A Place for the Curious

Kenneth David ’21, Park Rapids, Minn.
Majors/Minors: Neuroscience and Psychology; Chemistry and Religion

Fascination with Research

I find the sciences utterly fascinating because they discover how the world works, from the subatomic to the cosmic. As a deeply curious person, research – the systematic process of acquiring knowledge – unlocks a greater understanding and wonder about this beautiful world we get to live in. My favorite part of research is finding the line between what’s known and what’s unknown, and then asking why we don’t know it yet. For me, it’s all about the brain. How a 3-pound ball of jelly between our ears makes trillions of calculations each second, stitching together our internal and external reality never ceases to astound me.

Why should a student interested in research consider Concordia?

Concordia is a special place where curious students learn firsthand what it means to pursue their passions at the collegiate level. We have professors across all disciplines conducting high-level research, and those faculty focus on exposing undergrad students to amazing research. I’m lucky to work with Dr. Strand, head of the neuroscience program, and continually learn about the brain from a cellular and molecular level. No matter what interest(s) you have, conducting research is, I think, the perfect way to deepen your relationship with that field and ask questions that don’t have answers in the back of the book.

How has the ISC made a difference for student research at Concordia?

The new Integrated Science Center is – bar the incredible professors – the main reason I initially considered Concordia. As a learning and research space, it’s top notch. The equipment and lab space is phenomenal, which makes a huge difference both in classwork and research. I’ve had countless conversations with faculty and students on topics ranging from the weather to the nature of reality. And that’s pretty awesome – I deeply love both.

How has Concordia prepared you for life after college?

Concordia’s commitment to preparing students to personally and professionally influence the world has hit home. My undergraduate training for a professional scientific career has been excellent. Furthermore, Concordia promotes interdisciplinary inquiry and co-curricular activities as part of a liberal arts foundation. As much as I admire neuroscience, I’m equally fascinated by the works of C.S. Lewis, body politics, singing in an excellent choir, and the academic study of religion. Before Concordia, only one of those topics piqued my interest. The ability to genuinely connect with course material and buy into a program, be that Organic Chemistry or Arts of Asia, is a lifelong skill I’m privileged to possess.

How are you using the Cobber network?

Dr. Mark Sundrud ’00 visited campus during my first semester at Concordia. As a professor of immunology at Scripps Research, his work blew me away. I connected with him after his lecture, and that conversation spurred my application to Scripps’ summer research program, SURF. I was fortunate enough to gain a summer position at Scripps, and my work in San Diego cemented my desire to pursue neuroscience research as a professional career.

What are your plans for after college?

I plan on attending graduate school after Concordia, where I can focus my in-depth studies of the brain. After graduate and postdoctoral training, I will combine my twin passions of teaching and research as a professor at the university level. Hopefully, I will pursue some of neuroscience’s biggest questions while mentoring the next generation of young scientists.

^{Published January 2019}