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Sixty students—including first-years and sophomores—attended the daylong conference to  advance and promote understanding of the peripheral and central nervous system through Society for Neuroscience scientific and educational activities conducted in the Chicago metro area.

Kiera McKee ’27 felt honored to have the opportunity to meet and interact with researchers who are actively engaged in neuroscience.

“This is the field that we all want to go into, and they’re achieving the dreams that we all have,” the double major in neuroscience and music said. As a person who loves to ask questions, McKee asked many and found inspiration from the presenters and attendees.

“The most incredible part of it was that I could ask the researchers all my questions, how did you plan this study? What were you thinking about? And so the opportunity that it gave us there was to see into the minds of researchers to know where their thought process was going, how this study was conducted, and what it means,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience.”

Keisha William ’27 says that although she is normally quite shy, she felt so inspired and comfortable at the conference that she, too, spoke with presenters and others to further her understanding of the field.

“I could ask the researchers all my questions. It was a wonderful experience.” —Kiera McKee ’27

“With each presentation and research discussion, I wanted to enrich my knowledge about everything. I was curious to know more,” William said. Having the opportunity to network with neuroscience professionals felt right to William. “It solidified my dreams to become a neuroscientist and to use that knowledge to help communities” in her home country of Haiti, William added. 

In the graduate and undergraduate poster and art competition, four Lake Forest students presented research they’ve conducted in the last two years: Sebastian Gacek ’25,  a neuroscience major who is researching with  Disque D. and Carol Gram Deane Professor of Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, and  Chair of Neuroscience Shubhik DebBurman; Ying Han ’24, a neuroscience and data science double major who is conducting research at RFU with Dr. EunJung Hwang; Lorena Monroy ’24, a neuroscience and biochemistry and molecular biology double major who is researching at RFU with  Dr. Joanna Dabrowska and Raneem Samman ’24, a neuroscience and computer science double major and gender and women studies minor who is working with Associate Professor of Biology Flavia Barbosa on research.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to conduct research at RFU, so it was an honor to present that research at the Chicago SfN conference,” Monroy said. “It was really inspiring to watch other students at the undergraduate and graduate level present at the conference. I was also proud to see that three other Lake Forest College students presented their research posters this year.”

Also at the conference, Monroy and Olivia Godek ’24 were recognized for their work as co-presidents of the College’s chapter of Nu Rho Psi.

The College has taken students to the SfN conference since 2002. “Well over 600 Lake Forest students have attended this meeting,” DebBurman said, noting that the opportunity showcases how the College’s access to Chicago “gives our students their edge. Our innovative curriculum prepares our students super well for such moments and we are so proud of them.” 

In the end, the SfN outing “was an outstanding day for undergraduates to network and strengthen their professional development,” he said.

Related Links:

• Explore the neuroscience program at Lake Forest College
• Meet Dr. DebBurman
• Learn more about the RFU summer research opportunities