The Neurocognitive Aging and Analytics Research Education program hosted its NAARE-USC Research Symposium on July 24 to showcase NAARE student scholars’ summer research at USC. The symposium displayed the impact of collaboration across institutions to provide incredible opportunities for students.
Over the summer, NAARE student scholars from the College of Health and Human Development, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences completed research at the USC campuses while working alongside a faculty expert. The summer research intensive experience allowed students to work full-time in their lab and learn such valuable research skills as analyzing MRI data and structural characteristics and pathology of brain regions to better understand brain health. In the capstone course, students prepare an oral presentation or poster presentation for the NAARE-USC Research Symposium by the end of the summer.
In the Data Immersive Visualization Environment Theater at the USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, NAARE scholars, their guests, faculty and staff learned about the cohort’s summer research projects. Three students were selected for oral presentations and the remaining students presented their work on research posters.
Three students from the Department of Public Health presented during the symposium.
Cecilia Ardon Pane presented an oral presentation on the “Relationship Between Blood Markers of Glycemic Control and Hippocampal Volume in Cognitively Unimpaired Adults” with USC faculty member Meredith Braskie. Jared Brown presented an oral presentation on “fMRI-Complexity as a Potential Presymptomatic Predictor of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease” with USC faculty member Kay Jann. Jazmin Chavira presented a poster presentation on the “Impact of WMH Volume and Sex Differences on Stroke Sensorimotor Outcomes” with USC faculty member Sook-Lei Liew.
“Working within a premier research institution like USC, which dedicates itself to advancing biomedical research, has been an invaluable experience,” said Brown. “As an underrepresented student, this CSUF collaboration and opportunity has strengthened my confidence while deepening my conviction for the potential of pursuing a graduate degree or research career in neuroscience.”
The NAARE program also created educational videos on Alzheimer’s diseases and related dementias, and health disparities within the CSUF community and general public. The NAARE program also tabled at the Health Is Wealth Senior Wellness Fair to share more information.
Having completed their graduate school campus visits, spring research projects and summer research experience, the second cohort will work on their graduate school applications for the upcoming cycle. The NAARE program will begin preparing for recruitment of the third cohort in fall 2024.
To learn more about the NAARE program and its scholars, visit the NAARE website or the program’s Instagram page.