Ariel Nieves, a doctoral student at Stony Brook University’s Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, is researching the origins and progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Working in Roger Sher’s laboratory, Nieves aims to understand why certain brain cells are affected by ALS while others remain healthy, and how the disease spreads through neural circuits.
“ALS is a condition where motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord begin to die,” Nieves said. “Most cases are actually sporadic, meaning we don’t know exactly what triggers them. I’m interested in understanding what might be sufficient to start the disease and what factors contribute to how it spreads through the brain.”
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, causes progressive muscle weakness and typically advances rapidly after diagnosis. While some forms have genetic links, most cases arise without a clear cause. In her research, Nieves uses animal and cellular models to examine how different genetic mutations influence the movement of ALS-related pathology within interconnected brain regions.
“One of the most exciting things we’ve seen is that different genetic mutations seem to affect different brain areas, even when the disease starts in the same place,” she said. “That suggests there may be unique pathways through which the disease spreads.”
Nieves did not initially plan on becoming a neuroscientist; her undergraduate studies focused on biopsychology with an interest in behavior. Over time, her interests shifted toward understanding biological mechanisms behind behavior and disease.
“I became more interested in the ‘how,’” she said. “What are the mechanisms underneath behavior or disease?”
Mentorship played a significant role in guiding her toward neuroscience research. At Stony Brook University, graduate students rotate through several labs before choosing their dissertation focus. Conversations with faculty led Nieves to join Sher’s lab.
“After reading some of the papers and talking with Dr. Sher about his work, I felt this spark of curiosity,” she said. “Those moments where you suddenly think, ‘I feel like a scientist and I want to get my hands into this.’”
In addition to laboratory work, Nieves is pursuing an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Science Communication at Stony Brook’s Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. The program helps scientists explain complex topics clearly for broader audiences.
“I realized that if I couldn’t explain my work to my own family, then I needed to learn how to communicate it better,” she said. “The Alda Center has helped me think more about audience, storytelling and how to humanize science.”
She believes these skills support both public engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration: “Different disciplines often stay in their own silos,” she said. “But the fastest way to move science forward is to build bridges between those areas.”
Within Stony Brook’s neuroscience community, graduate students participate in seminars designed for peer learning—such as “Home Turf,” organized by Narmin Mekawy and Srividya Pattisapu—which allow students from various specialties to share research informally.
“It’s a student-only seminar where we can share our research and build connections across different areas of neuroscience,” Nieves said. “It’s been a really great way to strengthen the community.”
Mentorship remains central for Nieves as she navigates academia as a first-generation college student: “Mentorship means everything to me,” she said. “Good mentorship makes you feel supported and shows you what’s possible.”
Looking ahead, she hopes one day to lead her own lab while encouraging young people from underrepresented backgrounds into scientific careers.
“I want people in the communities I come from to see that they can belong in science,” she said. “Representation matters.”
Nieves emphasizes that progress depends on collective effort: “Science is never done by just one person,” she said. “It’s a collective effort. The more we work together and communicate across fields, the faster we can make discoveries that improve people’s lives.”
