A BIT ABOUT ME
I'm Nickash Sivakumar, a junior at the College of William & Mary pursuing a BS degree, majoring in Neuroscience. I am primarily interested in the fields of psychology, biology, chemistry, and medicine.
I have pursued my interests through internships at Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C., and the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Tamil Nadu, India. Alongside conducting research, I have engaged in many shadowing opportunities. These included working with doctors specialized in Neurology, Muscular Dystrophy, Internal Medicine, and Surgery. I hope to use my diverse experiences to pursue a career in medicine.
EDUCATION
August 2017 - Present
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY
WILLIAMSBURG, VA
Bachelor of Science | Major: Neuroscience | Minor: Psychology
Honors: Dean's List, Summa Cum Laude
Relevant Coursework: Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Organic Chemistry, Cognitive Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Social Psychology, and Physics of Life Sciences
August 2013 - June 2017
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Relevant Coursework: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Computer Science, Calculus BC, Neuroscience Research, Spanish, Psychology
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANT
May 2018 - Current
Professor Joshua Burk, Department of Psychological Sciences, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Research on attention and decision making in rats after lesioning of the cholinergic system of the basal forebrain and external stimulation of the orexinergic system in recovery
Involved in handling/surgery and sectioning using Microtome
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
May 2016 - June 2018
Dr. Subroto B. Chatterjee, Director, Sphingolipid Signaling and Vascular Biology Laboratory and Professor of Pediatrics, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Researched on glycosphingolipid (glucosylceramide) synthesis in ApoE knockout mice and its role in Atherosclerotic Plaques and resulting hair and skin loss
Performed Elisa and Bradford Assay and illustrated Cellular Pathways
STUDENT RESEARCHER
September 2016 - June 2017
Professor Mark Hannum, Neuroscience Research Lab, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), Alexandria, VA
Researched on the using an EEG to isolate brainwave spikes from eye-blinks against the background noise of the brain
Utilized a combination of MATLAB and Python to change isolated brainwaves into distinct signals to control rudimentary functions of a computer mouse
LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEERING
HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER
September 2018 - Current
Riverside Doctors Hospital, Williamsburg, VA
Assist patients in Emergency Department and Post Anesthetic Care Unit
Manage material inventory and perform clerical tasks in the Medical Surgical Unit
TEACHING ASSISTANT
January 2020 - Current
The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Prepare and grade assignments and in-class activities for Cellular Biology
Aid in class activities, discussions and lecture class as necessary
PREMED MENTOR
August 2019 – Current
The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Organize and conduct meetings for premed students to planning for the future in terms of research opportunities, volunteering, and class scheduling
Tutor students in premed core subject areas
GLOBAL HEALTH VOLUNTEER
July 2019
Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC), Kodaikanal, India
Participated in both clinical and public health education aspects of operations on-site, activities ranging from check-ups in the crèches to shadowing and assisting in basic orthopedic and primary care procedures in local hospitals
Created structured long-term health plans in areas such as Maternity health, vaccinations, basic hygiene, and checkup schedules to provide an incentive for the population to maintain good health for themselves and their children
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
September 2015 - June 2017
GIVE, Sterling, VA
Managed schedule for tutors and students
Organized enrichment activities, managed communications and outreach
PUBLICATIONS & ABSTRACTS
Bedja, D., Yan, W., Lad, V., Iocco, D., Sivakumar, N., Bandaru, V. V. R., & Chatterjee, S. (2018). Inhibition of glycosphingolipid synthesis reverses skin inflammation and hair loss in ApoE−/− mice fed western diet. Scientific Reports, 8(1).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28663-9
Abstract: Sphingolipids have been accorded numerous biological functions however, the effects of feeding a western diet (diet rich in cholesterol and fat) on skin phenotypes, and color is not known. Here, we observed that chronic high-fat and high-cholesterol diet intake in a mouse model of atherosclerosis (ApoE−/−) decreases the level of ceramides and glucosylceramide. At the expense of increased levels of lactosylceramide due to an increase in the expression of lactosylceramide synthase (GalT-V). This is accompanied with neutrophil infiltration into dermis, and enrichment of tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) protein. This causes skin inflammation, hair discoloration and loss, in ApoE−/− mice. Conversely, inhibition of glycosphingolipid synthesis, by D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-PDMP), unbound or encapsulated in a biodegradable polymer (BPD) reversed these phenotypes. Thus, inhibition of glycosphingolipid synthesis represents a unique therapeutic approach relevant to human skin and hair Biology.