Meet the Team

  • Diya Patel

    Co-President
    COGNITIVE AND BRAIN SCIENCE + BIOLOGY MAJOR

    Hi! I love the outdoors: hiking, running, kayaking, etc.. In my free time, I like painting, exploring the city, and ice skating. I enjoy exploring a variety of topics in neuroscience from cognition to neuron regeneration. 

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT: Psilocybin desynchronizes neurons in the default mode network. