Janei Manigault

Research Topic: High-Grade Meningioma The MIND Summer Experience Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) offers students an immersive opportunity to explore neuroscience through hands-on research, clinical shadowing, and mentorship. Participants engage in cutting-edge research projects alongside experienced clinical neuroscience faculty and researchers. Additionally, the program includes shadowing experiences in clinical settings, allowing students to observe procedures and patient care firsthand. As part of the program, I conducted independent research on high-grade meningioma, a complex form of brain tumor, under the mentorship of Nathan C. Rowland, MD, PhD, FAANS, FACS. My research involved collecting, organizing, and analyzing scientific and clinical literature to develop a comprehensive presentation on the topic. Through clinical shadowing and research activities, I gained exposure to neuroscience, neurosurgical research, clinical medicine, and the application of scientific research to patient care while strengthening my skills in data analysis, critical thinking, scientific communication, and presentation development. I also observed physicians across multiple specialties and presented my research findings and clinical observations to an audience of medical professionals on July 25, 2025. This immersive experience provided a well-rounded understanding of both the research and clinical aspects of neuroscience while preparing me for future opportunities in medicine and biomedical research. Program Period: June 1, 2025 to July 31, 2025.

Research Topic: Reducing Cigarette Craving: Comparing Theta Burst Stimulation and 10 Hz Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. The DART Summer Research Internship at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) provides undergraduate students with an immersive research experience focused on substance use disorders, addiction science, and clinical neuroscience. As part of the program, I worked alongside Xingbao Li, MD, MSCR, MS, and the clinical research staff while contributing to an ongoing clinical research study comparing intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) and 10 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as approaches to reducing cigarette craving and supporting smoking cessation. My responsibilities included assisting with participant recruitment, study coordination, and research activities while gaining hands-on exposure to MRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) procedures. I also prepared a research abstract and scientific poster and presented the project's findings at DART Summer Research Day. This experience strengthened my understanding of clinical research, neuroscience, addiction treatment, and the application of scientific research to patient care while enhancing my research and scientific communication skills. Program Period: May 18, 2026 to July 24, 2026.