Featured video: Fernanda De La Torre’s long journey to MIT
Fernanda De La Torre went by way of an extended journey earlier than changing into a doctoral pupil in MIT’s Division of Mind and Cognitive Sciences (BCS). She grew up in Mexico and crossed the border to the US by foot on the age of 12, seeking to escape an abusive household relationship. For years, De La Torre was unhoused and undocumented, attempting to navigate her schooling and path to citizenship.
She finally earned a university scholarship and fell in love with science. After collaborating in a postbac program at MIT she was invited to use for a doctoral program on the Institute. At present De La Torre is a PhD pupil working in two totally different labs in BCS: Josh McDermott’s lab, the place she works on multisensory notion, and Robert Yang’s MetaConscious Lab, the place she makes use of neural networks to discover questions on self-awareness.
“One of many issues I see my life taking type in,” she says, “is utilizing science and my neighborhood work as a approach to assist individuals get to that place of understanding, ‘Oh wow, my subjective perspective isn’t the last word fact!’”
Video by: Lillie Paquette/Division of Mind and Cognitive Sciences | 5 min, 34 sec