Rachel Blaser

Dr. Rachel Blaser: Inspiring a World of Discovery

​

Dr. Rachel Blaser’s journey into science wasn’t predestined. Growing up, science was a foreign language that left her more intimidated than inspired. It was only in college that she encountered science in a way that captivated her, transforming her fear into fascination—a transformation she now fosters in her students.

​

Dr. Blaser was recently awarded a $500,000 Prebys Research Heroes grant, part of a $10 million two-year initiative that celebrates the contributions female scientists make in the field of biomedical and medical research, and which honors outstanding San Diego scientists as a key lever to create a more innovative, equitable, and collaborative medical research system.

 

“I know what it’s like to be science-phobic,” Dr. Blaser admits. “One of my goals is to create new opportunities to invite students into science.” This personal insight is invaluable as she seeks to make science less intimidating and more accessible. Dr. Blaser’s lab focuses on the complex steps of human thought and memory. As a comparative psychologist, she orchestrates experiments with fish, rats, and humans to unravel the mysteries of our cognition. One interesting approach is a challenge known as the traveling salesperson task, which has participants navigate through a space to find the shortest route – a seemingly simple action that is, in truth, a hard test of cognitive processes.

These are the very processes that falter in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Blaser is exploring how healthy aging adults perform on tasks that test their spatial perception and problem-solving abilities. These cognitive explorations have profound implications, potentially leading to early detection methods for cognitive decline, which could transform how we approach diseases like Alzheimer’s.

The importance of this mission extends beyond individual growth. Dr. Blaser is very aware of the healthcare disparities that plague our society and the crucial need for diversity in the fields of research and healthcare. “Health problems affect different groups in different ways,” she explains. “Having a diverse group of professionals is key to ensuring equity in healthcare and can make a significant difference in accurately diagnosing diseases.”

 

Her dedication to diversity is more than just theoretical. Dr. Blaser recounts the journey of Yliana, a first-generation student and aspiring nurse, who found her voice and confidence in the lab studying zebrafish (which have remarkably complex brains, Dr. Blaser is quick to point out). Yliana began as a shy student with a fear of public speaking, but by graduation she had enthusiastically presented her research project at the Society for Neuroscience annual convention, a conference attracting tens of thousands of attendees each year. Yliana’s success illustrates the kind of transformation that can occur when determined students have access to opportunity and mentorship.

​

Dr. Blaser’s research lab is a great example of the broader scientific community she envisions—one where curiosity thrives, where students from all backgrounds can find their place, and where the public sees the value of science in everyday life. “Science can seem elitist and stodgy, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” she says. “It’s about making it engaging and showing how fun it can be.”

 

Why should the general public be interested? This is a question Dr. Blaser addresses with passion, emphasizing that scientific problems don’t end in the lab. The solutions scientists develop—be it for climate change or public health crises—affect everyone. “The problem can only be fixed when a majority of our society trusts and engages with scientific inquiry,” she asserts. “This is why I strive to promote scientific literacy and identity as widely as possible.”

 

For Dr. Blaser, science is not just about success in a lab – it’s about the collaborative path towards moments of discovery, the societal changes they create, and making people’s lives better. Her vision is a world where science is inclusive, exciting, and a fundamental part of our cultural lives. She’s not just decoding the mysteries of the mind—she’s shaping a future where every mind is valued and every voice contributes to a world of discovery.