Scientific potential can be fostered through access-focused initiatives
In the vibrant academic community of the University of Rochester, two promising neuroscientists are making significant strides in their respective research journeys. Chen Li, a graduate student in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, and Jose Reynoso, an alumnus of the NEUROCITY program, are both carving out their paths in neuroscience research.
Chen Li's research interests lie at the intersection of tactile and visual processes. She is currently working under the mentorship of Ian Fiebelkorn, PhD, assistant professor of Neuroscience, in the Dynamics of Cognition Lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Simultaneously, she is also guided by Manuel Gomez-Ramirez, PhD, assistant professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the chair of the Neuroscience Diversity Commission, in the Haptics Lab within the same department.
Chen Li's project aims to unravel the intricacies of neural modulation that connect these two essential sensory modalities. Her work is a testament to the synergy created by combining the tools and expertise from both mentors' labs.
Meanwhile, Jose Reynoso, a former NEUROCITY scholar, is now a lab assistant in the Keane Vision & Psychosis Lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He was part of a team that developed a new task to measure perceptual decision-making, under the guidance of Duje Tadin, PhD, professor and chair of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department.
Jose is currently preparing to submit his first first-author paper, which investigates reaching movements guided by vision and proprioception. His work underscores the program's success in fostering independent research and the development of critical thinking skills among its scholars.
NEUROCITY, launched in the summer of 2021 as a partnership between the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Diversity Commission and the City College of New York, aims to increase diversity and inclusion in neuroscience by providing mentorship, research opportunities, and skill development to undergraduate students from historically marginalized backgrounds. The program has successfully placed nearly 30 students in research labs across the University of Rochester and University of Rochester Medical Center campuses.
Brian Keane, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester, supports the philosophy of NEUROCITY, which aims to provide experiences, tools, and instruction to bright, motivated students from historically marginalized backgrounds to successfully pursue a career in neuroscience. The program's impact typically includes enhanced research skills, greater retention in STEM/neuroscience pathways, increased confidence, and the fostering of a supportive community for underrepresented students.
Chen Li and Jose Reynoso's accomplishments serve as shining examples of the potential that NEUROCITY nurtures. Both scholars have co-authored peer-reviewed scientific research, with Yacinda Hernandez co-authoring a paper published in PLOS ONE and Jancy Contreras co-authoring a paper in Neuroscience.
As Chen Li continues to write a manuscript for publication for a project she recently completed, and Jose Reynoso applies to graduate schools this fall, their futures in neuroscience research remain bright. The University of Rochester community looks forward to the groundbreaking discoveries that these talented scholars will undoubtedly make in the years to come.
- Chen Li's research, at the crossroads of tactile and visual processes, is not only inspiring health-and-wellness advancements but also fostering collaboration between different educational environments, demonstrating the impact of the University of Rochester's multi-disciplinary approach in education-and-self-development.
- Jose Reynoso's work, investigating reaching movements and perceptual decision-making, not only highlights his independent research capabilities developed during his time in the NEUROCITY program, but also contributes significantly to the field of fitness-and-exercise, enhancing overall health and well-being.
