We were lucky to catch up with Negar Namdar recently and have shared our conversation below.
Negar, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes directly from the way I was raised. As an only child and the only granddaughter on both sides of my family, I grew up in an environment where every dream I voiced was met with trust rather than doubt. That belief taught me early on to see challenges not as walls in my way, but as puzzles waiting to be solved. Watching my family reinforced this lesson: I saw them face challenges that seemed impossible from the outside, yet they moved forward without hesitation. Over time, I came to understand how that mindset, persistence paired with optimism, opened doors that once felt far out of reach.
The other side of me, the resilience, comes not only from my family but also from where I’m from: Iran. Life there is filled with challenges that are hard to imagine if you haven’t lived them, yet people continue to push forward, adapt, and survive despite the circumstances. Growing up in that culture shaped me profoundly, and I remain grateful for having been immersed in that kind of strength.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a PhD student in biomedical engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, working in the Brain Stimulation Lab led by Dr. Elisa Kallioniemi. My research focuses on how pain becomes chronic and how we might detect its early signs before it takes hold. At the same time, I’m part of a team developing a robotic arm designed to map the brain. Alongside research, I’ve found that teaching, writing, collaborating with other scientists, and planning projects are all part of what makes this journey rich and fulfilling.
But I wasn’t always set on this path. Toward the end of my undergraduate years, I decided to apply for a master’s program abroad, not primarily for the science, but for the experience of living in another country and pushing myself beyond the familiar. Around that same time, I became increasingly fascinated by the brain: how it shapes individuality and how understanding it might improve everyday life. That curiosity led me to look beyond mechanical engineering, the field I was getting my undergraduate degree in, and begin applying to programs that bridged engineering with neuroscience.
The transition wasn’t easy. Most labs never responded to my emails, and a few PIs replied only to emphasize why my background didn’t fit and why I shouldn’t reach out again, or pursue the field at all, because it was too far from my skill set. Meanwhile, when I interviewed with mechanical engineering labs, I secretly hoped they wouldn’t accept me, because deep down I knew that wasn’t the path I wanted to follow. Each of those experiences only strengthened my determination to move into neuroscience, even if it seemed that I wasn’t fully prepared for a graduate degree in the field.
Through it all, I held onto two things: my optimism and my resilience. I trusted that somewhere there was a PI who would see value in the perspective I brought, even if many others did not. That mindset kept me moving forward, even as the rejections piled up. The more I read about different labs and their research, the more I began to understand the field and appreciate the many directions neuroscience could take.
The PI I now work with was the first person in neuroscience who agreed to meet with me. Before finding her lab, I knew nothing about brain stimulation, but after reading a few of her articles, I immediately felt this was exactly what I wanted to do. To my surprise, when I reached out, she answered and scheduled a meeting. That response alone felt like a breakthrough. I didn’t expect her to take me in, but it showed me I was finally on the right path, and that gave me the optimism to push harder. After our conversation, she explained she didn’t yet have funding. Still, instead of losing hope, I told myself I could find another way to get into the field.
At that point, studying abroad wasn’t just about the experience anymore; it was about building the career I wanted. So I did two things: I started preparing for the national university entrance exam for a master’s in neuroscience, and I applied to the master’s program in biomedical engineering at the University of Oulu. During this time, I kept in touch with my advisor, asking for guidance. Even though I wasn’t officially her student, she shared advice and helped me see the steps I needed to take.
A few months later, she reached out again to say she had secured funding and wanted to talk. That moment, together with the optimism that kept me moving forward, opened the door for me to join the field of brain stimulation.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The first lesson is the importance of finding good people along the way and learning from them. I can’t imagine my journey without the support of my family, friends, teachers, and professors. Whenever you meet someone you admire, reach out, learn how they developed the qualities that inspire you, and trust your instincts in choosing who to learn from.
The second lesson is gratitude. Everyone faces difficult days, but gratitude makes those challenges easier to bear. For me, it means never forgetting that where I am today is because of the people who have supported me, the lessons I’ve learned from them, and the opportunities that have shaped my path, and recognizing how privileged I am to have had each of them. Holding onto that perspective is what carries me through the darker moments.
The third lesson, which I am still working on, is that you don’t have to be fully ready to begin something new. What matters is the willingness to put in the effort, to stay open to change and new opportunities, and to take full responsibility when the moment finally arrives
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I go out alone and give myself space to breathe. Just walking or sitting outside helps me step back and quiet my thoughts.
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