Shrestha (Diya) Datta, B.S.

Shrestha (Diya) Datta is a Neuroscience PhD student at UTSA and has been involved with Lifelong Learning with Friends since 2021. She first joined the program as a volunteer while she was a Research Associate at UT Austin, beginning in a foreign cultures course exploring food traditions across Asia. Her personal connection to the IDD is informed by her research: understanding the mechanisms underlying auditory hyperexcitability and hypersensitivity in Fragile X Syndrome. Through this work, she realized that there is often a significant gap between scientists who investigate intellectual and developmental disabilities and the communities they aim to serve. She believes research is most meaningful when it is informed by the real experiences, needs, and perspectives of the people it ultimately impacts. In addition to her research, she strives to actively engage with, advocate for, and work alongside the IDD community.  Beyond LLwF, she mentors high school and college students in auditory neuroscience and autism research, teaching laboratory techniques and guiding them through their projects and presentations. These experiences have reinforced how much Diya enjoys teaching, facilitating discussions, and supporting hands-on learning.