Graduate Program in Neuroscience

March 25, 2024

GPN Quarterly Newsletter: March 2024

Community Updates

We begin by celebrating the successful dissertation defenses of several outstanding doctoral candidates:

  • Logan Condon, PhD (Lab of Dr. Richard Palmiter), dissertation titled, “Parabrachial Calca neurons drive nociplasticity,”
  • Jordan Elum, PhD (Lab of Dr. Larry Zweifel) dissertation, titled “Distinct dynamics and intrinsic properties in ventral tegmental area populations mediate reward association and motivation”
  • Lila Levinson, PhD (Labs of Dr. Jeffrey Ojemann and Dr. Steve Perlmutter), dissertation titled, “Cortico-Cortical Evoked Potentials to Probe Neuroplasticity: Methodological Considerations and Contextualization”
  • Sierra Schleufer, PhD (Lab of Dr. Ramkumar Sabesan), dissertation titled, “Characterizing the human S-exclusion zone”

These dissertations exemplify the caliber of scholarship and innovation fostered within our program, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Logan, Jordan, Lila, and Sierra on their remarkable achievements.

Remembering Dr. Bill Catterall

Neuroscience faculty, William “Bill” Catterall, a leading figure in studies of electrical signals in living cells, died on February 28th at the age of 77. In memory of Dr. Bill Catterall, a pioneering figure in the field of neuroscience, we pay tribute to his extraordinary contributions to our community. Dr. Catterall played a pivotal role in shaping neuroscience education at the University of Washington, co-founding the undergraduate neuroscience program.

Dr. Catterall’s groundbreaking research and mentorship as a faculty member in our program have left an indelible mark on the field, shaping the careers of countless students and researchers. A remembrance piece published by UW Medicine offers a touching reflection on his life and legacy.

Program Updates

Events Committee

The first quarter of 2024 marked significant progress for the newly formed Events Committee. This committee is chaired by Dr. Melissa Barker-Haliski and supported by esteemed faculty members including Dr. Nikolai Dembrow, Dr. Mehmet Kurt, and Dr. Azadeh Yazdan-Shahmorad, as well as a diverse cohort, including Jianqiao Hu, Alexander Ladd, Sarah Pugliese, Larissa Robinson-Cooper, Sheridan Sargent, Gabby Shvartsman, and Monica Tschang. The committee is instrumental in fostering community engagement and networking opportunities, working closely with program staff to plan and promote events within the Graduate Program in Neuroscience. This committee supports events such as our quarterly Coffee & Connections and the program’s Annual Retreat in September. We believe this committee benefits from the power of numbers in having students give as much input as possible in shaping the culture and events of the program, and in truly engaging with our neuroscience faculty. If you’re looking for a lighthearted way to make a meaningful impact and connect with fellow students and faculty, please reach out to neurofinance@uw.edu to join the committee email list.

Kudos and Recognition

We are delighted to announce that former graduate student, Dr. Sneha Ray (Lab of Dr. Aakanksha Singhvi) has been selected for the prestigious Sydney Brenner Dissertation Thesis Award! This esteemed accolade recognizes Sneha’s outstanding contributions to the genetics and genomics of C. elegans, underscoring the global impact of our students’ research endeavors. Congratulations, Sneha!

The Neuroscience Community Outreach Group (NCOG), spearheaded by dedicated students in our program including Lydia Gordon-Fennell, Sheridan Sargent, Gillian Grennan, Monica Tschang, and Larissa Robinson-Cooper, has received Research!America’s 2023-24 Civic Engagement Initiative Microgrant. This grant is aimed at funding the Brain Awareness Open House at UW, a collaborative effort with local middle and high schools, to bolster STEM education and inspire future scientists. The event is scheduled to take place on April 2nd in the HUB South Ballroom from 9 am to 1 pm. Highlights of the event include a welcome presentation and introduction to the brain, a reverse science fair, an activity zone, and information booths providing resources on scientific literacy, animal research ethics, research opportunities, and tutoring.

Students show kids from local area middle schools hands on experiments in engineering on the University of Washington campus at Discovery Days
Elementary students gather at UW outreach event.

Lastly, amidst our ongoing recruitment and admissions activities, we warmly welcome prospective students to our program. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Recruitment Committee and the invaluable contributions of our student volunteers, including Lydia Gordon-Fennell, Anna Li, Makenzie Patarino, Monica Tschang, Ellen Streitwieser, Ilse Dippenaar, Jessica Jones, Sarah Pugliese, Anna Li, Elena Judd, Arthur Hong, Nancy Mackenzie, and Amanda Pasqualini, Randall Eck, Gillian Grennan. We sincerely appreciate their efforts during the virtual interviews and events held in February, as well as their invaluable contributions guiding the prospective students through tours lab tours, campus tours, Pike Place Market, and the surrounding neighborhoods over Spring Break. Their active involvement undeniably enhances the welcoming and informative experience for students interested in joining our program here in Seattle.

Current and prospective students enjoy bowling at HUB Games.

Looking Forward

Donations to the program are currently being accepted as a part of Husky Giving Day 2024, which is on April 4th! This annual event presents an invaluable opportunity to support our graduate students, enhance recruitment efforts, and facilitate academic activities. Your generosity will directly impact the future of neuroscience education and research at the University of Washington.

In addition to our regular in-person availability, we’re excited to announce that our office now hosts a virtual office hour on Zoom at 1pm every third Wednesday of the month. While individuals are always welcome to stop by in-person and make appointments with Celine, Jenny, or myself, we understand the convenience of virtual interactions. During these virtual office hours, you can connect with either or all three of us to discuss anything program-related, whether it’s about upcoming events, academic support, or general inquiries. Please check your emails for the Zoom link to our virtual office hours.  We look forward to engaging with you in both virtual and physical spaces to ensure accessibility and convenience for all members of our community.

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!