Shreyas Balaji
M.D./Ph.D. Student
About Me
I’m originally from the Bay Area in California. Growing up, I fostered a fascination with biology, which eventually grew into a deeper interest in medicine. In high school, an anatomy class and the opportunity to shadow an orthopedic surgeon sparked the realization that I wanted to become a physician - someone who could apply an understanding of human biology to help people facing illness.
I later moved to Boston to pursue my undergraduate degree in Behavioral Neuroscience at Northeastern University. I was drawn to neuroscience because understanding the function of the brain felt like one of the greatest mysteries in biology, and also because I’ve witnessed the profound impact of neurological disorders in my own family. While at Northeastern, I conducted research at the Center for Translational Neuroimaging, leading studies that used functional and structural MRI to investigate brain function in rodent models. That experience introduced me to the power of neuroimaging in neuroscience research, and it solidified my desire to explore this field further throughout my MD/PhD training.
Hobbies/Interests
Photography, building computers, video games
Research Topic
Neuroimaging, Neuroscience, Neurodegenerative Diseases
Why I chose MD/PhD
One moment during college solidified my commitment to the MD/PhD path. When I was shadowing a doctor, I had the chance to watch him take care of a patient with Korsakoff’s syndrome, a neurological condition characterized by confabulations - the unintentional fabrication of memories or information to fill knowledge gaps. As I worked to understand the neural basis of this disorder, and others I had encountered, it became clear that I wanted to dedicate my career not only to treating patients with neurological conditions, but also to advancing research into the mechanisms behind them. Throughout my MD/PhD training, I hope to integrate clinical insight with research, using tools like neuroimaging to explore brain function in both healthy and diseased states, and ultimately contribute to more effective care for those living with these complex conditions.
Why I chose MD/PhD at 51²è¹Ý
What really stood out to me about 51²è¹Ý was the dedication of the program leadership, the professors at the institution, and other students, to foster a community dedicated to my personal and professional success. I was also drawn to the institution’s research strengths, particularly its emphasis on imaging and neuroscience, which closely align with my interest in using neuroimaging techniques to better understand neurological disease.
Education
B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience, Northeastern University, 2025
Publications
Balaji, S., Woodward, T. J., Richter, E., Chang, A., Otiz, R., Kulkarni, P. P., Balaji, K., Bradshaw, H. B., & Ferris, C. F. (2024). Palmitoylethanolamide causes dose-dependent changes in brain function and the lipidome. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1506352
‌Huang, H., Balaji, S., Aslan, B., Wen, Y., Selim, M., Thomas, A. J., Filippidis, A., Spincemaille, P., Wang, Y., & Soman, S. (2025). Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping MRI With Computer Vision Metrics to Reduce Scan Time for Brain Hemorrhage Assessment. International Journal of Imaging Systems and Technology, 35(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/ima.70070
‌Wang, Y., Ortiz, R., Chang, A., Nasseef, T., Rubalcaba, N., Munson, C., Ghaw, A., Balaji, S., Kwon, Y., Athreya, D., Kedharnath, S., Kulkarni, P. P., & Ferris, C. F. (2025). Following changes in brain structure and function with multimodal MRI in a year-long prospective study on the development of Type 2 diabetes. Frontiers in Radiology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fradi.2025.1510850