Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Faculty mentor: Jon Resch, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine
Degree program and anticipated graduation date: PhD in neuroscience, expected graduation 2025

Ahmet Kuralay studies how the brain controls the appetite for salt. Specifically, his work focuses on the neurons that regulate salt intake and how they communicate with other regions of the brain. Understanding the neural mechanisms of salt intake regulation is of particular interest because 9 out of 10 Americans surpass the daily salt intake guideline set by the American Heart Association. This trend casts a long shadow over cardiovascular health, heightening the risk of hypertension and related disorders. Kuralay’s research will contribute to the development of effective treatment strategies for cardiovascular diseases that arise from high salt intake.

In the future, Kuralay hopes to build on his experience in analytical reasoning and scientific inquiry to craft transformative, data-driven strategies for complex challenges in industry.

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