Amematsro is working in the Caron lab, in the School of Biological Sciences, exploring how evolution and the environment shape the connections made by neurons in the brain. It’s an ideal research space for Amemastro to apply her undergraduate major in mathematics to her interests in biology and the brain.
Amematsro’s undergraduate research looks to understand how olfactory systems (the sense of smell) have evolved in two fruit fly subspecies, D. yakuba yakuba and D. yakuba mayottensis. These species serve as models for studying how ecological specialization, such as the ability to feed on the toxic Morinda citrifolia fruit, reshapes brain structures over time. By constructing 3D maps of the flies’ antennal lobes (the fruit fly nose), the Caron Lab is working on furthering our understanding of how environmental pressures influence the organization of neurons in the brain. This question is at the intersection of biology, neuroscience, and mathematical modeling, and is even relevant to understanding how experiences and the environment can change the architecture of the human brain.
“There’s quite a bit of math in neurobiology, especially when it comes to creating models that explain the dynamics of a biological system,” Amematsro explains. “I’m excited to get deeper into that after expanding my math background.”
Outside the lab, Prisca is an active member of the Film Production Club, the Black Student Union, and Utah Student Robotics, blending creativity and
engineering in everything she does. She volunteers with the Rape Recovery Center and builds hands-on learning kits for students at Twin Peaks Elementary. When she’s not studying or serving her community, you can find her sketching, reading, or playing bass guitar.
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hen asked what lesson she’s taking with her after graduation, Prisca doesn’t hesitate: “It’s okay to start something without knowing everything.” It’s a mindset that’s helped her grow into a confident undergraduate researcher who takes bold steps, like diving into biology with a math background, or applying for one of the nation’s most competitive undergraduate research awards.”
Graduating in 2027, Amematsro plans to continue her exploration of the brain by pursuing a Ph.D in Cognitive Neuroscience. “Cognitive science combines the theories and methods of fields that I adore, such as computer science, philosophy, and neuroscience, and binds them together with the goal of understanding cognition,” she explains.
By Isabel DuBay and Vedi Vekaria, communications interns, School of Biological Sciences