This month's student spotlight features Sera Balkir, a graduating senior originally from Chicago, Illinois, who serves as the president of the Duke Neuroscience Majors’ Union (NMU). Balkir’s diverse interests have led her to immerse herself in the intersection of research, medicine, and community engagement. She is currently majoring in neuroscience with minors in chemistry and global health.
Balkir chose to major in neuroscience because of her fascination with how research and medicine intersect, from understanding healthy brain circuitry to investigating the complex pathology of neurological diseases. The unique interdisciplinary nature of the field has allowed her to explore neuroscience's connections to other disciplines, such as biomedical engineering, statistics, computer science, and global health. Moreover, the practical applications of neuroscience research intrigued Balkir and fueled her curiosity, driving her desire to learn, explore, and engage in research within the field.
She is currently doing her research as part of Dr. Marc Sommer’s lab, which studies circuits for cognition. The Sommer lab focuses on the role of the frontal cortex and its communication with other cortical and subcortical areas to help answer a fundamental question in neuroscience: “How do the many, diverse parts of the brain interact to achieve visual perception and behavior?” Balkir came across Dr. Sommer’s lab during her first year at Duke, when she joined a project investigating the effects of different types of image motion on visual acuity in human subjects. The main goal was to determine effective algorithms for patients with retinal prosthetic implants. Balkir is currently wrapping up her senior research thesis, which focuses on characterizing the connectivity patterns of the amygdala and visual cortical areas. This research will help expand the understanding of how neural circuits underlying emotional behavior can modulate visual stimuli processing in the primate brain.
Outside of the laboratory, Balkir is involved with the Reproductive Health Care Bass Connections team, conducting oral history interviews with physicians for a Reproductive Care Provider Archive. This work allows her to document the experiences of providers and patients, giving her a deeper understanding of healthcare through the lens of gender and identity.
Balkir firmly believes that improving the quality of life is not only about cutting-edge discoveries in research, but also about clinical and volunteer work that connects with others in the community. She has an impressive record of community engagement, not only within Duke University but also in communities beyond Duke.
Serving as president of The Duke Muse Magazine, a student-run feminist publication that encourages informed gender empowerment, has sparked Balkir's desire to contribute to conversations in women's studies. Through DukeEngage, Balkir has had two transformative experiences related to women's rights and health. As part of the Gateway Program, she worked with Our Future of Change (OFOC), a nonprofit focused on providing education, shelter, and mental health programs for survivors of human trafficking. There, she researched U.S. policies aimed at combating human trafficking to improve the effectiveness of OFOC. She also led community meetings and fundraising efforts to support the organization. More recently, she interned with the Lower Eastside Girls Club in NYC, contributing to projects focused on providing direct counseling to nonprofit workers and programming to enhance civic education for young women across the city.
Back at Duke University, Balkir is dedicated to revitalizing the Duke Neuroscience Majors' Union (NMU). As a member of NMU, she has experienced firsthand the sense of community it fosters. For Balkir, NMU represents a space for collaboration, empowerment, and lifelong friendships. However, since COVID, NMU has been on hiatus as an active organization on campus. As part of the effort to restore NMU as a vibrant, student-led organization that promotes engagement and collaboration within Duke’s neuroscience community, Balkir seized the opportunity to run for the executive board when it presented itself. Her decision to run for NMU's Executive Board was inspired by her own experience as a reserved undergraduate, unsure of what pursuing a neuroscience degree truly meant—a sentiment shared by many other students, as she discovered through her interactions at NMU. Reflecting on how supportive interactions with peers and faculty shaped her academic path, she wanted to offer other students the same opportunity to connect, build confidence, and navigate the many career paths a neuroscience degree can open up. She hopes to help NMU become a place where students not only explore neuroscience but also develop leadership skills and advocacy.
"I ran for NMU to increase student confidence in their ability to connect with neuroscience students and faculty, and to explore all the paths one can take with a Duke neuroscience degree." - Balkir
Some of the key projects in action for NMU include a peer-mentoring program, an annual neuroscience-related art contest, and a student research series. The series features presentations from graduate and undergraduate students currently involved in research, offering an opportunity for students to connect with a diverse range of project members. Balkir hopes these opportunities will encourage the next generation of neuroscience students and her fellow peers to 'not be afraid to pave their own path.' As a graduating upperclassman, she wants to remind and encourage future neuroscience majors to embrace their unique passions, take risks, and not fear failure.
“Duke is a hub of wonderful opportunities for students, but it’s easy to get bogged down in what other students are doing, where people are interning over the summer, or how people manage to “do it all”. Being an exceptional student is immersing yourself in your unique path: try your best, fail, get up, and try again.” - Balkir
As she wraps up her senior year, Balkir plans to continue her research in neuroscience and women’s health, with an eye on medical school. Her aspiration is to become a physician-scientist in order to push forward the best evidence-based care practices for patients.
