Undergraduate Neuroscience Research Fuels Sammi Goldblatt's Curiosity And Ambitions

Sammi Goldblatt ’27 loves scientific research.

Not a little…a lot.

At Keene State College, much to Sammi’s liking, undergraduates can get their fill of this form of academic exploration. Sammi spent part of her summer in the neuroscience lab at the College, where she is a curious psychology and Holocaust & genocide studies double major.

Sammi is assisting her lead professor, Harlan Fichtenholtz, in his ongoing research on identifying the emotions participants with Parkinson’s Disease have difficulty expressing deliberately. At the same time, she continues her inquiry into how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) affect the cardiovascular system’s reactivity to stress.

Sammi concluded her summer work by joining other Keene State summer research students at the NH-INBRE Annual Meeting at Omni Mount Washington Resort.

NH-INBRE is a collaborative network of two- and four-year colleges in New Hampshire, of which Keene State is one of nine. The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the University of New Hampshire lead the program.

NH-INBRE identifies and funds biomedical researchers among faculty members of the partner institutions so they can lead research programs in this field. Their work offers students like Sammi the opportunity to directly experience this kind of professional scientific investigation.

Back on campus for a second year, Sammi hasn’t skipped a beat. She is back in the lab working on both research projects.

One might ask where she finds the time. On campus, Sammi is a tour guide for the Admissions Office, a student ambassador, a community assistant in her residence hall, an orientation leader, president of the Jewish Student Union, vice president of the College’s Make a Wish Club, and a student tutor.

A Hopkinton, N.H., native, Sammi is among the 33 percent of Keene State students who, as part of their liberal arts education, work alongside faculty members on research projects that spark curiosity, make learning fun, and prepare them to hit the real world running.

She enjoys the liberal arts College’s intimate class sizes, integrated curriculum, and guided instruction. Learning why people do certain things and how to use that information to make meaningful change drives everything she does.

“Psychology is the best major to learn about helping people,” Sammi said. “We are all forever changing and growing, and my areas of study – my research – are great ways to learn more about myself. Learning how our brains work and why some things happen to some people and not others, will help us learn how to work together and make the world the best it can be.”

Her research opportunity arose from Professor Fichtenholtz’s psychological research methods class.

“I love research, for fun or class,” Sammi said. “Working in the lab has shown me other sides of psychology that I never would have found at this time. … The joy of college is that you can grow and find yourself. Keene State encourages students to get involved and supports them in that process.

“College has taught me to get involved, do as much as you can, and live one day at a time. I don’t know where this leads me, but if I’m happy and helping people, that is my ideal life. I feel like I am on that path.”

A Keene State education is about unleashing passion and igniting potential. Sammi is a perfect example of what’s possible.

Learn more about psychology and neuroscience studies at Keene State