Called to Neuroscience: Kaleb Miles ’20

During his four years on campus, Kaleb Miles ’20 may have been known around campus for his accolades on the soccer field, but it was the nagging questions of nature that motivated his future pursuits. After graduating with a degree in Biology in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, continuing his studies seemed like the most practical option while the world was shut down. He subsequently enrolled in master’s degree in biomedical sciences and technology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus where he studied neurodevelopment, specifically the developing spinal cord and myeloplasticity. While there, he co-authored publications on the early wiring of the spinal cord in embryonic human development and the relationship to Fragile X Syndrome (an autism spectrum disorder).

After his degree, he worked for a year as a research assistant while applying to doctoral programs. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in the regenerative sciences track at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MN). He is currently working in a spinal cord injury research lab, which represents a full-circle return to his calling.

Miles cites his time at Bushnell as a key factor in fostering his love for lifelong learning and his desire to pursue research. “Dr. Paul Allee and Dr. Heike McNeil showed great interest in me as a student and were committed to my academic pursuits.” As he began to explore his calling while an undergraduate, it became clear that his own life story was motivating his career interests. When Kaleb was 15, his twin sister suffered a devastating spinal cord injury from gymnastics, leaving her a quadriplegic. His curiosity about the spinal cord and its role in the central nervous system led to a desire to understand why certain cells in the body have the propensity to regenerate while those in the spinal cord do not. “Bushnell gave me the chance to pursue my passion and develop the right tools to investigate my questions. My vocation and calling came together there…it became clear that this is where God was pushing me.”