Category: Newsletter

Welcome to summer! Congratulations on making it to the end of the academic year. As we transition into the new season, let’s take a moment to reflect on the past quarter in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience.

Community Updates

A heartfelt congratulations to several of our doctoral candidates who successfully defended their dissertations during the Spring Quarter:

• Nastacia Goodwin, PhD (Lab of Dr. Sam Golden), dissertation titled, “Dissociable neural mechanisms of reactive and appetitive aggression.”
• Holly Hake, PhD (Lab of Dr. Andrea Stocco), dissertation titled, “Speed of Forgetting: A Computational Biomarker and Early Indicator for Memory Impairment”
• Su-Yee Lee, PhD (Lab of Dr. John Tuthill), dissertation titled, “Mapping central circuits for leg somatosensation in Drosophila”

This year, we are proud to report that 12 students successfully achieved PhD candidacy and 13 students successfully defended their PhD dissertations. It was wonderful to celebrate with many of the 2023-2024 graduates at the Interdisciplinary Biomedical PhD Hooding Ceremony last week. Below are a few photos from the event:

Alumni Updates

In an effort to stay connected with our GPN community online, we reached out to GPN alumni on LinkedIn to gather stories about their paths after graduation. Here are a couple of highlights:

• Jessica Fox is a professor at Case Western Reserve University, where she runs a lab studying neural mechanisms of flight. She teaches undergraduate neuroscience courses and has three children with her partner.
• Hitomi Sakano earned his PhD in 2008 and recently transferred to UT Southwestern in Dallas as an Assistant Professor and Neurotologist. He researches auditory development in an autism mouse model for Fragile X syndrome and operates on ear and skull base disorders. Hitomi is the proud parent of two kids.

We are excited to continue collecting and sharing stories with you, as we know there are various and unique trajectories for life after graduation. Stay connected with our community by following our new LinkedIn page: University of Washington Graduate Program in Neuroscience.

Remembering Dr. Elena Chartoff

We remember Dr. Elena Chartoff, an esteemed alumna of our Graduate Program in Neuroscience, who passed away unexpectedly in May. Dr. Chartoff graduated the program in 2001 and her dissertation focused on the regulation and role of neurotensin in the basal ganglia. She was an advocate for increased public education on mental illness, substance misuse, and neuroscience. For more on her life and work, visit her memoriam at Mass General Brigham McClean.

Program Updates

Student Handbook

Our Student Handbook, compiled and written in 2022, has been an essential document for outlining our policies and procedures. in one central location. We are continuously reviewing and updating the language to ensure it reflects existing program policies as clearly and efficiently as possible. While we understand it can be difficult to keep track of a living document, we have dedicated space on our website to delineate changes on a quarterly basis. You can check out the latest updates to the handbook by visiting our  Program Affairs page whenever the quarterly newsletter is available.

Kudos and Recognition

Congratulations to Mar Borrego for being awarded the prestigious TL1 Award! The ITHS TL1 Program is a one-year, mentored research training program in translational science designed for graduate students. Supporting up to 20 Trainees annually, it fosters a diverse cohort, promoting interaction across various disciplines and facilitating learning from multiple perspectives. Mar’s research delves into the interaction between sex and opioid use disorder. We are thrilled to see Mar embark on this amazing opportunity, advancing their research in an environment rich with diversity and creativity. Learn more about the program here.

Thank you to our generous donors on Giving Day! We are thrilled to announce that we raised $9,050 of our $10,500 goal thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors. We deeply appreciate your support and contributions to our cause. A special thank you to:

• Anitha Pasupathy
• Céline Abell
• Horacio de la Iglesia
• Sheri Mizumori
• Emmalee Altergott
• Jay Neitz
• Jeansok Kim
• Jennifer Simpson
• Maureen Neitz
• Nick Steinmetz
• Steve Perlmutter
• Wyeth Bair

Your contributions have made a significant impact on our community and programs.

Thank you to our students who completed our Neuroscience Teaching Internship Survey. As many of you know, the teaching internship is a major milestone in completing the program. It provides a valuable opportunity for our graduate students to hone their teaching skills and engage with undergraduate students in the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program. We recognize that this internship requires a significant commitment of both time and energy, and we are grateful for any feedback that can help us improve the experience for future students.

