WKU News

When Alejandro Ramirez came to WKU from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, he wasn’t sure how far his ambitions would take him. Now, as a double major in Psychological Sciences and Biology in the Ogden College of Science & Engineering, he is charting a path toward a PhD in neuroscience and pharmacology, blending curiosity, persistence, and a passion for understanding human behavior.

“I’ve always remained inquisitive,” Alejandro explained. “Growing up, it was very common to see drug use in my community. I always wondered—why exactly did people do that? What were the drugs themselves doing? How did they even get there?” That early interest turned into a Netflix queue filled with drug documentaries and eventually into an academic pursuit that bridges psychology and biology.

Alejandro began at WKU majoring in Psychological Sciences, but quickly realized that a deeper biological focus was essential. “When it comes to drug use, it is very on the biological substrate,” he said. “So to better understand it, I started taking chemistry and biology courses. Eventually, I figured I might as well just pick up a whole biology major, especially since it’s preferred for PhD programs in neuroscience and pharmacology.”

Research That Matters

Alejandro’s research spans multiple levels—from survey-based projects at WKU to lab experiences across the country. Locally, he works in the Technology Enhancing Community Health Lab with Dr. Jenni Teeters, where he’s conducting his Honors thesis on patterns of cannabinoid use. “It’s not exactly neuroscience per se, but it gets close to it,” he said.

Beyond campus, Alejandro has pursued Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs) at West Virginia University and the University of Michigan with the National Science Foundation. “Through the REUs, I’ve been able to branch more into neuroscience,” he shared. “At Michigan, I gave rats a drug similar to LSD and studied behavioral traits related to addiction. With us even removing the brains of a few rats with plans to analyze them.”

His long-term research goals focus on drug interactions at the receptor level. “I’m hoping to look at how chemicals alter connectivity, how they change receptors, and what behavioral alterations arise,” he said. He is particularly interested in polysubstance use and overdose risk. “As we’ve seen with fentanyl and xylazine, that’s a real risk we need to look into.”

Expanding Horizons

Alejandro is already looking ahead to competitive opportunities like the Goldwater Scholarship, the Fulbright, and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program with the Office of Scholar Development (OSD). His international vision reflects his belief that substance use must be studied in global context. “There are a lot of countries where patterns of drug use are very different than the U.S.—sometimes it’s cultural, sometimes it’s legal. I’d love to form connections between U.S. and international researchers,” he explained.

He sees Southeast Asia as a potential destination, particularly Malaysia, where kratom research is well established. He also points to Portugal’s innovative public health approaches as a model worth studying.

Finding Balance on the Hill

Even while taking on graduate-level research responsibilities, Alejandro has found community and balance through the Mahurin Honors College Living Learning Community. “All of my friends I met pretty much through that LLC,” he said. “We’re still close—we live near each other, hang out, and support each other. That’s made my experience at WKU.”

He acknowledges moments of doubt along the way. “I have certainly struggled with imposter syndrome, and I still do,” he admitted. “But the biggest thing is, don’t give up. Even if you feel like you shouldn’t be there, keep going. Reach out to faculty and other students. Ask questions. A lot of them are struggling too.”

Alejandro also encourages undergraduates to embrace the blank slate of college life. “I wasn’t an exceptional high school student. I did good, but not perfect. Certainly wasn’t an amazing athlete either. But undergrad is an opportunity to be who you most want to be. My high school résumé didn’t predict what I would go on to do in college. Anyone can rise above and make their own opportunity.”

Looking Forward

Ultimately, Alejandro envisions a future as both researcher and professor. “The thought of teaching and mentorship sounds very appealing to me, especially being able to return the kindness I’ve been shown by my professors here,” he said. “But I also want to keep pushing the research forward. That’s always been at the center for me.”