Personal Life & Professional Career
Dr. Datta graduated from the University of Michigan Honors Program with a degree in Chemistry. She then earned her PhD in Biology at the University of California-San Diego and did her postdoctoral work in neural development at Yale University.
Dr. Datta is constantly reinventing herself, changing projects and directions every seven years or so since she first graduated with her Bachelor’s degree. She jokes about being a “closet” ADD personality in that she gets bored with projects when they become too predictable. Her changes in research and professional direction result in the constant learning and intellectual challenges that satisfy her curiosity and adventurous spirit. She enjoys pushing her comfort zone through travel and exciting new experiences, although she definitely draws the line at sky diving. Dr. Datta believes strongly in nurturing both the left and right sides of one’s brain, in her case the left brain devoted to science and the right brain devoted to food and the spontaneity and creativity of partnered social dancing. She and her husband are competitive west coast swing dancers, traveling around the country to participate in weekend dance events, workshops, and competitions. She is also the faculty advisor for the AggieWesties (the Texas A&M West Coast Swing Dance Club) and the Texas A&M Ballroom Dance Association.