Growing up in a household shaped by instability and domestic challenges, I never imagined neuroscience, or even science, could be a path for me. With little exposure to STEM, the world of research felt distant and out of reach. Yet over time, mentorship, persistence, and curiosity opened doors I didn’t even know existed. Those doors eventually led me to becoming a Goldwater Scholar, one of the most prestigious honors for undergraduate researchers. While that recognition was validating, the real value came from the lessons I learned along the way: how to communicate science clearly, seek out opportunities, and build confidence even when I felt out of place. In this article, I want to share those lessons and offer practical advice for students navigating similar challenges in their journeys.

Tiffany Chan is a junior at Rutgers University-Camden, where she is building a foundation in biology and computational and integrative biology, minoring in physics and chemistry. As a 2025 Goldwater Scholar, she aspires to integrate experimental and computational approaches to investigate the molecular mechanisms of brain function and develop neuromodulation-based strategies to advance therapeutic approaches for currently incurable neurological diseases.

In this episode, Yosif (Joe) Zaki, PhD, and Zach Pennington, PhD, join mentor Denise Cai, PhD, to reflect on the journey of building a neuroscience lab from the ground up.

In this Careers in Neuroscience profile, learn about Valéria Marques Figueira Muoio, MD, PhD, a neurosurgeon and professor at University of São Paulo- Brazil. Muoio discusses how she decided to pursue neurosurgery, research, and teaching simultaneously, and the necessary skills for all three career paths.

To kick off Neuronline’s Careers in Neuroscience series, read on to learn about Suet Theng Beh, PhD, a translational researcher at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, and what skills and experiences can help you in pursuing a career in this field.

Suet Theng Beh, PhD, is a staff scientist at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, where she leads the Human Cells Core for Translational Research and supports the Brain and Body Donation Program. With a strong foundation in neuroscience and expertise in mitochondrial biology and cell reprogramming, her research focuses on understanding the cellular pathways underlying age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

When I started my undergraduate studies, I didn’t realize that I was already taking the first steps toward becoming an independent researcher. In fact, the habits, skills, and experiences you develop during your undergraduate years can shape the trajectory of your career for years to come. By intentionally building your academic and scientific CV from the start and approaching your research with dedication, responsibility, and respect for deadlines, you set yourself apart. It’s not only about achievements on paper, but also about cultivating the mindset and abilities that make you a resilient, adaptable, and trustworthy researcher.

In this webinar, speakers will discuss key points of poster preparation and presentation, including where to start, how to visualize your ideas using text and figures, how to present to different audiences, how to handle questions and discussions at your poster, and how to follow up with your audience. Each speaker will share a 10-minute presentation, and there will be time for open discussion and Q&A with attendees.

So, your article has been accepted and published in a journal. What’s next? Social media, multimedia, and the press can all be powerful tools to get noticed. How do you promote your paper, and what are the benefits of getting noticed? Join this webinar to hear tips and strategies for navigating this process from a researcher in the field, a social media editor, and a public information officer. Attendees can submit questions at registration and during the webinar. This webinar is part of a series from SfN Journals and Elsevier covering topics related to the publishing process.

Kira Bailey is an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Ohio Wesleyan University. She obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology at Concord University and completed her MS and PhD degrees in psychology at Iowa State University. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri – Columbia, she joined the faculty of Ohio Wesleyan in 2015. Her research examines how individual differences in experience, such as video game exposure and smartphone use, modify brain activity related to cognitive control.