Welcome to the Duke Neuroscience Peer Mentoring Program 2024-2025!
Are you interested in mentoring an underclassmen neuroscience student this year? Would you like to share your wisdom and experience on how to find a research laboratory, conduct an independent study research project, select neuroscience courses, apply for graduate/medical school, and navigate neuroscience resources at Duke? If yes, we encourage you to apply to be a mentor with the Neuroscience Majors’ Union and Summer Neuroscience Program’s Peer Mentoring Program!
Not only will this opportunity provide you with formal leadership and mentorship training in research and academic settings, but also allow you to make a genuine and lasting impression on an underclassmen at Duke.
After carefully matching mentees and mentors, the Program will host monthly dinner talks and social opportunities to facilitate bonding between the pairs. Resources will also be provided to mentees and mentors throughout the year to ensure a supportive experience for both.
Potential Mentors for 2024-2025:
Charlotte Reedy: Hi my name is Charlotte! I am pursuing a Philosophy minor alongside my Neuroscience major, and I plan on going to Optometry school after graduating from Duke, so I’m on a pre health track. I currently do research in the Kay Lab at the Duke Eye Center, where we study retinal degeneration. At Duke, I am on exec for BrainIAC and Blue Devils United as well as a member of Bull City Scholars.
Hannah Hortman: Hi! My name is Hannah, and I am a junior majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Computational Biology and Chinese. I was originally pre-med, but have since realized that I am more interested in research. I currently work in a neurobiology lab studying how manipulations to a cell’s ability to adapt to stress can influence the survival of dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s Disease. I think Duke has a wonderful Neuroscience program and am happy to offer my two cents on classes to take, how to get involved in research, and more!
Grace Richardson: My name is Grace (she/her), and I’m a junior originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I’m majoring in Neuroscience (B.S.) and pursuing a minor in Spanish. Although I started on the pre-med track, I quickly realized I was more passionate about the science behind medicine rather than clinical work. After graduation, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, with my broad interests being cellular and molecular neurobiology and systems neuroscience. Because my goal is graduate school, I am very passionate about research and would be a great resource for any students excited about getting involved in a lab, regardless of experience. I’ve also had the opportunity to take a lot of cool neuroscience electives, and I’m happy to advise on course selection. I am an undergraduate researcher in the Eroglu Lab in the Department of Cell Biology, where I study how astrocytes sculpt synaptic development and plasticity in the primary visual cortex. Outside of my academic involvements, I am a Student Programming Assistant at the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD) and a Senior Editor for Vertices Science Magazine. I love trying new foods, spending time with my friends, movies, and basketball!
Mikaela Lipp: My name is Mikaela Lipp and I’m a senior majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in chemistry and sociology on the pre-med track. I’m particularly interested in clinical neuroscience research, and at Duke I’ve been working in a Neurology lab studying TMS as a treatment for dystonia, a rare movement disorder. I’m also very interested in public health and advocacy, and I recently joined a Bass Connections project working to implement a discharge planning protocol to increase access to rehabilitation in Ugandan neurosurgical transitional care. Outside of Duke, I’m very involved in EMS and volunteer as an EMT at my local fire department. At Duke I’m part of the student groups Remote Area Medical, Duke Children’s Ambassadors Program, and Root Causes. Post grad I plan to take a gap year and then attend medical school!
Reena Kagan: I’m a junior studying Neuroscience and Global Health, and after graduation, I would like to work in public health! I’m interested in topics at the cross-section of my majors, like mental health and drug addiction/recovery. Also, I am not pre-med, so if you’re wanting advice on navigating the Neuro major as a non-pre-med I’d love to chat!
Dev Shah: I am currently a senior with experience in neurosociology/ADRD research. I’m passionate about teaching at both the collegiate and primarily school level, and I enjoy mentoring underclassmen (particularly students from rural/underrepresented backgrounds).
Kareena Sukhnanan: I am involved with immunology/oncology research, volunteering with brain injury support groups, art therapy, etcera!
Rachel Rockwell: I was initially a psychology major and switched to a neuroscience major late in the game. After graduation, I plan on taking a gap year and then attend medical school. I am currently finishing my fall semester studying abroad and I am earning many neuroscience credits abroad. I am excited to help give advice for any underclassmen!
Nana Osaki: Hi! My name is Nana and I am a junior from Madison, Wisconsin. My interests in neuroscience surround language and I am pursuing minors in Korean and Spanish. I am currently involved in a right hemisphere communication laboratory in the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience.
