Diana Grass is a PhD candidate in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), where she develops soft bioelectronic devices to study the physiological signals through which the brain and body communicate. Her journey into this field began with a simple yet powerful phrase: "I'll figure it out." This mindset has guided her through an unconventional academic path, spanning continents and disciplines, from philology and education to neuroscience and engineering.
Her fascination with complex systems and communication led her to a pivotal moment as a medical interpreter. Working alongside clinicians, she witnessed their reliance on laboratory tests and medical imaging, yet she recognized the limitations of these tools in understanding the body's continuous communication. This realization sparked a shift in her scientific focus from the brain to the nervous system's role in coordinating physiology through interactions with the immune system and peripheral organs.
Grass's research has taken her to the Bioelectronics Group at MIT, where she works on developing soft bioelectronic devices that can continuously monitor multiple physiological signals while enabling electrical recording and stimulation of neural circuits. These devices hold the promise of earlier disease detection, more precise therapies, and a new generation of bioelectronic medicine. The personal significance of her work has deepened since becoming a mother, as she envisions a future where medicine can predict disease, personalize treatments, and give families more healthy years together.
The complexity of her research has required Grass to step beyond her original training, immersing herself in materials science, systems physiology, device fabrication, bioelectronics, and surgery. She embraces the challenge of learning new disciplines, seeing each as a new language and culture to understand. This has led to the creation of the Graduate First-Generation Low-Income Student Group at MIT, a supportive community that has grown into a network of over 300 students from diverse backgrounds.
Grass's passion for understanding cultures extends beyond the lab. As an avid traveler, she explores new traditions and languages, speaking four languages fluently and learning "thank you" in roughly 50 more. Her love for food connects people across cultures, and she sees science as a universal language. Her goal is to help medicine understand the principles that govern communication across the human body, both in health and disease, ultimately shaping a future where medicine can predict and personalize treatments with greater precision.
Grass's journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and adaptability. Her ability to cross disciplinary boundaries and embrace new cultures has not only advanced her scientific research but has also created a supportive community. As she continues her work, her impact on the field of bioelectronics and medicine will undoubtedly be profound, shaping a future where the body's language is better understood and harnessed for the betterment of human health.
