Trainee Spotlight: Layla Vasquez

As an undergraduate at California State University, Bakersfield, Layla majored in psychology. Then, a single class sparked a new path: neuroscience.

“I took a biological psychology class and was fascinated by the complexity of the brain and its direct influence on how we behave,” she explains. “My goal now is to become a professor and principal investigator of my own behavioral neuroscience laboratory.”

A third-year PhD student in USC’s Neuroscience Graduate Program, Layla works in the lab of Brian Dias, PhD, at CHLA. There, she is studying Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a rare genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability, behavior problems and short stature.

“My research is investigating the cognitive consequences of knocking out one of the genes implicated in PWS in specific populations of neurons,” she says. “My hope is to shed light on the neurobiology underlying the cognitive deficits associated with this condition.”

Layla is also passionate about mentoring undergraduate students in research experiences—particularly youth who have historically been underrepresented in STEM careers. “It is equally important to me to be a mentor to these students and give them the tools and confidence to pursue their academic goals,” she shares.

Originally from Fresno, California, Layla loves to play soccer in her free time. You can find her on the field at least three times a week.