“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not”
About Dopamine Diaries
Dopamine Diaries is a space where students in neuroscience and psychology share their academic and career journeys.
I started Dopamine Diaries for my younger self trying to figure out what to do with a Science degree and the possible career pathways in the brain sciences. The aim of this newsletter is to provide students with different perspectives and potential career paths with a neuroscience and/or psych degree, how to get research opportunities in those field, and more! The contact of their interviewees are provided at the end for you to reach out and seek more advice from them!
This newsletter was heavily inspired by Sachi Chan. You learn more about lore for Dopamine Diaries here.
You learn more about Dopamine Diaries Values here.
How to get the best out of Dopamine Diaries?
Don’t compare! It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-comparison when reading the interviews. The goal of Dopamine Diaries is understand that there is no “linear path” in a career and how others manage uncertainty and rejections. Remember that growth often begins outside of your comfort zone! This newsletter is also here to increase your network and potential opportunities!
Connect with the interviewees: if the interviewer’s story resonated with you or you’re curious to learn more about their journey, their contact information is provided near the end.
In your message, mention that you learned about their journey through Dopamine Diaries and specific questions you have. Don’t be afraid to reach out! As T. Roosevelt said, “do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.
Self-reflection: don’t mindlessly read, ask yourself:
Which aspect of their story aligned with you?
What opportunities and events did I discover from this interview? (look at the hyperlinks the interviewees shared and ask yourself: does the organization or programs aligns with my goals? Should I reach out to someone in that organization or the interviewee themselves?)
You don’t need to know all of the answers, but reflecting will help you notice patterns that align or don’t align with your goals
Share with others: share the newsletter with your friends, family and your network. Share with them about something you learned, what piece of information that stood out to you, or if they are curious in learning more about the brain sciences.
Why subscribe?
If you’re high school or undergraduate student interested in neuroscience and psychology, but don’t know how to send a cold email, get research opportunities, or who you should reach out to…you’re in the right place!
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Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
Thanks for reading and welcome to the Dopamine Diaries community! 🧠 💌