Ashley Alcantar: I am a senior majoring in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry and the Latino Studies in the Global South certificate. Outside of class, I do research in the Huang Lab, studying the cortical development via the genetic profiles and projection trajectories of projection neurons derived from Pax6+ radial glia. I am also involved in the Help Desk and Beyond Borders, where I have been able to engage with the communities and systemic issues that have motivated my academic and personal interests. I am originally from Oakwood, Georgia, and I aspires to go to medical school after graduation! In my free time, I enjoy reading, trying new foods, and catching up with friends.
Annika Socia: Hi! My name is Annika Socia, and I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry and the PPE Certificate. My primary interests lie in the intersection of neuroscience and philosophy, where I explore the profound connections between these disciplines and their implications for moral decision-making. My current work involves research on memory and forgiveness. Originally from a small town in Vermont, I plan to take a gap year after graduation with hopes of attending medical school. Outside of class, I am part of Sabrosura, Phide, and Help Desk, but I also like to ski, travel, and try new restaurants around Durham!
Kristina Schaufele: Hi! I am a junior from Atlanta, Georgia. I am pre-med, majoring in neuroscience and minoring in chemistry and computer science. I plan to take a gap year for medical school and I studied abroad in Fall 2024, so I am happy to talk about navigating that process in addition to being pre-med! I have been involved with basic science research on neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, and l loved my Spine Surgery Patient Navigators Bass Connections clinical research program, where I examined the effect of social support on spine surgery patients. In addition to NMU, I am involved in Femmes+, PhiDE, and DTech at Duke. In my free time, I love to run and go to workout classes like Midtown Yoga, travel, and do cooking nights/try new restaurants with friends.
Emma Pophal: Hi! I’m Emma Pophal, a current junior and neuro major. I’m from Arizona (but recently moved to Chicago) and a fun fact about me is that I have a twin brother. I would be thrilled to be a mentor to help an undergad navigate the neuro curriculum. I have taken many neuro classes and would be able to recommend electives and give insight about the neuro core classes. I am pre-med so I would also be able to advise on things like shadowing, balancing premed classes with neuro classes, volunteering etc. I do have a experience with research as well – I was apart of a year long Bass Connections Brain and Society study and during my sophomore summer I worked in a neuro genetics lab at University of Chicago. Some other things about me outside of neuro would be that I am a RA on campus and I work at the Student Wellness Center where I host weekly arts and.craft nights open to all students and faculty. I plan on taking a gap year before applying to med school and hope to work in the field of pediatrics.
Hayden Kenny: I am a senior from Summit NJ majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Chemistry and Computational Bioinformatics. My research focuses on using electrical stimulation of the Vagus nerve to modulate brain waves and attentional control. I plan on going to medical school after graduation but have had extensive research experience both in and outside of Duke, and I would love to share some of his experiences to help others in the neuroscience department.
Sera Balkir: Hi I’m Sera! I am a senior from Chicago, majoring in neuroscience with minors in global health and chemistry. My research experience includes working on retinal prosthetics, modulating visual perception, and contributing to the Reproductive Healthcare Bass Connections project. In addition to research, I write for The Muse Magazine and enjoy spending time with friends!
Sabreen Syed: Hi! My name is Sabreen, and I’m a senior from Raleigh majoring in neuro with a minor in chemistry and a certificate in child policy research. After graduation, I’ll be taking two gap years and then applying to med school. At Duke, I’ve been a research assistant at the Early Childhood Cognition Lab, a Help Desk Emergency Department volunteer, an exec member for Duke Children’s Ambassadors Program, and a member of two Bass Connections projects: one focusing on reproductive healthcare and another on pediatric healthcare in conflict zones. In my free time, I love reading, watching movies, and making all kinds of art.
Joanna Kang: Hi! My name is Joanna and I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Chemistry. I’m involved in neuroimmunology research (impact of maternal stressors on offspring brain development), NMU, Duke Help Desk (endocrine branch), FEMMES+, and Asian Intervarsity. I plan to take a gap year for medical school!
Disha Jotsinghani: Hi! I am a senior from Columbus, OH majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Global Health and Chemistry. I currently conduct clinical research in the iMIND Lab with Duke’s Department of Ophthalmology and basic science research in the Varghese Lab as part of Duke’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. Outside of NMU, I am involved in Miracle at Duke, Duke EyeServe, Duke Global Brigades, and the Spine Surgery Patient Navigators Bass Connections program. I am also currently applying to medical schools. In my free time, I enjoy baking, spending time with friends, and going for hikes!
