Presenting Author
Vanderbilt University
Mason was born and raised in Pegram, a small rural town west of Nashville, Tennessee. A first-generation college student, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience after three years of study at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. While at UT, Mason found his passion for research as an assistant in a behavioral neuroscience lab where he presented his research at eight different conferences, including Posters On The Hill 2021 in which he presented to interested members of Congress in D.C. Mason also participated as a volunteer for an afterschool program for underprivileged youth in Knoxville in his last year. His experience as a volunteer gave him insight into the extreme need that exists for myriad populations within the U.S. and reinforced his desire to make a meaningful impact in communities that are plagued by various neuropsychiatric diseases and addiction.
Currently, Mason is a research assistant in a behavioral neuroscience lab within the Warren Drug Discovery Center at Vanderbilt University. Under the auspices of Dr. Daniel Foster, he is studying the effects of novel compounds on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in regulating chemical and electrical signaling in various neurodegenerative diseases. Mason also participates in the Big Brother Big Sister program in Nashville that caters to helping underprivileged youth have an outlet for sports and physical activity-related needs in conjunction with a friend/mentor.
As an ASPET Washington Fellow, Mason hopes to cultivate a better understanding of science and healthcare-related public policy decision-making at the local, regional, and national levels, so that ultimately he can learn how to advocate for disparate communities at all levels. Specifically, he hopes to better understand the underlying issues behind the economics of research and healthcare including, affordability, predatory practices, and misallocation of resources.