Data Analytics North Carolina

Neha Venkatesh

*** ***** ***** ** *** A**, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 • *********.******@*****.*** • 908-***-**** Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill August 2021 - May 2025 (expected) Chapel Hill, NC

B.S. Neuroscience, B.S. Applied Mathematics, and Minor in Statistics and Data Analytics Overall GPA: 3.94

Honors and Awards

Buckley Public Service Scholar

Carolina Research Scholar

Clifford A. Warren Excellence in Mathematics Award DAR Excellence in History Award

National Merit Finalist

National Honor Society

2025

2024

2021

2021

2021

2021

Laboratory Research Experience

Assistant Researcher, Parekh Lab UNC Neuroscience Department Jan 2023 - Present

-Researching the possibility of utilizing MDMA as a treatment for PTSD

-Utilizing qPCR to compare levels of expression of various genes linked to stress response and MDMA dependence in various regions of mice brains across mice that were given saline and MDMA

-Awarded a Lindquist Undergraduate Research Grants to help fund my research on the subject

-Working on an honors thesis titled “Effects of Acute MDMA Exposure on Serotonergic System Associated Genes: Sert1, Grin2b, Psd-95, and 5-Ht2ar”, defense date: March 31st, 2025 Assistant Researcher, PML Lab UNC Applied Mathematics Department 2021 - 2022

-Studied superdiffusion (t3) in silicon walking droplets through MATLAB simulations

-Also aided in experimental setup and became familiar with using the laser cutter, droplet generator, and soldering

Volunteer Researcher, Gopal Lab Yale Pathology Department 2020 - 2021

-Volunteer in lab researching the effect of ALS-linked Ataxin-2 Polyglutamine Expansions on TDP-43 transport and mRNA localization in neurons

-Introduced to laboratory techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, and transfection Presentations

ALS Nexus, Dallas, TX, July 2024. Wijegunawardana, D., Nayak, A., Vishal, S., Venkatesh, M., Gopal, P. “Ataxin2 polyQ Expansions Sequester TDP-43 within Aberrant Ribonucleoprotein Condensates, Impair mRNA Transport along the Axon, and Suppress Local Translation” (poster). OUR Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Chapel Hill, NC, April 2024. Venkatesh, N. “Effects of Acute MDMA Exposure on Sert1, Psd-95, 5-Ht2ar, and Grin2b in the Dorsal Hippocampus” (poster). OUR Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Chapel Hill, NC, April 2024. Venkatesh, N., Liu, S. “Analyzing Ion Dynamics in Muscle Contraction: Expanding on Electrophysiology in the 1981 Morris-Lecar Model”

(poster).

Publications

Wijegunawardana, D., Nayak, A., Vishal, S. S., Venkatesh, N., & Gopal, P. P. (2025). Ataxin-2 polyglutamine expansions aberrantly sequester TDP-43 ribonucleoprotein condensates disrupting mRNA transport and local translation in neurons. Developmental Cell, 60(2), 253-269.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2024.09.023

Neha Venkatesh

303 Smith Level Rd Apt A23, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 • *********.******@*****.*** • 908-***-**** Clinical Experience

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) April 2024 - Present

-Assisting with patients’ activities of daily living such as bathing, transferring between bed and wheelchair, and taking vital signs

-Works with the rest of the healthcare team to monitor patients’ status and work towards Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 2019 - 2021

-Ride with the Watchung Rescue Squad and have a certification as an EMT in the state of New Jersey and am a Nationally Certified EMT (2020 - 2023)

-Worked as an EMT during the pandemic and provided patient care

-Completed a course in Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support and certified Extracurricular Activities

Undergraduate Learning Assistant 2022 - 2025

-Attended lecture/lab and helped students with any questions they had on the material being taught and led review sessions before exams for the following courses:

-CHEM 261: Organic Chemistry I (Spring 2023)

-MATH 233: Calculus of Functions of Several Variables (Fall 2023)

-NSCI 277: Addiction Neuroscience qPCR Laboratory (Spring 2024 and Fall 2024)

-Math Help Center Volunteer for math courses up to Calc 3 (Fall 2022) Course-Based Research Experience

MATH 564: Mathematical Modeling for the Life Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill Fall 2023

-Conducted research exploring an ODE system describing muscle fiber excitation in muscle fibers

(Morris-Lecar Model)

-Extended the analysis of the system to bifurcations of the steady states for various parameter values and expanded the system to consider both calcium influx from the extracellular space as well as from the sarcoplasmic reticulum

-Presented proposal and final research in front of the class and created a write-up consisting of an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and paths forward. PSYC 270: Research Methods in Psychology, UNC-Chapel Hill Summer 2022

-Completed an IRB application, wrote a literature review, and designed a study that would test the impact of different note-taking mediums (hand-written, typing, and digital pen) SOCI 101: Sociological Perspectives, UNC-Chapel Hill Fall 2022

-Wrote a literature review and currently conducting a study to understand gender based differences in the perception of working moms in comparison to stay at home moms within college-aged individuals AP Biology, Watchung Hills Regional High School Spring 2021

-Wrote a Small Research Grant Program (R03) grant proposal as a final project assignment, wrote all sections of the grant proposal, including a literature review and overview of the methods of the study, and had to defend the significance of the research in front of the class

-Study focused on the effects of consuming meat substitutes in the sodium levels and blood pressure of mice

Contact this candidate