Katelyn Caldarone ’24

What drew you to Bryant?

I was particularly drawn to Bryant because of the small class sizes and many opportunities to get real-world experience. The small classes have offered me opportunities to really get to know my professors. They know me by name, show genuine interest in my goals, and advocate for my success. I will always be grateful for the connections I’ve developed.

How did you choose psychology as a major?

I’m fascinated by the biological processes that affect psychological and psychiatric diseases. I took AP Psychology in high school and was drawn to the science that psychologists were doing. Since then, I knew I was interested in further study within the field. Additionally, a psychology major fits the prerequisites for many of the graduate degree programs I’m interested in. It’s offered me background in research methods and study of the brain that are relevant to my future goals.

Why did you settle on information systems as a minor?

It’s been beneficial because of the formal training in programming languages such as Python and R. I intend to go into a research-intensive career, so competency in various programming languages is highly valuable.

Have you completed any internships?

I’ve been an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Professor Kristin Scaplen since fall 2021, working on behavioral and computational neuroscience methods. I’m particularly thankful for this opportunity because my extensive research experiences solidified my goals to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience rather than a path as a clinician. I’ve become motivated to contribute to favorable patient outcomes by conducting research that uncovers the molecular mechanisms underlying disease states. I’m so thankful for the mentorship Professor Scaplen has provided me.