Congratulations to Natalia Montes on her one-year anniversary of being part of our program staff! Natalia has proven to be an indispensable asset to our team, demonstrating versatility and dedication in various capacities. Starting off assisting with student support during the 2023 GPA recruitment process, she seamlessly transitioned into her current role as Program Operations Specialist. Natalia’s unique perspective as a graduate student enriches our administrative team, offering insights that enhance our approach to program operations. She consistently brings forward innovative ideas, such as the creation of this newsletter, which have added significant value to our program. As Natalia’s tenure with us continues, we eagerly anticipate the further development of her role and the exploration of her creative ideas. Thank you, Natalia, for your contributions thus far, and here’s to many more milestones together!

We bid farewell to Sunny Ko, our undergraduate office assistant, as she graduates this quarter after nearly two years of dedicated service in our office. Sunny’s impact on our program has been profound, evident across various aspects of our operations. Sunny’s meticulous work on tasks such as website cleanup, handbook formatting, and numerous special projects has been invaluable. Many of the updates and improvements implemented during her tenure would not have been achievable without her dedication. As Sunny embarks on her next adventure, we extend our best wishes for her future endeavors. Her presence in our office will be deeply missed, and we are grateful for the lasting contributions she has made to our program. Farewell, Sunny, and may your journey ahead be filled with success and fulfillment.

Looking Forward

Best of luck to Director Steve Perlmutter, along with Professors Garrett Stuber and Sheri Mizumori, on an impending T32 grant application. They led a large undertaking over the last two quarters in writing and submitting a T32 application for the GPN. This included writing over 22 pages detailing the program’s operations for the past, present, and aspirational future, along with 92 pages of program data and statistics.

As we transition into the summer, we eagerly anticipate welcoming the incoming students of the 2024 Cohort, both virtually and in person. Continuing our tradition, these new students will have the chance to connect with each other and current students through video calls, covering essential topics such as housing, life in Seattle, and the program curriculum for their first two years. Additionally, they have an opportunity to virtually meet our esteemed faculty in a “meet & greet” session in August.

The new cohort will join us in person in September for orientation events that are being organized and prepared by our Events Committee and Curriculum Committee. This year, Jump Start will span three days and feature several new sessions, including a range of graduate preparation sessions with current students, as well as a Python Workshop. Please keep an eye on your email for opportunities to participate in these incoming student orientation events.

Lastly, we look forward to seeing many of you all at the Program Annual Retreat, which will again be held in Foege Auditorium and the Vista Café on September 24th. More details will be shared over the summer.

Program Directors’ End of Year Note

As we close out another academic year, it’s with great pride and joy that we extend our congratulations to all our students who graduated this year. Your dedication, hard work, and passion for neuroscience have been truly inspiring, and we have every confidence that you will continue to make significant contributions to the field.

To our 2024 cohort, congratulations on successfully completing your first year in the program! We are thrilled to witness your growth and development as budding neuroscientists, and we look forward to the exciting achievements that lie ahead for each of you.

A huge thank you to all the donors who made Husky Giving Day a resounding success for us. Your contributions make a tangible difference in the lives of our students and the progress of our program, and we are immensely grateful for your generosity.

Throughout the year, we have been fortunate to receive valuable feedback from both faculty and students. Your insights and suggestions are instrumental in guiding our efforts to continuously improve and strive for excellence in everything we do. As directors, we are committed to addressing your feedback and implementing positive changes that benefit the entire neuroscience community.

Last but certainly not least, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated program staff, Céline, Jennifer, and Natalia, whose hard work and dedication behind the scenes make all our endeavors possible. We are also incredibly grateful to our student office assistant, Sunny, for her invaluable assistance and support throughout the year. Your contributions have made our lives easier, and we deeply appreciate all that you do.

As we look ahead to the future, we are filled with optimism and excitement for what lies ahead.

With warm regards,

Maureen & Steve
Program Directors

Please continue to reach out to neurofinance[at]uw.edu for suggestions on newsletter topics or kudos to be added. Don’t hesitate to mention yourselves as well!

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.

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.

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!

Community Updates

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.

Furthermore, it is with great enthusiasm that we announce the addition of five esteemed faculty members to our program: Dr. Tim Cherry (Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine), Dr. Juliane Gust (Center for Integrative Brain Research), Dr. Mahmud Mossa-Basha (Department of Radiology), Dr. Oliver Rollins (Department of American Ethnic Studies), and Dr. Paul Valdmanis (Division of Medical Genetics).

Program Updates

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!

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.

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:

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!