When Bahareh Hassanzadeh and Vahid Tohidi were conducting research into spinal cord injuries in their native country of Iran, one of their subjects was a man in his thirties—the only survivor of a devastating car accident. Though the man was paralyzed, he wanted his situation to make a difference; he often spoke to them about his desire to help researchers find a cure. “In spite of all his difficulties, he agreed to participate in our research,” says Bahareh, who, like her husband, has an M.D. and will be graduating from Rutgers–Newark with a Ph.D. “It really touched our hearts, and from that moment, we really wanted to do something.”

And doing something, for both Bahareh and Vahid, means conducting research to uncover the mysteries of—and seek cures for—diseases such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s, and for spinal cord injuries. In order to reach their goals, the two decided they would need the best education possible, and for that they decided to come to the United States —specifically, to Rutgers. They chose Rutgers–Newark for its diversity, its strong multidisciplinary programs in life sciences, and for the advantages of being close to New York and to other universities, such as the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Both Bahareh and Vahid have medical degrees from the Iran University of Medical Sciences, but they realized they wanted their work to extend beyond the clinical setting. As Vahid says, he wanted to get to the bottom of the phenomena underlying medical problems rather than just treat them. “I wanted to understand what’s going on, not just do a job,” he says.

The husband and wife met nine years ago when they were medical school interns. Working together on a research project, each was impressed by the other’s love of science—a passion since childhood for both of them. And now, with their shared passion, the two will be receiving their doctorates—his in biological sciences, hers in neuroscience.

The transition from Iran to New Jersey was not always an easy one. But as one of Vahid’s professors in Iran told him before he left, “Don’t worry—you have neural plasticity,” which is a fancy, scientific way of saying you will adjust. And that’s what has happened. “He was right,” Vahid says.

Both of them have made the most of their time here, participating in conferences, attending scientific gatherings, presenting their work, and networking with other scientists, including the leaders in their fields. “Since I came here, I’ve become a much better researcher by learning new techniques and developing a more integrated approach to research,” says Vahid.

For Vahid, one unforgettable experience as a researcher was hearing the rhythmic sound of neurons in an experiment during his first year at Rutgers–Newark. “I felt that I was listening to a new language spoken inside the living cells,” says Vahid. “This feeling reminded me of when I first heard rhythmic heartbeats in medical school several years ago. All these rhythms are the rhythms of life, but in different forms and locations.”

And what’s next? After graduating, they hope to work together at a research center in the United States that specializes in neurodegenerative diseases. They want to do what they love. “Perhaps, if we are lucky,” Bahareh says, “we will succeed in a discovery.”