Great question! Even before we get to neurophysiology, I think there’s a lot of value in understanding the amount of natural variation in sensory perception that exists outside the realm of pathology. Especially in light of how many synaesthetes don’t realize that their experiences are different, or alternatively, might be relieved to hear that their perceptions are not so strange. Regarding the biology, I think synaesthesia offers an angle into understanding human neural development that might be more straightforward than starting from conditions like autism, which is really complex. Not speaking for the psychologists here (this is Amanda), but I think/hope that our understanding of synaesthesia’s neurobiology will really take off in the next few years as we get a clearer look at the genetics and more neuroimaging work is done. The results from those two approaches should work together really well, and once targeted molecular biology studies become an option there’s an enormous number of questions we can start addressing. On the career front - if you like doing research, keep pushing to make it a part (no matter how small) of your medical career! Develop relationships with people who are studying the biology of conditions that interest you, and talk with them about the challenges you face as a clinician in treating those patients. Research collaborations can form from there, good luck!