This fall, Matthew Danielson ‘21 embarked on a new academic journey. The chemistry major headed across the Atlantic to King’s College London to pursue a master’s in neuroscience. He contemplated a handful of postgraduate plans, but ultimately, his personal experiences swayed the decision.
“I have a rare disease, which is very poorly understood,” said Danielson. “The lack of research around it, and similar headache conditions, disturbs me and has motivated me to spend my time studying these kinds of conditions. That being said, I don’t know anything about neuroscience, so I looked into postgraduate programs and funding to try and spend a year learning about what this field is actually like.”
Danielson plans on eventually attending a Ph.D. program to continue studying chemistry, but he’s eager to find out what his one-year master’s program can offer first. “I hope that this year will help prepare me for a research career that might let me help the many with enigmatic neurological disorders,” he said.
Enrolling in a graduate program is stressful, especially for Danielson, who has never taken a neuroscience course before. Still, he’s excited to delve into a new field of study. He’s also excited about the opportunity to explore a new city and new country––if he enjoys his time, he may consider staying in London long-term. Most importantly, he’ll be able to help others like him.
“My severe health problems affect every part of my life, with few viable medical solutions,” he said. “I hope that I can help to understand, and eventually treat, these kinds of conditions.”
“Where They’re Headed” is a blog series chronicling the post-collegiate plans of recent Haverford graduates.