Emily Ward

WHERE I'M FROM

Boulder, CO

BEFORE VS

I earned my B.S. from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where I double-majored in cell/molecular biology and neuroscience and minored in chemistry. (Roll Wave!) I then did my MSc Biological Sciences by Research at Royal Holloway, University of London. There, I carried out a project related to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease. After graduating (and during the pandemic), I worked as a Medical Writer in New York City for 2 years. This experience gifted me valuable insights and perspective into the clinical applications and patient-centered approaches to science.

WHY I’M HERE

After having worked as a Medical Writer, I decided I wanted to apply my wet-lab background in a multidisciplinary research setting where I would also gain exposure to clinical methods and real patients. I aspire to be a scientist who focuses on how her work at the bench will translate into improved patient experiences in the clinic. This program allows me to merge this goal with my long-standing love of vision science as a discipline.

MY RESEARCH

I plan to research retinal degeneration, optic neuropathy, and/or the structure-function relationship of retinal disease. In the long term, I'm also interested in topics related to visual perception and how it may apply to studies of cognition, consciousness, and psychedelics. Vision science is a broad (and great) realm which happens to encompass all my interests!

MY GOALS

To become a faculty member of the UC Berkeley School of Optometry & Vision Science, of course.

MY HOBBIES

Writing, reading, running/hiking, skiing, and seeing live music.