AUGUST 2023

FAU Jupiter Move-In Day

Brain in Flux

The FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute recently co-sponsored “Brain in Flux,” an international meeting hosted in Gaia, Portugal, that brings together scientists from around the world and their trainees to discuss the latest advances in biological transport mechanisms in the brain.

Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of the Brain Institute, chaired a session on new advances in transport and disorders associated with the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Read more.

Around Campus

Academy for Community Inclusion

FAU’s Academy for Community Inclusion (ACI) welcomed six new students to the FAU Jupiter campus for the fall 2023 semester. The opportunity to attend college is a dream turned into reality for many of these students and their families. Make these new Owls feel welcome.

Contact Gwendolyn Carey, Ed.D., for more information about ACI.

Summer Research

Summer Sign Off

The National Science Foundation Summer Intensive Neuroscience Experiences at FAU Jupiter culminated with a student research poster symposium. The summer 2023 cohort consisted of 12 student researchers. During the symposium they presented their findings to a crowd of scientists, faculty, community leaders, fellow students, and friends and family.

Read more.

Cutting-edge Microscopy

This summer, research faculty from FAU Jupiter and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience partnered to host an intensive, four-day “minimester” in light microscopy for undergraduates.

Students had the opportunity to learn how to use six types of cutting-edge microscopy: 

• Zeiss LSM 880 Confocol Laser Scanning Microscope

• Keyence Fluorescence Microscope

• Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy

• Nikon A1 Confocol Microscope

• Two-Photon Imaging

• Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Grouped into teams, students were assigned to one microscope to complete an independent imaging project, which they presented at the close of the course. 

New Faces

New Faculty - Harriett L. Wilkes Honors College

Sarah Malanowski, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow – Philosophy

Malanowski has taught philosophy courses at FAU since 2018. She earned her doctorate in the Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology program at Washington University in St. Louis. Malanowski specializes in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and bioethics. She also co-organized the FAU Philosophy of Video Games Conference and co-authored a book on how gaming can "contribute to the good life." 

Samantha McGovern, M.S.

Director of Academic Support Services – Biology

McGovern earned her master's degree in biological sciences from FAU. Prior to joining the Honors College, she worked as a lab coordinator at the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. McGovern brings a wealth of experience in biology and neuroscience with a versatile background in the application of lab skills and techniques.

Michal Pirog, Ph.D.

Physics

Pirog earned his doctorate in physics from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. He is a member of the American Astronomical Society and the American Physical Society. Pirog has a strong background in mathematics-oriented courses, which he said he believes is essential for a profound understanding of natural science concepts and for building a successful scientific research or technical profession outside academia. Pirog’s primary focus is on theoretical aspects of science.  

Casey Spencer, M.S.

Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow – Neuroscience

Spencer earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from FAU and is on track to earn his doctorate in neuroscience in Fall 2023. As a student in the Integrative Biology and Neuroscience Graduate Program, he studied the development of synapsis in vivo using fruit flies as a model organism. His doctoral research focused on the role of Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1 in synapse formation and function.

Conrad Toepfer, Ph.D.

Biology

Toepfer earned his doctorate in zoology from Oklahoma State University, researching population and conservation biology of a threatened fish, the leopard darter, with projects in population estimation and land use effects on habitat quality. He has more than 20 years of experience teaching biology and interdisciplinary courses and has been active in regional and national teaching associations.

ASCEND

NeuroExplorers Fall 2023

Registration is open for the fall 2023 semester of NeuroExplorers. This after-school program introduces middle schoolers (grades six through eight) to neuroscience using cutting-edge educational tools. The program is taught by professional neuroscientists and their trainees from the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute.

The semester-long program begins Sept. 6. 

NeuroExplorers is part of the Brain Institute's Advancing STEM: Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery (ASCEND) program. 

For more information, contact BI-Outreach@fau.edu.

Share Your Science

Science in Seconds:

New Series Spotlights FAU Research - in Seconds

FAU's Research Communications team is launching a new short video series called Science in Seconds.

Each episode showcases the cutting-edge research, scholarship and creative activity happening across the colleges - all in less than 60 seconds.

If you're interested in being part of this new series, connect with the Research Communications team today and show the world what you're working on for a better tomorrow.

Connect now.

Upcoming Events

National Campus Safety Awareness Month

Join FAU's Department of Emergency Management in celebrating and promoting campus safety this September. In-person and virtual events are scheduled throughout the month on all campuses.

Learn more.

Neuroscience Seminar Series

Regulation of Neurogenesis During Development: From Neural Stem Cell Reactivation to Termination

Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m.

MC-17, Room 119

Continuing Education

Hands-Only CPR

Upcoming course dates:

Sept. 20 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Oct. 18 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Hands-Only CPR training teaches valuable lifesaving skills that can prepare participants to properly respond in the event of a cardiac event. Hands-Only CPR is a fast and easy way to learn important CPR skills while being accessible to everyone. Courses are held on the Boca Raton campus.

Students and ChatGTP

FAU's Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions is conducting a short survey about the use of ChatGTP in high school and college education. Educators are encouraged to share their opinions and circulate the survey through their networks of high school teachers and college/university faculty.

Resources

Masterminds

Read all the latest news inside the FAU

Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute's annual

publication, Masterminds magazine - online and in print.

Read more.

Assistance