UCR Neuroscience Graduate Student Association

UCR Neuroscience Graduate Student Association is proud to announce the 2026-2027 NGSA Executive Board! 🎊

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to announce the PhD Defense of: Camila Alvarez

Major Professor: Dr. Nicholas DiPatrizio

Title: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Food Intake and Reward

Date/Time: May 29, 2pm
Location: Genomics Auditorium
Zoom: https://ucr.zoom.us/j/99707387322

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to announce the PhD Defense of: David Nikom 🎉

Major Professor: Dr. Sika Zheng

Title: The Role of PTB Proteins in Neuronal Identity and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis

Date/Time: May 26, 1-3p
Location: MRB Seminar Room 1110
Zoom: https://ucr.zoom.us/j/5553223637

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to announce the PhD Defense of: Haneal Pae 🎉

Title: Visually guided orientation during Drosophila flight: influence of wavelength, intensity, and visual processing on heading during freely-rotating tethered flight
Date/Time: May 22, 2026, 11:30 AM

Location: Conference Room 161, Entomology Building

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to announce the PhD Defense of: Alexander King

Major Professor: Garret R. Anderson

Title: Endothelial Adgrl2 expression and alternative splicing controls the cerebrovasculature

Date/Time: 5/22 1PM
Location: SOM2 Room 205

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to announce the PhD Defense of: Thomas Shoff

Major Professor: Dr. Ryan Julian

Title: “Deciphering the interplay between amyloid beta, tau, and microtubules in the pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease”

Date/Time: May 18; 9a-11a
Location: Genomics 1102A

Brain Awareness Day 2026! 🧠 A huge success! 🥳

Thanks to all the volunteers who made this possible! 🙌 Also, a
huge thanks to David Nikom, Courtney Scaramella, and the team (lan Warren, Kaira Carstens and Ritika Thapa) for their hard work and commitment over the last few months in organizing the event!

Brain Awareness Day 2026! 🧠 A huge success! 🥳

Thanks to all the volunteers who made this possible! 🤩 Also, a huge thanks to David Nikom, Courtney Scaramella, and the team (Ian Warren, Kaira Carstens and Ritika Thapa) for their hard work and commitment over the last few months in organizing the event!

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to announce the PhD Defense of: Alexander Bilas

Major Professor: Dr. Todd Fiacco
Title: “Contributions of the Brain’s Extracellular Space and the Neuronal Volume-Regulated Anion Channel to Hyperexcitability Evoked During Cellular Edema”

Date/Time: June 1st, 2026 (2:00 pm - 5:00 pm)
Location: LSP 2550 or Zoom (https://ucr.zoom.us/j/96192359591)

Join us for a night of board games, good food, and even better company. Whether you’re competitive or just here for the vibes, this is your chance to meet people outside your department and unwind before the weekend.

📍 Geo 2460H
🗓 Friday, May 8
⏰ 6–9 PM

Bring a friend (or make one there). See you soon!