Monica is a PhD student in the Physiology and Neurobiology program at the University of Connecticut. She has been passionate about advancing the understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders, a journey deeply rooted in her personal experience of losing her twin sister to such a condition. This profound experience inspired Monica to pursue a doctorate, where she conducts research on rare neurodevelopmental disorders under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Mulkey. Her current work focuses on Rett syndrome (RTT), investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying respiratory problems in RTT, with the goal of identifying potential therapeutic targets. Monica’s commitment to the rare disease community has also sparked her interest in OCNDS, which has led to her involvement with the CSNK2A1 Foundation. Outside of research, Monica enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Monica Strain
Here's what Monica says about her internship experience:
"My experience with this internship has been incredibly meaningful, opening my eyes to new career paths beyond my Ph.D. and showing me what compassionate and purpose driven work in patient advocacy truly looks like. I have always been interested in the intersection of science and medicine, but this internship gave me a real understanding of how that passion can translate into practice. I am deeply grateful to the Foundation for giving me this sense of clarity and direction, and I look forward to continuing to learn and build relationships within the patient advocacy community."