A mind of one’s own

The brain, the crown jewel of the human body, is more than just an organ. It's the seat of memory, the engine of thought and the lens through which we understand ourselves, the world and our place in the cosmos.

To learn more about the wonders of the brain and mind, we spoke with three dedicated researchers: Pablo Alvarez and Jennifer Noji, both of whom earned doctorates from UCLA this past June, and Adriana Galván, dean and vice provost of undergraduate education.

In this Q&A - and the newest episode of the UCLA College podcast "Tell Us What You Know" - the trio offers insights into how the brain protects itself, how memory can be used as a catalyst for social justice and how the universal journey of adolescence helps us become who we are and fulfill the Socratic credo: Know thyself.

The memory scholar and justice advocate: Jennifer Noji

Noji earned a Ph.D. in comparative literature from UCLA in June 2025. She is a senior development and communications manager at Densho, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans.

How would you describe the heart of your work?

My work in cultural memory studies is dedicated to understanding how the past and present are intimately connected. While we can all agree that what happens in the past affects the present, it is equally important to acknowledge that what happens in the present influences how we remember the past.

For example, public debates over monuments or history textbooks reveal how present-day values, politics and social movements shape which histories are remembered, which are silenced and how they are interpreted.

My research investigates how people - both individuals and groups - draw on memories of historical violence and resistance to challenge what they see as similar events taking place now. For instance, I've written about how contemporary Japanese American activists mobilize memories of their community's World War II incarceration experiences in order to protest migrant detention and family separation happening today.

Through their activism, these Japanese Americans not only call attention to largely overlooked memories of past violence, but they also help expand our understanding of present-day injustice, ultimately highlighting larger patterns of violence throughout our nation's history.

What's one insight from your research on cultural memory that helps us understand how the mind is shaped by - and shapes - the world around us?

That's a great question and distinction. While I don't research "the brain," strictly speaking, my work helps illuminate how what happens inside the mind is connected to everything happening outside of it, including the relationships we build, the environments we occupy and the events we experience, as well as the books and media we consume.

It goes without saying that all of us - including our brains, our memories, thoughts and feelings - are actively shaped by our environments, and yet we also shape those environments. My work in cultural memory studies reminds me that the mind - like a person - is not isolated, but profoundly intertwined with the world around it.

The viral sleuth and brain defender: Pablo Alvarez

Alvarez earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology from UCLA in June 2025.

How would you describe the research you have done and why it's important for protecting the brain?

As a teenager, I loved science fiction, especially the bizarre and outlandish variety, so I think I'd start there.

For example, take the idea of a zombie apocalypse. For something like that to happen, a powerful virus - let's hope it never exists - would have to pass the blood-brain barrier, which is no easy feat, and infect the brain's nervous system. What's funny is that this was the initial direction I had in mind for my 2025 UCLA Grad Slam-winning speech.

Although I ultimately took my speech in a different direction, I was inspired to use the idea of a zombie apocalypse as my entry point because - as a scientist studying the mechanisms behind viruses' ability to hijack the brain - I love the danger of the work that I do. There are scary viruses and pathogens in the world that can take over our brains; through my research, I hope to find ways for us to better protect our crown jewel.

What should more people know about the brain?

How much it does automatically - without us even thinking about it.

I've always been amazed by the brain's ability to control things like walking, breathing or even driving - all these complex actions that we can do while our minds are elsewhere. I think that's mostly the cerebellum at work, though a real neuroscientist could probably explain it better!

In the lab, a lot of what I do involves repetitive tasks - like moving tiny amounts of clear liquid from one tube to another. It's not glamorous, but it's essential. Sometimes I'll put on a podcast, a movie or an audiobook while I work, and even though my attention is focused on the story, my hands still know exactly what to do. The experiments still work. That's the brain doing its thing - running on autopilot in the best way.

We really take that for granted. Think about diseases like polio, which can disrupt those automatic functions. People with severe cases had to rely on machines like iron lungs just to breathe. It's a stark reminder of how much our brains do for us - and how important it is to protect them.

The faculty neuroscientist and adolescent advocate: Adriana Galván

What are a few insights you've gleaned from your research on the adolescent brain?

This doesn't just go for adolescents: Everyone should know just how important sleep is.

A good night's sleep supports many vital functions of the brain, such as neuroplasticity, which helps us learn from our mistakes, adopt new identities and manage our intake of information, allowing us to hold on to what's worth remembering, and get rid of what's not.

Do you have any advice for those who are interested in learning more about the adolescent brain?

I recommended exploring the resources, studies and programming of the UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent. We take complicated research studies and summarize them in easily digestible ways that we hope are accessible to people who do not study the adolescent brain.

What has motivated you to dedicate your career to exploring how the human brain changes during adolescence and how it supports the behaviors and the emotions that we feel during adolescence?

It all stems from the belief that the adolescent brain is such a beautiful gift we have. As humans, we're lucky to have a protracted development of the adolescent brain, giving us time to discover who we are as we're scaffolded by parents, caregivers and mentors who care about us and are invested in our ability to thrive as we enter adulthood.

Overall, the brain is a remarkable organ that allows us to be unique and singular. We should celebrate that.

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