I work with neurobiology faculty across the Harvard Medical School Quadrangle to write collaborative grants for neuroscience research, in addition to writing about neuroscience research at Harvard for the general public.

What has been one of the most exciting or surprising parts of your career so far?
I was always fascinated by the brain—that a lump of cells in my skull could be the basis for everything that I feel, remember, and experience. It still amazes me that we can study the brain in a tractable way with the same tools that others use to study bacteria, the liver, and the kidney. As a postdoctoral fellow, I studied the neurobiology of sleep in fruit flies. The lab had lots of fancy tools and equipment, but I remember being utterly amazed by the ‘simple’ beauty of fly genetics, and the creativity and ingenuity of the early Drosophila researchers who recognized the utility of fly genetics in research. Neuroscientists have used these tools to make fundamental contributions to our understanding of the brain. This is something that continues to excite and surprise me—the technologies that fuel research and discovery in neuroscience.

Soha as a postdoc, studying sleep in fruit flies

Which teacher made the biggest impact on your life?
My PhD Advisor, Julia Kaltschmidt, is a fantastic scientist and human being who cared deeply about my success and happiness. She helped me develop a practical approach to study neuroscience, without taking my head out of the clouds. She taught me about how to ‘do science’ and what it means to work hard toward a goal. I remember at the end of my PhD feeling like I could do anything I wanted in neuroscience, and that is something that I carry to this day. I feel privileged to be a member of the neuroscience community.

What is the trait you admire most in others?
My bosses Michael Greenberg and Janine Zieg inspire me to be patient, kind, and to always put science first. They always have a smile on their face, and it is so motivating to work in the same office together as they do, to help their mission of moving neurobiology research forward.

What are some of your interests outside of work?
I really enjoy cooking for others, and take it very seriously. I get a lot of joy from cooking something for someone and them asking me to make it again. My specialties include Persian food and beef tinga burritos.