Diverse Minds Uniting for Neuroscience.

Dr. Yau generously leads the NEO group and provides all necessary/random help and requests from the committee.

https://yaulab.com/ 

Dre kirunda is a 3rd year neuroscience graduate student in Dr. Jacob Reimer’s lab. His research employs two-photon microscopy to characterize how neurons and glia work together to allow proper brain function. His international experiences have fueled his passion and interests in engaging with youth to help build a more welcoming and equitable academic environment. He serves as Chair of the Neuroscience Outreach Committee, which enables other students with shared visions to expand neuroscience opportunities to underserved communities. 

Noura was raised in Missouri City, Texas and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. She is currently a second year PhD student at BCM studying in Dr. Jacob Reimer’s lab. She is interested in understanding the physiological activity of different cell types in the neurotypical brain during different behaviors and in the future apply her knowledge to get a better understanding of physiological changes in different disorders. Growing up in the Houston area, she is motivated to give back to her community and reach out to students to not only get them interested in research but help them realize this is a field anyone can go into no matter their academic background. She currently serves as the Creative Director of the NEOutreach Committee. In her free time, she enjoys painting and watching anime.   

Isabel was raised in Roanoke, Virginia. She attended Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, and graduated with a major in Neuroscience and minors in Business Administration and Leadership. She is currently in her 3rd year of her PhD in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at BCM and works in Dr. Kelly Bijanki’s laboratory. She aspires to work in industry as either a consultant or Medical Science Liaison. Her passion for science and service drives her involvement in the NEOutreach Program. Isabel currently serves as the Student Engagement Officer and is responsible for recruiting volunteers and maintaining effective communication streams between the committee and volunteers. Outside of her research, Isabel enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, and participating in other community outreach opportunities.

Corey is from New Orleans, Louisiana and completed his undergraduate training at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is currently an MD/PhD student at BCM, in his third year of graduate school studying natural resilience to Alzheimer’s disease progression in the lab of Jeannie Chin. He plans to be an academic neurosurgeon and principal investigator studying epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. He has always had a passion for science, teaching, and mentorship and is excited to be the Chief Medical Officer for the NEOutreach program here at BCM, helping expose high school students to basic and translational neuroscience research and the career opportunities available in this field. In his free time, Corey enjoys fostering dogs with Destination Rescue. 

Hi all! I am a first-generation Salvadoran-Honduran American born and raised throughout Southwest Houston. I attended Alief Hastings HS for the first couple of years and graduated just down the street from Bellaire HS. As a first-generation with no immediate family members or friends with a higher-education, I wasn’t sure what major (or even how to) to pursue in undergraduate other than something that aligned with my personal interests: anthropology, sociology, and human behavior. Ultimately, I didn’t get into my top schools for undergraduate and ended up at UT Dallas as a last resort to leave Houston to experience something entirely new. Since anthropology wasn’t offered as a major, I pivoted to the closest thing that I thought could help explain human behavior and came across neuroscience. If I were to describe my journey in one word, it would be serendipitous. I was fortunate to join amazing research labs that helped me make sense of not only how science is carried out but also how to pursue a career within science. Currently, I am a fourth year PhD student studying how diverse regions within the brain help contribute to complex behaviors such as perception — how we continuously integrate what we are currently experiencing with past experiences to help make sense of our environment. Ultimately, I hope that I can not only leave a lasting impact on science, but also on society by advocating for historically marginalized individuals. I am fervent supporter of diverse voices and experiences in science. Given how much I’ve been able to accomplish with so little, I think so many others could do just as much if not more for the betterment of their livelihoods, their families, and society. If you would ever would like to chat, please don’t hesitate to reach out through email!

Guo-Teng is from Ürümqi, China and finished his college at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University with a major in Applied Biology and Biotechnology and minor in Fashion and Textiles. He is currently in his 2nd year of the neuroscience graduate programme at Dr. Steven Boeynaems’ laboratory. Guo-Teng is interested in applying synthetic biology approaches to answer how protein misbehaviour is encoded in sequence and further explore its translational potential in multiple aspects. As the NEOutreach Committee's media officer, he distills complex research into compelling narratives for the younger generation, fostering science engagement. Guo-Teng orchestrates lab collaborations and spearheads website design, amplifying the NEO programme's reach. Beyond the lab, he's an ardent reader and art enthusiast, advocating for a life where science intersects with creativity.

Alex is a first year neuroscience student from Portland, Oregon. She studied biochemistry and molecular biology and minored in chemistry at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. During summers, and for two years post-graduation Alex worked in the Vollum Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, studying neuron-glia interactions and Wallerian degeneration in fruit flies. In her graduate studies she is interested in pursuing nervous system development, the role of glia in shaping the nervous system, and how connections made during development can lead to disrupted function and disease. Alex joined the NEO group because she is passionate about science education and improving how scientists communicate with the general public.

Stephen grew up on Long Island, New York and graduated with a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering and computer science from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently in his third year of graduate school studying neuroscience in the lab of Javier Medina. He studies trial-to-trial variability—differences between different performances of the same task—in the cerebellum using computational techniques. He hopes his research will lead to a better understanding of how we learn reliable actions.

Manuel (Manny) is a neuroscience student. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia and was raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysical Sciences and a minor in Medicine and Society. During his undergraduate studies, he frequently volunteered at the Alzheimer’s Association, where he found a passion for scientific communication and community outreach. After graduating, Manny briefly worked as a Project Manager in GLP/GMP genomics, where he nurtured his passion for science. His primary research interest in graduate school is neurodegeneration and aging. More specifically, Manny is interested in investigating the cytoskeletal dynamics of neurons in aging and disease. As part of the NEO, Manny hopes to bring in fresh ideas and find ways to increase the reach and impact of the program by connecting with minority communities to bring science to wider areas.  

Nishka is a first-year neuroscience student from Michigan. She has a B.S. in neuroscience from the University of Michigan, where she researched proteins involved in Down syndrome. In graduate school, she plans to study pathological mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, badminton, and cooking. During undergrad, Nishka worked as a docent at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, where she found a passion for outreach and science education. She hopes to continue sharing her love for science as a part of the NEO and contribute to making science more accessible.