![](https://www.vai.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/002_Vanessa-Howland_091423-scaled-e1694791445491.jpg)
Biography
Undergraduate university: University of California, Santa Cruz
Thesis: Investigating viral infection as a potential trigger for Parkinson’s disease
Mentor: Darren Moore, Ph.D.
Experience: Vanessa worked in the Smith Lab at UCSC investigating Mn-induced changes in gene transcript levels of key PFC catecholaminergic system proteins TH, D2 and DAT in an animal model.
Hometown: Aptos, CA
Hobbies: Reading, arts and crafts.