the behavior and reactions of those around her. She noticed that, despite everyone experiencing the same event, their responses varied widely. This observation sparked her curiosity about human behavior, leading her to explore neuroscience, particularly its applications in understanding behavior and its intersections with health and medicine. “In health and medicine, almost everything can be seen through the lenses of neuroscience,” Charles said.
Charles recently completed the Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP), an eight-week program designed to help undergraduates kickstart their senior theses by working one-on-one with faculty mentors. She is grateful for the opportunity, as it allowed her to advance her senior thesis work. “I would never have been able to get this much work done while juggling classes and other responsibilities during the semester,” Charles stated. Inspired by a peer, her involvement in the SNP program helped her build a strong network within the research field, connecting with individuals who share similar interests. Charles highly encourages rising juniors and seniors to explore and apply for the program.
Her senior thesis extends from her current research, which focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms behind migraines in the Moore Lab, part of the Department of Neurology. The project examines how mast cells interact with the TRPV4 ion channel, which is involved in pain perception. Charles aims to determine whether modulating these mast cells could offer new treatments for migraines. This project, which started in the fall of her junior year following a previous lab assignment, has been a perfect fit for her passion. With the help of her PI, Charles joined this emerging project and partnered with another undergraduate student who has since become one of her closest friends.
Throughout her time at Duke, Charles has experienced significant personal growth, particularly in her confidence. She feels more assured in her capabilities and her role within the Duke and Durham communities. Her extensive campus involvement has also contributed to her development into a well-rounded individual. She has worked at the Perkins Library Service Desk for three years, volunteered at the Duke Cancer Center, and served on the healthcare committee of Duke’s NAACP chapter. Off-campus, Anne works as a certified nursing assistant at Duke Regional Hospital and actively participates in Duke SOCA, BSA, and Blue Devil Buddies programs. She also serves as a Neuroscience Major ambassador during graduation weekends. Outside of her academic and extracurricular commitments, Charles maintains balance through regular exercise and staying connected with friends and family.
Charles plans to pursue a master’s degree in public health or health policy before entering medical school. She aspires to contribute to healthcare equity and improve the quality of care within the system. Her dedication to medicine is driven by her experiences as a first-generation American, shaping her goal of making healthcare more equitable. Anne is committed to advocating for health equity and improving the system for everyone involved. Reflecting on her academic journey, Charles wishes she had embraced a broader range of interests and experiences, encouraging new students to explore all opportunities and fully enjoy their college experience without solely focusing on future goals.
Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
