5 Aya Osman
Aya Osman |
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Time period:1988-today Subject:Neuroscience & Pharmacology |
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Biography:The story of Dr. Osman begins in Saudi Arabia, where they were born in 1988 in the city of Jeddah. Of Sudanese origin, their parents had moved from Sudan to Saudi Arabia in the early 1980s, following a common migration path for Sudanese families. Dr. Osman spent the first seven years of their life in Jeddah before the family relocated to the United Kingdom. This move was primarily motivated by educational considerations, as Saudi Arabia’s university system was not accessible to non-Saudi nationals, and their father wanted to ensure the family could remain together while pursuing higher education. In the UK, Dr. Osman attended primary and high school, where their passion for science began to emerge. Science was the subject they consistently excelled in and genuinely enjoyed, particularly the study of molecular processes related to health and disease. Although Dr. Osman initially aspired to study medicine, their grades did not meet the requirements, leading them to pursue a degree in Biomedical Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London. Over three years, they gained a strong foundation in biology, physiology, and biochemistry. Following their graduation, Dr. Osman took the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) but, underestimating their performance, chose not to apply for medical school interviews despite receiving a competitive score. Shifting focus, Dr. Osman decided to further specialize by pursuing a Master’s degree in Toxicology at Surrey University. They found the one-year program to be an incredibly fulfilling period, as it allowed them to dive deep into a focused area of study. Among the topics covered, a module on neuropharmacology, particularly the effects of drugs of abuse like cocaine on the brain’s reward system, sparked their interest in psychiatric and neurological conditions such as schizophrenia and autism. After completing their Master’s, Dr. Osman worked for two years at Public Health England. Despite the stability and benefits of their governmental role, they found themselves deeply missing the excitement and purpose they felt during their research. Determined to return to academia, they reached out to their Master’s supervisor, expressing interest in pursuing a PhD. After a competitive selection process, Dr. Osman was offered a position, thanks in part to strong recommendations from colleagues familiar with their previous work. Dr. Osman began their PhD at Surrey University in 2013 and dedicated themselves to advancing their expertise in their chosen field. Graduating in 2018, they completed their academic journey, driven by their unrelenting curiosity and passion for scientific discovery. |
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Summary of their contributions:Dr. Aya Osman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on elucidating mechanisms by which the resident bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract, collectively known as the gut microbiome signal to influence brain development and subsequent behavior. She combines multidisciplinary approaches including the use of classical pharmacological techniques, genetic rodent models, 16S sequencing, metabolomics, transcriptomics and behavioral analysis to address research questions related to the developmental origins of neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr Osman completed her PhD training between the University of Surrey and Imperial College London in the UK. Her PhD was in neuropharmacology, investigating the development of brain opioid and oxytocin receptor systems in response to early life dietary manipulation in the form of weaning and post-weaning milk consumption in rodents. Prior to embarking on her doctoral and subsequent postdoctoral training, Dr Osman completed a Master’s Degree in Toxicology where her research project focused on the role of adenosine and glutamate receptors in cocaine addiction. She then held a position as a desk-based toxicologist for the governmental body Public Health England. She is also organizers of Black In Neuro see the empowerment resulting from their efforts as a necessary first step toward increasing the number of Black neuroscientists. They have identified a need for increased recruitment and retention of students, faculty members, and principal investigators who are Black. Mr. Simon says he has addressed these issues with the Mount Sinai administration. “Having a more diverse, inclusive faculty would go a long way,” he says. “Time will tell if it really leads to increased recruitment and retention and if promises are kept.”
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Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:Dr. Osman’s contribution to science help to uncover homeostasis issue in the brain and show the link between gut and brain and how it can affect behaviour. Her work can be use as case study for anatomy and physiology 12 for the 3 big ideas “Gene expression, through protein synthesis, is an interaction between genes and the environment” and “Organ systems have complex interrelationships to maintain homeostasis” and “Homeostasis is maintained through physiological processes” in either the gut system and the brain system Article to work with:
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