NSCS News

If you've been around the NSCS program over the past four years, then simply put: you know Briggs Carhart. Whether you've seen him helping other students in class as a preceptor, serving as president for various clubs including Nu Rho Psi National Honor Society, or working in multiple research labs across campus, it's clear that Briggs is a well-respected leader in the NSCS community and beyond. Over the course of his time at the University of Arizona, Briggs was somehow able to complete a triple major in NSCS, Physiology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology, complete two honors theses, and even serve as a Resident Assistant in UA's infamous Coronado Hall. There is simply no end to his list of accomplishments. Even so, knowing about his accomplishments still pales in comparison to knowing him personally and realizing how special it has been to have him as a part of our NSCS community. 

So, it was only fitting that he receive this year's Outstanding Senior Award. Congratulations Briggs, and thank you for your immeasurable contributions to the NSCS program and to the University of Arizona. We can't wait to see what other amazing feats you accomplish on the road ahead!    

Outside of the lab, Lindsey Chew is well known for being positive, approachable, and easygoing. You may even catch her on a casual stroll enjoying one of her favorite hobbies - training guide dogs with huge smile across her face. She may appear petit and unassuming, but once you truly get to know her you realize very quickly that she is sharp, confident, and a force to be reckoned with. Already she is making a name for herself in the scientific community and has been published as a co-author for her research with UA Pharmacologist, Dr. Rajesh Khanna. In the lab, she is quite simply a most impressive scientist and individual, and so she was the clear choice to receive this year's Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award. Congratulations Lindsey! We are excited to see what incredible discoveries you will take part in next!

Congratulations to our 2018 Undergraduate Galileo Scholars! 

Shreya Bellampalli, Haley Ciccone, Colin Lynch, Jin Pyon, and Yannick Schreiber

Konner Kirwan is an NSCS student who has been doing research in Dr. Lalitha Madhavan's lab about relating autophagy in skin cells to Parkinson's disease. "Autophagy" is the self-degradative process by which cells regulate their own resources and rid themselves of deformities that could be detrimental to their survival and to the survival of the organism. According to their findings, Kirwan says this process of autophagy is abnormal in skin cells affected by Parkinson’s disease, and he hopes these findings will lead to a better overall understanding of the mechanisms that drive Parkinson's as well as methodologies for early diagnosis. Konner's passion for Parkinson's research is fueled by his love of science as well as his love of his family that has a history with the disease. 

The Society for Neuroscience, or SFN, is a professional society whose goal is to advance our understanding of the brain and nervous system. This past year, select NSCS students traveled to SFN headquarters in Washington D.C. to attend SFN's annual conference. Some NSCS students even had the chance to present their own research at the event and used the opportunity to speak to AZ representatives about supporting research.   

In biology, symbiotic relationships occur between organisms that manage to live together in ways that are mutually beneficial, where each organism enhances the existence of the others. In this same way, the NSCS program hosts an annual "Symbiosis" event, where science and art come together and uniquely blend, each enhancing the existence of the other. This past year marked the fourth annual rendition of the gala where artists from all walks of life displayed a total of over 90 pieces of artwork, making it the largest rendition to date.

One of the most interesting pieces was created by an NSCS student, Allie St. Paul. Observers of her artwork became active participants in an interactive exhibit by using their thumbprints to color a neuron depicted on canvas. Thematically, thumbprints, neurons, and the people they make up are all unique, as is St. Paul's signature piece. 

Congratulations Chrysta Andrade, NSCS's Fall 2017 Outstanding Senior!

Congratulations to Rachel Sadler for receiving the 2017 Hildebrand Scholarship! 

The John G. Hildebrand Scholarship was established in 2013 to support and encourage highly-qualified students planning to pursue graduate education and scientific careers in neuroscience or a related field.

Congratulations to NSCS Senior, "iPod" Hassan, who was voted UA's 2017 Homecoming King! 

Anu Venkatesh, NSCS Class of 2013, has been awarded a fellowship from the Department of Defense's Science, Mathematics & Research (SMART) Transformation Program. The SMART Scholarship awards students full tuition and educational expenses, a stipend, summer research internships, and employment placement after graduation. 

Anu is a graduate student in the Neuroscience Ph.D. program at the University of California, Riverside.