Neuroscience

Unlock the Biology underlying Brain, Mind, and Behavior

Our brain is who we are! Understanding the biological basis of our consciousness and creativity is one of the ultimate scientific frontiers. Neuroscience students seek to understand all our behaviors and how to tackle such a devastating array of neurological and psychiatric illnesses. Our research-active faculty guide students through interdisciplinary explorations integrating natural and social sciences with the humanities and arts, providing a perfect launching pad for diverse careers in biomedicine, health professions, public policy, law, and beyond.


My goal is to contribute to knowledge about the brain and Public Health Policy via knowledge gained from research in Neuroscience. Through HPP and the Neuroscience Program, I was able to curve out a path to combine my passion for research with my desire to improve quality of health of patients.

A Hands-On Approach

Through empirical investigation, faculty and students in the neuroscience program seek to understand the building blocks of brain, mind, and behavior at all levels, from the cellular and molecular physiology of neurons to the function of neuronal networks to the complex behaviors exhibited by human and nonhuman animals. 

Research-Based Education

Given that the majority of neuroscience courses are laboratory-based, our students gain valuable research experience from their very first class and throughout the curriculum.  Students also have opportunities to conduct advanced research usually reserved for graduate students, both on and off campus. This intensive training in research and analysis provides marketable skills for a variety of careers and provides an excellent background for launching into graduate or medical school.

Valuable Field Experience

Our neuroscience program has an extensive internship program. We have partnered with dozens of institutions in the Chicago area to provide practical and relevant field experiences for our majors.  Whether your interests in neuroscience trend more towards biology or psychology, research or practice, we have a dedicated team of experts that will help you find the field experience that aligns with your goals. 

What our recent grads are doing
  • PhD in Neuroscience/Life sciences
  • Doctor of Pharmacy
  • Doctor of Medicine
  • MD/PhD (Physician Scientist)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • Doctor of Podiatry
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Doctor of Clinical Psychology
  • K-12 Science Teacher
  • Quality Control Analyst, Biotech
  • Scientist, Pharmeuticals
  • Laboratory Manager, Northwestern University
  • Masters in Business Administration
  • Masters in Public Health
  • Master in Biotechnology
  • Masters in Nursing
  • Masters in Counseling
  • Masters in Kinesiology
  • Masters in Industrial Organizational Psychology
  • Masters in Social Work
Careers
  • Academia
  • Medicine
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Biotechnology
  • Law
  • Publishing
  • Public Policy and Health
  • College/K-12 Education
  • Allied Health Professions
  • Marketing & Sales 
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Ethics
Internships

Internships

  • Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
  • Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  • Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
  • Smell and Taste Research Foundation
  • Spectrum Center for Integrative Neuroscience
  • Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Northshore University Health System

Meet Our Alumni

Hannah Samberg

Hannah Samberg ’16

Hannah also majored in Asia Studies and studied abroad in China and is now pursuing her M.D. degree at Tulane University

First Last

Helena Blumenau '23

Research Assistant at RFUMS in a laboratory that looks at inflammatory biomarkers related to smoking menthol cigarettes.

Kayla Huber

Kayla Huber '16

Kayla is the recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship to support her PhD studies in Psychology at the University of Minnesota

Charles Alvarado

Charles Alvarado ’16

Charles also got his M.A.T. degree from the College and is now pursuing a PhD in Educational Neuroscience at Penn State University

Chisomo Mwale

Chisomo Mwale '19

Chisomo was a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University and is now in a Masters Program in Global Health at Emory University.

Sam Gascoigne

Sam Gascoigne '20

Sam is a Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipient and is pursuing his PhD studies at Oxford University (U.K.)

Ayesha Fatima

Ayesha Fatima '23

Physician Assistant Masters program at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Niam Abeysiriwardena

Niam Abeysiriwardena '20

Machine Learning Engineer, Center for Ultrasound Research & Translation, Harvard Medical School

Saul Bello-Rojas in lab

Saul Bello Rojas ’16

Saul completed a post-baccalaureate PREP program at Northwestern University and is now pursuing his PhD In Neuroscience at Washington University St. Louis.

Jessica Dudle

Jessica Dudley '14

Jessica received her MSN and DNP degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago and she is now and Advanced Population Health Nurse Practitioner at University of Illinois Health Systems

Logan Graham

Logan Graham '17

Logan is pursing double degrees of Master in Healthcare Services Administration (MHSA) and Master in Business Administration (MBA) at Xavier University.

Rosemary Thomas

Rosemary Thomas ’18

Rosemary presented her undergraduate senior thesis at national meetings and is now pursuing her M.D. degree at Rush University

Luke Shylanski

Luke Shylanski '18

Luke conducted research at the college and Rosalind Franklin University and is pursing his MS/PhD studies at the University of Pittsburgh in neuroeconomics

Gabrielle Vineyard

Gabrielle Vineyard '23

Postbaccalaureate Program in Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, and Regenerative Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis

Sarah Applebey

Sarah Applebey '18

Sarah conducted research at the colleges, Rosalind Franklin University, and Rush Medical College, did post-graduate research at the National Institutes of Health, and is now pursuing her PhD in neuroscience the University of Pennsylvania.

Alexandra Dejneka

Alexandra Dejneka '21

Lexi conducted research at the College from Richter Scholar to senior project and is pursuing her MD studies at Northwestern University starting Fall 2021.

Danielle Sychowski

Danielle Sychowski '19

Danielle conducted research at the college and Rosalind Franklin University and planning for medical school while working at the Shirley Ryan Ability labs

Kim Diah

Kimberly Diah '13

Kimberly completed her senior thesis at Rosalind Franklin University, conducted post-graduate research at the Max Planck institute, and her MS and PhD degrees at Nova Southeastern University.

Zoe Walts

Zoe Walts '21

Project assistant and Elliot Dick Fellow PhD Student in Epidemiology at UW-Madison

Alyssa Silva

Alyssa Silva '23

My current career goal is to be an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant at a Trauma-1 Chicago Hospital.

Cade Brittain

Cade Brittain '19

University of Notre Dame Law School

Yesenia Uribe

Yesenia Uribe '21

Counseling Psychology PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Desire Nalukwago Uwera

Desire Nalukwago Uwera '22

PhD Biosciences
Stanford University

Carris Borland

Carris Borland '21

Neuroscience PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine

Related Programs

Contact Us

Shubhik DebBurman
Disque D. and Carol Gram Deane Professor of Biological Sciences
Chair of Neuroscience
Lillard Science Center 213
847-735-6040
debburma@lakeforest.edu

Elizabeth Herbert
Laboratory Supervisor
Lillard 260
847-735-6045
herbert@lakeforest.edu

Connie Hollingsworth
Department Assistant
Lillard 101
847-735-5090
chollingsworth@lakeforest.edu