Neuroscience Alliance at UCF with Sudeepta Matha, Andrei Nesterenko, Mae Torra, Charisse Melendez, & Prof. Kiminobu Sugaya

How can you take your career growth into your own hands?

In this episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!, we’re diving into a story of initiative, inspiration, and empowerment led by the students of the Neuroscience Alliance at the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Faced with a desire to expand their educational and career opportunities, these incredible students didn’t wait for the right resources to come their way—they created them! The Neuroscience Alliance was founded with a mission to promote awareness, research, and volunteer opportunities in neuroscience while building professional connections between students and faculty.

In this episode, we’re joined by the remarkable minds behind the Neuroscience Alliance at UCF. They’ll share their journey, the challenges they faced, and the benefits they’ve experienced by creating such a vibrant and supportive organization. More importantly, they’ll provide practical advice and inspiration for students worldwide who want to take charge of their own education and career development.

Ready to discover how you can create opportunities, build networks, and make a real difference in your field? Tune in to hear the story of the Neuroscience Alliance and learn how you can bring similar initiatives to life at your university.

Let’s explore how students are redefining neuroscience education—one bold step at a time!

About the Podcast Guests:

The Neuroscience Alliance (NSA) at the University of Central Florida

The NSA is a student organization committed to advancing awareness, research, and volunteer opportunities in neuroscience. It serves as a bridge between students and faculty, offering insights into current research and future career opportunities. The alliance takes a multidisciplinary approach to neuroscience, linking it with fields like medicine, psychology, biotechnology, psychiatry, and more.

NSA organizes various activities, including the Central Florida Brain Bee—a competition that challenges high school students' knowledge of neuroscience, aiming to foster interest and encourage future careers in this dynamic field.

Join the Neuroscience Alliance:

• Email: [email protected] 

Participate in the Central Florida Brain Bee:

• Contact Sudeepta Matha: [email protected] 

These platforms provide fantastic opportunities for both collegiate and high school students to delve deeper into neuroscience, offering both educational and practical experiences in the field.

For more information about the Neuroscience Alliance, visit https://med.ucf.edu/mdna/neuroscience-alliance-at-ucf/ 

 

Sudeepta Matha

Undergraduate Student & Neuroscience Advocate Sudeepta Matha is a 4th-year undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Psychology on the Neuroscience Track with a minor in Cognitive Sciences. Passionate about neuropsychology, Sudeepta focuses on researching the interplay between neurodevelopment, autism, and behaviors like suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury. As Executive Manager of the Central Florida Brain Bee, Sudeepta has advanced through roles as a volunteer, PR Manager, and Event Manager, demonstrating dedication to neuroscience education and outreach. Sudeepta plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuropsychology, aiming to uncover new insights into neurodevelopmental disorders and suicidality. 

 

Andrei Nesterenko

Emerging Neuroscientist & Biomedical Explorer Andrei Nesterenko is a third-year undergraduate at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Biomedical Neuroscience with minors in Political Science and Rhetoric and Writing. His research spans multiple areas of neuroscience, with two current projects focusing on noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring and the intersection of neuroscience and the legal system. As a former Public Relations Manager and the current Research Manager for the 2024 Central Florida Brain Bee, Andrei has dedicated his efforts to increasing access to basic neuroscience education in the Greater Orlando area and beyond. Following graduation and future post-baccalaureate research opportunities, Andrei plans to pursue a joint MD-PhD degree in either biomedical or behavioral neuroscience.

 

Charisse Melendez

Future Audiologist & Community Educator Charisse Meléndez is a third-year student at the University of Central Florida majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Spanish. Her future career goals are to pursue a doctorate in audiology, specializing in pediatrics and musicians, and lead an organization with a humanitarian focus. Her research interests include minimizing cochlear implant candidacy discrepancies between English and Spanish-speaking individuals, evaluating the relationship between hearing and memory, and the interrelationships between hearing and other diagnoses (for differential diagnosis). She is currently the PR manager for the Central Florida Brain Bee, a neuroscience competition under the NSA. Some of her personal interests include playing musical instruments at her church (bass, guitar, and piano), candle making, and working out.

 

Mae Torra

Biomedical Science Student & Environmental Advocate

Mae Torra is a 2nd-year undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Biomedical Sciences on the Neuroscience Track with minors in Environmental Studies and Genomics & Bioinformatics. Over the summer of 2024, they conducted research in Brown University’s Computational Neuroscience cohort through their Leadership Alliance SR-EIP. In the Neuroscience Alliance at UCF, they have served as a STEM Day Director, Event Director, and Secretary, with contributions ranging from designing educational activities for community outreach to hosting research workshops. They plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience, and are currently exploring interdisciplinary connections between neuroscience and ecology through a literature review on pollinator behavior.

 

Prof. Kiminobu Sugaya

Distinguished Professor & Researcher in Neuroscience Prof. Kiminobu Sugaya is a leading neuroscience researcher at UCF. He is a mentor within the Neuroscience Alliance, guiding students and research in neurodegenerative diseases and stem cell therapy. For more about his work or to get in touch, visit his faculty page at UCF Department of Neuroscience: https://med.ucf.edu/biomed/person/dr-kiminobu-sugaya/  

About the Podcast Host:

The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in neurotech and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed.

Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K:

• Identification and pursuit of career goals
• Guidance on job search strategies, resume, and cover letter development
• Neurotech / neuroscience job interview preparation and practice
• Networking strategies to connect with professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies
• Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals

You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/free-neurocareer-consultation

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