Hiba Hamid

Co-President

Kevin Bryan

Ronit Patel

If you are curious about how the brain functions and how you can pursue a career in neuroscience, Penn Neuroscience Society, a student organization at the University of Pennsylvania, is the perfect place for you! Join us for discussions, lectures, and workshops given by some of the world’s most prominent neurologists and neurosurgeons from the University.
Join our Listserv!
Link: https://tinyurl.com/29c99tv9
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Penn Neuroscience Society strives to provide a forum of discussion for today’s rapidly developing field of neuroscience. We seek to bring together undergraduate and graduate students who share an avid interest in learning about the human brain and nervous system, potential academic and clinical careers in the field of neuroscience, and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
As a club, we also work towards providing a great sense of community among our members, making sure that our meetings produce a light, welcoming atmosphere while continuing to be academic. Our members are always willing to help each other when it comes to finding new opportunities and learning whatever it is that they desire about the brain. We want to share our love of neuroscience with both Penn’s campus and the greater Philadelphia community, and we invite you to join us in our mission! 
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Aaron Anandarajah

Vice President of Research Committee

Amy Wu

Vice President of Marketing

Avinash Singh

Vice President of Journal Committee + Secretary

Emily Ng

Journal Editor

Eric Muthersbaugh

Vice President of Fundraising

Isabella An

Jan Magielski

Vice President of External Events

Larissa Borys

Lina Chihoub

Graphic Design Chair

Matteo Akbarpour

Vice President of Consulting Committee

Maya Brawer-Cohen

Nicholas Hanchak

Vice President of Internal Events

Savanna Cohen

Stephanie Chen

Susan Shin

Vice President of Finance

Aanya Patel

Member

Aaron Kim

Aarushi Jain

Aashish Codada

Abhay Kopardekar

Akiva Berkowitz

Alexander Gerlach

Alexander Howe

Alexander Palma

Alifia Ilmi

Allen Zheng

Alondra Betancourt

Alyssa Saito

Amarachukwu Okafor

Amila Mujkic

Amilyn Thomas

Amol Jhala

Anand Bhuyan

Anand Majmudar

Andrew Wang

Angela Lao

Ari Ketchum

Anonymous

Arjun Shah

Ashil Srivastava

Audrey Kellogg

Barathan Balachandran

Benjamin Lin

Beza Mersiehazen

Bianca Rodriguez

Bianca Vama

Bintou Bane

Bridget Loja Patino

Brinn Gammer

Caitlyn Pelletier

Calyle Peyton

Camellia Bui

Cameron Sabet

Carissa Claunch

Caroline Dannacher

Caroline Johansen

Charlene Li

Cheuk Lam

Chloe Deitelzweig

Chloe Mouzakitis

Cindy Li

Courtney Mitchell

Dan Shinn

Daniel Dai

Daniel Fernandez Castro

Daniel Markman

David Kedeme

Diego Font

Diego Quirarte

Dylan Bellissimo-Meade

Edric Kan

Elena Fis

Elizabeth Woodside

Ella Eseigbe

Emre Guler

Enzo Lavecchia

Eva Gonzalez-Whitehouse

Francesco Milano

Franchesca Perez

Frederique Wollaert

Gabrielle Galchen

Giorgio Rawda

Griffin Weil

Guyin Chen

Haydr Dutta

Hoi Leung

Holly Shimabukuro

Ibukun Oluborode

Ioana Gidiuta

Ipek Obek

Irvane Ngnie Kamga

Isabel Almada-Sabate

Isabella Goosen

Isaiah Steinfeld

Jaesang Lim

Jagger Fleissig

Penn Neuroscience Society

All things brain-related!

In today’s scientific community, neuroscience is the new frontier. The brain is the least understood organ in the human body, yet it is the most important as it controls all of our physical and higher-order mental functions. The nervous system's complexity is what makes us humans at the highest levels of emotion and intelligence. A key intellectual focus for me has been the basis for intellectuality itself- the brain. Why do we behave, learn, and respond the way we do? Neuroscience research has far-reaching implications in science, business, technology, and biotechnology. In high school, at the Emory University Summer Science Academy, I researched the pluripotency of stem cells and factors that contributed to their differentiation into different adult cells. Through this research, I explored new research on how stem cells can potentially differentiate into brain tissue and neurons to replace tissue lost through chemotherapy. I returned to Emory the following summer to study the transmission of prions, misfolded proteins, and the mechanisms by which they infect normal healthy proteins. Specifically, I focused on neurodegenerative diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob and kuru which are rare incurable disorders caused by prions disrupting normal proteins and creating sponge-like lesions in the brain.

As a BBB and Nutrition Science major, I have already learned so much about body and brain function and the processes that influence our daily lives. I am fascinated by the complexity of the human brain and the intricacy of every pathway–each thought, sense, and action is so carefully regulated yet comes so naturally and fluidly. Neuroscience research helps us understand these processes; by understanding them more, we are also able to better recognize and explain brain dysfunction, as in the case of disease and disorders, and thus be equipped to treat such dysfunction. I was able to experience this firsthand last semester when I studied the effects of chemotherapy on nutrition, appetite, and exercise in rodents in a Nutritional Neuroscience lab. By carrying out experiments to determine the influence of drugs on the brain and behavior of rodents, my colleagues and I hoped to discover alternative substances to treat cancer that would be less debilitating to a patient. As the command center of the body, the brain’s failure in any capacity can have a major impact on the rest of the body. Therefore, I view neuroscience research as vital to the improvement of medicine and human health.

Penn Neuroscience Society is club with so much heart, so much passion, so much depth. When you join the community, it feels less like a club, but like a family. Whether it's GBMs, Research Committee, or any other initiative that PNS carries out, there is always a welcoming feeling that makes you feel comfortable in that space. Furthermore, PNS is also a organization that values learning and growth. In GBMs, exploring the nervous system and it's pathways and mechanisms is made easy through interactive activities. In Research Committee, you can learn about anything in neuroscience with a group of similarly passionate individuals through discussions and literature reading. In their physician shadowing events, students get to see what life could be like as a neurosurgeon or researcher in neuroscience. Lastly, what makes PNS unique to any other neuroscience organization on campus is that it is all inclusive. Whether you are pre-med or not, a neuroscience major or not, it doesn't matter. Neuroscience is a broadening field, forming burgeoning relationships with other areas such as law, marketing, economics, psychology, AI, and linguistics. If you have ever been curious about the brain, mind, or even just the shower thoughts that catch you off guard once in a while, PNS is for you.

Penn Neuroscience Society

Children of Penn Neuroscience Society

Parents of Penn Neuroscience Society