The Graduate Program in Neuroscience takes great pride in acknowledging the remarkable academic achievements of Dr. Asad Beck and Dr. Tomek Fraczek, who successfully defended their dissertations during the fall quarter. A glimpse into their diligent work is provided below:
Asad Beck, PhD (Lab of Dr. Horacio de la Iglesia), dissertation titled, “Sleep is important: How circadian-timed trauma keeps mice up at day and the societal implications that keep me up at night”
Tomek Fraczek, PhD (Lab of Dr. Jeffrey Herron), dissertation titled, “Chronic Monitoring and Longitudinal Efficacy of Neuromodulation for Neurological Movement Disorders”
We also extend a heartfelt congratulation to Kristen Drummey, MS, for earning her Master’s degree during the fall quarter. Kristen’s noteworthy achievement is highlighted by her research in the lab of Dr. Steve Perlmutter: “Examination of targeted, activity-dependent spinal stimulation in a rat model of spinal cord injury.”
These accomplishments reflect the dedication and excellence that define our Neuroscience community, and we look forward to witnessing their continued contributions to the field.
The Cohort of 2023 has been actively engaged in the new Listening Lunch program, a thoughtful initiative organized by program faculty members, Dr. John Tuthill, Dr. Astra Bryant, Dr. Sama Ahmed, and Dr. Anna Gillespie and generously funded by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellowship. This innovative space serves as an interactive venue, providing our students with a unique opportunity to delve into topics related to scientific culture that often go unexplored in the standard scientific curriculum.
Throughout the fall quarter, through this program, the cohort delved into crucial discussions regarding their academic journey, including the nuanced process of selecting a graduate advisor and how to establish mentoring circles. Lunch organizers also fostered an open dialogue with members of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee and the program’s staff team and facilitated an enlightening “Ask Me Anything (AMA)” session with senior students, offering valuable insights to the 1st year cohort into the graduate experience. Notably, the cohort also engaged in a stimulating discussion on the “Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Neuroscience and Society,” led by Blaise Aguera y Arcas (Vice President, Google Fellow) and program faculty member Dr. Edgar Walker.
As we reflect on the success and richness of these engagements, we’re excited to witness the continued growth of our program and its impact on shaping the careers of our students.
The program’s inaugural Coffee & Connections event, held on December 11th, marked a significant milestone in fostering a sense of community and academic collaboration among our graduate students and faculty members. This novel initiative was conceived with the dual purpose of facilitating connections among students and faculty and providing our community with a platform to gain insights into the cutting-edge research taking place within our program.
The event unfolded in a warm and festive atmosphere, blending academic engagement with holiday cheer. Dr. Kurt Weaver (GRIDLab) set the tone as the host, opening the gathering with an insightful presentation titled, “Insights into cortical physiology and clinical therapeutics: an overview of human intracranial electrical stimulation.” The students were actively engaged with Dr. Weaver’s work, and we were delighted to create an environment for attendees to mingle. Amidst the academic discussions, participants enjoyed a delightful array of seasonal treats, including hot cocoa, cider, and cookies.
This inaugural event has set the stage for a recurring quarterly tradition. As we look forward to future editions, we invite all members of our academic community to join us for an engaging blend of intellectual exchange, networking, and quarterly camaraderie.
Kudos and Recognition
Recruitment and Admissions
The GPN participates in SACNAS and ABRCMS conferences to promote the university and program, reaching historically underserved communities. This quarter, alongside attending conferences in Portland and Phoenix, the GPN hosted three virtual info sessions on applying to Graduate School. Larissa Robison-Cooper and Gillian Grennan from the UW Neuroscience Mentorship Program, a graduate student-led initiative, joined us.
The Mentorship Program’s goal is to enhance accessibility to the graduate school application process for prospective applicants lacking other mentorship resources. Applicants at the virtual info sessions were given the opportunity to sign up for the mentorship program, getting one-on-one guidance from a UW student throughout the application process.
The GPN extends gratitude to Larissa, Gillian, and all of the dedicated students involved in this mentorship program for their commitment to recruitment and program outreach!
Larissa Robinson-Cooper (center) presenting at virtual GPN Info session with (top, left to right) Jennifer Simpson, Natalia Montes, and Gillian Grennan.
In a longstanding tradition, the GPN was invited to engage with undergraduates and faculty at the Western Washington University (WWU) Behavioral Neuroscience program. On October 24th, Graduate Program Advisor Jennifer Simpson and Cara Nielson, graduate student in the lab of Andy Shih at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, journeyed up to Bellingham for a day of meaningful engagement between the programs.
During this visit, Cara presented an insightful talk titled “Pericyte plasticity in health and disease” to the attentive WWU undergraduates. Beyond her academic contributions, Cara also actively embraces her role in mentoring undergraduates and plays a key role in the “Things They Don’t Teach You” program, where she imparts valuable advice to prospective applicants.
The GPN expresses a sincere thanks to Cara for her valuable contributions and commitment to fostering collaborative connections between academic communities.
Cara Nielson presenting research at WWU.
Representation
Graduate student German Rojas took the stage as a distinguished speaker at the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation 45th Anniversary Luncheon, held on October 30th. The compelling presentation, available for viewing on YouTube (start 1:08:45), provided a captivating window into German’s academic journey, underscoring the profound impact of mentorship on academic aspirations and opportunities. German’s articulate reflections illuminated the critical role mentors play in shaping the trajectory of one’s academic and professional life.
During the presentation, German eloquently recounted the transformative influence of their initial exposure to neuroscience research with C. elegans during high school. This early experience not only ignited a profound passion for the field but also laid the groundwork for their subsequent graduate academic pursuits. German shared insights into their aspirations as a future college professor and mentor, emphasizing the enduring impact of mentorship throughout one’s academic journey.
The program would like to thank German for representing our program with such distinction at the ARCS Foundation event. Additionally, we express our gratitude to the ARCS Foundation for their invaluable support of many of our current and former graduate students.
We also want to take a moment to spotlight the impressive photography of 1st year graduate student, Dickson Chen—be sure to explore Dickson’s personal photography website! Dickson recently captured stunning moments during a Cohort 2023 photoshoot, and we’re delighted to share a glimpse of his work with you here:
Jordan Ogg
Alex Garcia Arango
Nancy MacKenzie
Looking Forward
As we enter a new phase of growth and development, we’re thrilled to announce that our admissions process is currently underway. We look forward to sharing updates with you, particularly regarding our upcoming Admitted Student Days. This event provides an invaluable opportunity for approximately 25 admitted students to explore our campus, meet our vibrant community, and get a firsthand feel for the unique atmosphere of our program.
We’re also pleased to introduce the formation of a new Events Committee. We invite individuals within our community who are passionate about coordinating program events and engaging with our community to step forward. If you’re interested in contributing to the planning and execution of program activities, we encourage you to reach out: neurofinance[at]uw.edu.
Please send any updates or kudos to neurofinance[at]uw.edu by the end of finals week of any quarter. We are excited to share what is going on in the community with our new Quarterly Newsletter!
