News and Events

Held November 15–19 in San Diego, California, the conference welcomed thousands of scientists from around the globe.

Sebastian Gacek ’25, Leslie Casares ’26, Holly Kiernan ’26, Aaron Oster ’26, Olivia Pandazi ’26, Kate Feist ’27, and Mieng Chandavimol ’27 were accompanied by Disque D. and Carol Gram Deane Professor of Neuroscience and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Shubhik DebBurman and Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Hannah Carlson. 

The seven students presented a total of five research posters, four of which featured original research conducted at Lake Forest College. Their work spanned biomedical research, teaching innovations that bridge faculty scholarship and classroom learning, and student leadership and science outreach.

“Our students put exceptional effort and commitment to get ready for this national setting and their presentations and dynamic presence made Lake Forest College shine,” DebBurman shared. “Many faculty peers from other institutions in the US and abroad complimented our college’s neuroscience curriculum for the quality of our instruction, research training, and academic community success. It’s a daily professional reward for us as faculty to teach and mentor with highly motivated students that are eager to push themselves intellectually and creatively to become such dedicated citizen scholars.”

For many students, the experience extended beyond presenting data. Oster emphasized the professional growth that came from attending the conference.   

“I learned not just about the new knowledge that everyone shared from their research, but how to think more like a scientist, be a better scientific communicator, and a community service member,” he said. 

“This conference experience inspired me in many ways academically, particularly with the number of opportunities to pursue research within the neuroscience field,” Casares. “The amount of poster presentations and lectures showcased the riveting work occurring across the world, as well as the various different topics that one can pursue post-undergrad.”

Several students wrote nationally competitive grants that they received to do the research presented as well as to travel to the meeting. 

Chandavimol, National Nu Rho Psi SfN Travel Award recipient, found that the experience exposed her to the many paths within neuroscience. 

“As I talked with many people in the conference, like graduate students or professors, none of them expected to be where they are today,” she shared. “It was always the unexpected situations or opportunities that shaped their life to become successful academically and in life. As neuroscience is such a dynamic field, I am always ready for the unexpected and open for opportunities that this field could bring me to.”

All of the students who presented are planning to pursue graduate degrees in the future, carrying forward the research skills, professional confidence, and sense of scientific community gained at Lake Forest College.