Cross-disciplinary research gives Biomedical Sciences major early lab experience

Most afternoons, sophomore biomedical sciences major John Walker finishes classes and crosses campus to Cary Hall, where he contributes to ongoing work in the Neurobehavioral Dynamics Lab. The Tuscaloosa native has found a cross-disciplinary home there, working at the intersection of clinical practice and neuroscience. Supported by federally funded research grants, the lab gives Walker the chance to take part in projects that address real clinical questions and advance understanding of learning and behavior.

Within his first year, he contributed to a literature review that has since been submitted for publication, gave an award-winning presentation at Auburn’s Undergraduate Research Symposium and joined a collaborative project with a faculty member at Johns Hopkins Medicine. He is also helping launch a new eyeblink conditioning study designed to shed light on how the brain learns and how cerebellar function may differ among individuals with ADHD.

Below, Walker shares how early immersion in research has shaped his academic path and strengthened his interest in medicine.

Q: You’re a biomedical sciences major working in a psychological sciences lab. What drew you to a research setting outside your own college?
Walker: I liked the idea of getting experience in a completely different academic setting. Working in the College of Liberal Arts gives me a cross-disciplinary perspective that connects psychology, neuroscience and medicine. Before joining the lab, I pictured research as lab coats and test tubes, but this is nothing like that. It’s hands-on, practical and involves real people. Seeing that helped me realize how many different forms research can take.

Q: One of the most hands-on parts of your work is supporting children during weekly assessment sessions. How has that shaped your understanding of clinical research?
Walker: Working with kids with neurodevelopmental disorders has been one of the most meaningful parts of my time here. We focus on figuring out what causes certain behaviors and how to help study participants communicate in more appropriate ways. Seeing how far some of these kids have come since I started has been really cool. It shows you that research isn’t just collecting data — it affects real people.

Q: Alongside that clinical work, you’re helping launch a new eyeblink conditioning project. How has that introduced you to the neuroscience side of the lab’s work?
Walker: Eyeblink conditioning has taught me a lot about how the brain learns timing. It’s a classical conditioning paradigm, so the tone predicts the air puff, and, over time, people start blinking in anticipation. We use a headset with a small sensor by the eye to measure those responses.

The cerebellum plays a major role in that kind of learning, and people with ADHD may have differences in cerebellar functioning. We want to see how their results compare to control groups. Being part of this project has made me more interested in neurology and in how research connects to medicine.

Q: As you’ve taken on new projects, how have the people in the lab supported your growth and influenced your future goals?
Walker: I’ve grown a lot because of the people in the lab. The graduate students really care about helping undergrads learn, and they answer every question I have. The lab includes me in opportunities I never expected to have this early. Having that kind of support has pushed me to keep learning and made me think more seriously about the kind of doctor and researcher I want to be. I definitely want research to be part of my career.

Q: What would you tell other students who are considering getting involved in research?
Walker: I would a hundred percent recommend it. You can make connections with so many different people, and you see how what you learn in class really does impact the real world.

I’d also tell people not to limit themselves to what they think research looks like. There are so many different opportunities out there, and COSAM and the College of Liberal Arts work together to make sure the credit counts and that you can get involved. It’s been really rewarding.