The Human Subjects Research Office is pleased to announce that Gayathri Batchalli Maruthy, member of the NeuroPsychometric Research (NPR) Lab, has been selected as the recipient of the Spring 2023 HIVE Award! 

Following the completion of her undergraduate degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in Bangalore, India, Gayathri joined the UT Dallas Applied Cognition and Neuroscience Master’s Program in 2015 as she appreciated the diverse research taking place within the school of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. She is now currently pursuing her doctorate and hopes to complete her degree next year.

When asked to describe her research, Gayathri stated the following: “I conduct human subjects research to understand the relationships between an individual’s ability to be mindful in their daily life with their cognitive ability.” Her role in the NPR Lab includes a range of responsibilities from study design, conducting research procedures, and data analyses. She has also participated in research conducted by her peers where she was able to take what she learned and apply it to her own research.

Dr. Bart Rypma, the Principal Investigator of the NPR Lab and Gayathri’s mentor, raved about Gayathri’s exceptional work in the lab and accomplishments. He described Gayathri as highly motivated and shared that she applies new knowledge to her work with care and precision. Gayathri acknowledged Dr. Rypma’s contribution to her accomplishments: “[He] has been one of the most influential people with regards to my interest and passion for research. He is an excellent guide, who has immensely influenced my understanding of the importance and key aspects of human subjects research.”

Gayathri shared that one of the most important things she has learned about human subjects research is that the protection of participants should be the top priority. “I have learned that human subjects research is all about the respect and safety of participants, the meticulous planning and execution of study procedures beginning with recruitment, consenting and ending with debriefing. These are important not simply for unbiased data collection, but also for the enrichment of the participants’ experience.”

Gayathri’s plan for the future includes continuing research and teaching, both of which she has enjoyed as part of her doctoral training. “I am a very curious person and what excites me most is understanding how we, as humans, successfully function in this world where we are constantly bombarded by sensory and mental stimuli. I am highly motivated to decipher what constitutes and drives our behavior.” When asked for a quote that she lives by, Gayathri shared the following by William James: “If you can change your mind, you can change your life.”

The Human Subjects Research Office is proud to include Gayathri as a member of the HIVE!