FOCUSED ON RESEARCH

A passion for research and an interest in how the brain works drew William Guiler to neuroscience.

He will join the ranks of East Carolina University alumni on Friday before traveling to the University of Iowa to pursue his doctorate. in interdisciplinary neuroscience. One of the life lessons Guiler takes with him is learning how to live a well-balanced life.

“If I don’t have balance then I can’t really accomplish anything,” he said. “This past year, that’s been my number one focus and in picking a grad school, balance was my main decision. If I don’t make this my number one priority, I can’t be successful.”

William Guiler will pursue his passion for neuroscience after graduating this spring with degrees in psychology and multidisciplinary studies. (Photos by Cliff Hollis)

The psychology and multidisciplinary studies in neuroscience double major credits the ECU Honors College for his achievements.

“It’s been a core aspect because it’s helped me get a lot of the opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to. I started in a research lab because Dr. Todd Fraley gave me the information I needed to get in,” he said.

That experience was only the beginning of his research career at ECU. He has worked across campus with Dr. Christyn Dolbier and Dr. Blake Hutsell in psychology and Dr. Qun Lu at the Brody School of Medicine.

“Dr. Dolbier took me on as a freshman, which is just not all that common, and I’ve continuously grown every single year in her lab,” he said.

Guiler’s hard work has paid off. As a junior, he received the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. This year he received the Robert H. Wright Leadership Award and took home an award during Research and Creative Achievement Week.

“I’ve done that every single year since freshman year and I’ve improved every single year,” he said. “It’s a testament to what RCAW is supposed to be: continuous improvement and learning.”

He also credits the Honors College for transforming his worldview through seminars and the freshmen colloquia.

“You always have to do group projects in high school but you never have to really work on a team for an extended period of time and deal with different personalities and different majors,” he said.