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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
Students Selected as Scientific Fellows Attend Sunposium 2015 Conference
Reena Dholaki, Ezana Assefa, Mustari Akhi, Carmen De Jesus
Selected for the Scientific Fellowship Program by the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), four students from the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences were invited to attend Sunposium 2015––a two-day conference featuring world-renowned scientists from the U.S. and Europe.
Behavioral neuroscience majors Carmen DeJesus, Ezana Assefa, and Reena Dholaki, and biology major Mustari Akhi attended the second biennial conference on March 30–31, 2015 at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The students were accompanied by Jaime Tartar, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of psychology research at the college. Dholaki and Akhi are members of the college’s Undergraduate Honors Program.
“We were invited to the Sunposium as part of the MPFI student scholars program,” Tartar said. “This incredible opportunity allowed our students to hear from some of the best neuroscientists in the country…and learn about cutting-edge technology. The poster session allowed the students to talk to student and faculty members of the neuroscience community and to consider different academic and professional opportunities. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.”
The conference highlighted some of the most complex issues at the forefront of understanding neural circuits. MPFI’s Scientific Fellowship Program offered undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral students the opportunity to meet with researchers; participate in educational conferences, workshops, and seminars; and work on advanced neuroscience research at MPFI.
Highlights of the conference included an evening scientific poster session and reception and a special lunch breakout session during which students engaged directly with the speakers. In addition, there were four educational sessions featuring 24 leaders in neuroscience research. They included Eric Betzig, one of three winners of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.