Verma advances student-led neuroscience research, awarded fellowship

Boise State University is embedding undergraduate research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and curiosity-driven inquiry into its neuroscience program. At the forefront of this growth is Dinesh Kumar Verma, research assistant professor in neuroscience, who brings both vision and dedication to creating a student-centered academic culture around brain science.

"Our commitment is to support both undergraduate and graduate students, and everything in our lab is oriented around student involvement," Verma said. "We currently have one paper under review that's first-authored by an undergraduate student."

Verma plays a pivotal role in shaping the program, teaching half of the courses in the neuroscience program each semester and mentoring multiple student-led research projects in the Kim Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research. Verma's research explores the connections between brain function, sleep, nutrition and neurodegeneration.

This year Verma was named a 2025 Institute of Translational Health Sciences KL2 Seminar Fellow - a career development award that supports researchers transitioning from postdoctoral positions to faculty-level academic careers. Through the fellowship, he will receive mentorship, participate in interdisciplinary networking and engage in professional development aimed at expanding his research impact.

As Boise State's neuroscience program continues to grow, Verma is focused on building momentum through research, outreach and cross-disciplinary partnerships. One of the program's central goals is to connect with students and faculty across campus who are studying brain health, cognition and physiology. Verma is particularly interested in collaborative projects that explore the gut-brain connection, sleep science, nutritional neuroscience and public health related issues.

"I am looking for students who are self-motivated, intellectually curious, and genuinely interested in exploring meaningful scientific questions - especially those with a particular interest in neuroscience, and who are eager to develop skills in experimental design, data analysis and critical thinking," he said. "Curiosity is more important than experience."

Verma believes that neuroscience thrives through interdisciplinary collaboration. "If I bring expertise in neuroscience and you bring expertise in areas like sleep, nutrition or environmental issues, together we can form a more complete picture of brain health," he said. He actively fosters collaborations with principal investigators across various domains-such as molecular biology, behavior, bioinformatics, and clinical research-whose work intersects with neuroscience. His collaborative approach not only enhances the depth of research but also strengthens translational impact, particularly in areas like Parkinson's disease and neurodegeneration.

His lab is interested in investigating how environmental and lifestyle factors - including diet, sleep, and geographic location - may influence the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. "Understanding where patients with Parkinson's live, and the differences between rural and urban exposures, can give us insight into gut microbiome diversity and how treatments might vary," Verma said. Research has shown that changes in the gut microbiome may play a key role in the onset and progression of diseases like Parkinson's.

He sees unique opportunities to work with faculty in areas such as sleep research, nutrition and agriculture. "Nutrition starts at the soil," Verma said. "We need to understand food quality, not just vitamins. Sleep, nutrition and gut health all influence each other - and the brain."

With a small but passionate team driving Boise State's neuroscience efforts, Verma is committed to growing the program's reach and impact. "We're building something that's not only rigorous and research-driven," he said, "but also inclusive and powered by student curiosity."

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