Muhammad Reza Hamid

EDUCATION

College / University

Wesleyan University

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Arts

Major Subjects

Neuroscience and Behavior, German Studies, and Psychology

Indonesia

Lab Experience

BCA assay, SDS-PAGE, Western blot, PROTEOSTAT® Protein Aggregation Assay, Malate-Glo™ assay, immunocytochemistry, cell culture, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, IMARIS 3D reconstruction

Projects / Research

June - August 2023: Investigated the interplay of neuromodulation, inflammation, and cancer progression in epidermal stem cells. RockEDU SSRP, Rockefeller University
August 2023 - May 2025: Investigated the toxicity mechanisms of organochlorine pesticides cis-chlordane and DDT on motor neurons and HEK293 cells as models to investigate their role in the development of sporadic ALS. O’Neil Lab, Wesleyan University

Scholarships / Awards

2025 – 2027:	German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Study Scholarships - Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines
2021 – 2025:	Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship
2024:	Bailey College of the Environment (COE) Research Fellowship
2024:	The Helmut and Erika Reihlen Fund for German Studies
2019 – 2020:	Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Scholarship

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

My scientific interest lies in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which aging drives the development of neurodegenerative diseases. This interest stems from the urgent need that comes with a rapidly aging population worldwide and my fascination with the complexity of neurodegeneration, cultivated during my thesis research. I am particularly intrigued by why some individuals develop neurodegenerative diseases as they age while others do not. What distinguishes the molecular and cellular phenotypes of neurons seen in healthy aging from those in which neurodegenerative disease develops? Additionally, how do the neuronal microenvironment and brain-body connection potentially contribute to the disease pathogenesis? I aim to center my research around answering these questions, believing that the complexity of aging and neurodegeneration requires an integrated, multidisciplinary approach.