For Seth Hoffman (PhD ’27, NEURO), it took faith to hit submit fifteen minutes before the deadline.
He was the last person left in the building, the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights in the lab at Western Kentucky University accompanying the staccato tap of his fingers across his keyboard. This was the place where it all started—where he had spent countless hours as an undergraduate laying the foundation not only for the research that now propelled him forward into a new stratum of academic success, but also for the faith that inspired him to apply to BYU’s prestigious graduate program.
“I did my undergraduate research with Dr. Michael Smith,” Hoffman recalls. “His son and I had been best friends in high school, and while I was working with his dad, he sent me a letter asking me to read the Book of Mormon.” Encouraged by the Smith family to read and pray for guidance, Hoffman began meeting with missionaries. Over time, he felt a growing sense of conviction that led him to embrace the gospel. After his baptism he decided to apply to BYU.
Though it was 10:00 p.m. and the deadline to apply closed at midnight, Hoffman did not falter. Swiftly attaching the required letters of recommendation, transcripts, and essays, he felt a sense of immense relief sweep through him as he paid the $45 fee at 11:45 p.m. and submitted his application. A few weeks later, he received an acceptance email. What had begun as a faith-driven foray into the unknown yielded powerful results: an opportunity to grow, learn, and make a lasting impact in ways he couldn’t have possibly imagined.
Now working in the Edwards Lab at BYU, Hoffman’s love for neuroscience makes every day exciting. “Neuroscience is a discipline of science that applies to everything,” Hoffman explains. “You can find examples of neuroscience in any human interaction. We’re all products of what occurs in between our ears and understanding that allows me to navigate life with a little bit more clarity.”
Using a mouse model to study mouse behavior and compare the effects of drugs like morphine, marijuana, and cocaine, Hoffman is studying the effects of drug abuse on neuroplasticity. “It’s really rewarding because it’s so clearly relevant,” he shares. “Opioid use affects millions of people in the United States. As we learn more about it, we’re able to take the necessary steps to help these people.” With each new discovery, Hoffman and his team inch closer to understanding the complexities of addiction.
While Hoffman’s work in neuroscience is grounded in data and discovery, his artistic skills play a crucial role in shaping how he approaches and visualizes scientific challenges. “I’ve always been very visually creative; I love drawing and illustration,” he explains. “I’ve done it since elementary school, and because I loved it so much, I naturally became pretty good at it.” After joining the Church, Hoffman strongly resonated with the idea that God gives talents for the edification not just of the individual but also for the benefit of others. He started sharing his conversion story through a series of illustrated videos and was amazed by the overwhelming response. One video garnered nearly 50,000 views on Facebook, with viewers commenting on how Hoffman’s artwork had deepened their testimonies, strengthened their faith, and even inspired some to contemplate baptism.
Eager to develop this talent further, Hoffman originally began exploring potential careers in medical illustration but couldn’t shake the feeling that he was meant to pursue something different. While working in the Edwards Lab felt like a step in the right direction, a part of Hoffman couldn’t help but wonder if he was abandoning the artistic talent God had given him. And then, inspiration struck.
“Once we started receiving data in the Edwards Lab as a result of our research, I started having to communicate that data and share it with people,” Hoffman explains. “I had to write about it and present it to other people so they could understand it, and I realized that the best way to do that is visually because a lot of scientific techniques that we do in the lab are really hard to understand with words and so much easier to understand with visual representations.”
Once Hoffman began drawing figures and diagrams, the response was overwhelmingly positive. His willingness to go above and beyond by crafting his own artistic visuals for his presentations helped other researchers increase their understanding of complex scientific techniques and data. “It was incredibly fulfilling,” Hoffman says happily, “because I thought I was abandoning something God had given me to pursue science, but then it all came full circle. It made me feel truly seen, and it made me realize that God has a plan for me.” What had once felt like a crossroads now revealed itself to be the perfect intersection of faith and science.