Community Updates
We’re thrilled to celebrate Todd Appleby, PhD, who has worked in the labs of Michael B. Manookin and Fred Rieke, on his successful dissertation defense during the summer quarter. His work, titled “Motion Sensitivity in Center-Surround Receptive Fields of Primate Retinal Ganglion Cells,” brings exciting new insights into visual processing.
Program Updates
Orientation and Jump Start
In our ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive culture within our program, we have introduced two key initiatives to orientation. The first is the Empowering Prevention & Inclusive Communities (EPIC) program, a peer-to-peer initiative designed to equip academic student employees and postdocs with the tools necessary to prevent sexual harassment and promote inclusivity in the workplace. This program is jointly administered by SafeCampus and UAW 4121 and serves to empower our graduate community to actively shape the environment in which we all aim to thrive.
Second, we launched a Wellness Workshop in collaboration with the Counseling Center, focusing on critical topics such as burnout and life transitions—issues that many academics encounter throughout their careers. This workshop aims to provide support and resources to help students navigate these challenges effectively.
This year’s Jump Start featured several key additions based on feedback from the 2023 Cohort:
- We introduced an earlier summer session, offering a meet and greet with faculty who take on rotation students.
- A preparation session on rotations and rotation talks, led by our program co-directors and advisor, was held to guide students through this first phase of the program.
Students from the Curriculum and Events Committees took the initiative to create and lead a new Python Workshop. We greatly appreciate their efforts in preparing the incoming cohort for the program’s curriculum demands.
Teaching Internship Update
We’ve made important updates to Teaching Internships (TIships) aimed at enhancing teaching experiences for students while addressing the evolving academic needs of our program. To provide more teaching opportunities for our larger cohorts of teaching interns, we’ve added new sections in key courses, including Introduction to Neurobiology (NEURO 502), Quantitative Methods in Neuroscience (NEURO 545), and Neurobiology (BIOL 461).
Additionally, based on student feedback, we’ve introduced more opportunities for co-teaching, particularly in undergraduate classes where having more than one instructor improves the learning environment. This change promotes collaboration and shared responsibility in the classroom and allows students to benefit from a wider range of perspectives and teaching styles.
Annual Retreat
We held our Annual Retreat on Tuesday, September 24th, and it was an engaging event, and we were able to benefit from the fantastic weather! Attendees had the pleasure of hearing from our keynote speakers, Dr. Jeff Carroll and Dr. Kevin Coffey, who delivered inspiring talks about the ongoing research in their respective labs. We are grateful for their time and effort in sharing their insights, which sparked great discussions among attendees.
Admissions Season
As admissions season gets going, we’d like to extend our gratitude to the student volunteers who have helped make this year’s info sessions a success. Special thanks to Wendy Piñon-Teal, Elena Judd, Kimberly Derderian, Andy Pelos, and Gabby Shvartsman, along with the students who lead the Neuroscience Mentorship Program, Larissa Robinson-Cooper and Gillian Grennan, for their time and effort. There’s one more info session left in October, and we’re looking forward to welcoming our next cohort of talented students.
Kudos and Recognition
Awarded Student Funding
A huge congratulations to Kimberly Derderian and Deja Monet for being awarded funding from the Molecular Cellular Biology training grant (CMB TG)! This award is part of the National Research Service Award (NRSA) Predoctoral Institutional Training Program, supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), under the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The CMB TG program provides funding to outstanding graduate students pursuing research in molecular and cellular biology. Recipients of this award undergo a highly competitive selection process. Eligible students submit a written application, which is then reviewed by a Selection Committee composed of faculty representatives from participating graduate programs. Finalists are invited to present a short talk on their research to the committee, and the positions are awarded based on the students’ application materials, faculty evaluations, and their research presentation.
We are incredibly proud of Kimberly and Deja for standing out through this rigorous process and earning this recognition. Their hard work and dedication exemplify the high standards of our program. Congratulations once again to both of you for this fantastic achievement!
Spotlight Publication
As the darker months approach, we’re excited to highlight a recent publication in the Journal of Biological Rhythms, co-authored by GPN faculty members Horacio de la Iglesia, Jay Neitz, and co-director, Maureen Neitz. Their research sets a new benchmark in humans’ ability to influence circadian rhythms, offering hope in counteracting Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). You can read more about it here.
GPN Staff Work Anniversary
We’re thrilled to celebrate Jennifer Simpson’s first year as our Graduate Advisor! We recognize Jenny’s significant contributions as she has skillfully navigated the complexities of our program. Her efforts to streamline and document policies have greatly benefited both our program and our students. Jenny has worked diligently to clarify policies in the student handbook, enhancing clarity and accessibility for all. Her commitment to revamping our admissions process has also made significant strides, aligning our practices with current requirements and laying a strong foundation for future cohorts.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to see Jenny continue to grow in her role and take on new projects. We anticipate the positive impact she will make in the upcoming year. And if you want to spark a conversation with her, ask about her latest hike—she loves sharing stories and beautiful pictures of local nature. Here’s to another successful year with Jenny at the helm!
Looking Forward
Applications for Cohort 2025 are due at the end of November! If you know someone who would be a great fit for our program, encourage them to attend our final program Info Session on October 16th.
As a reminder, you can review out the latest updates to the Student Handbook by visiting our Program Affairs page whenever the quarterly newsletter is available.
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!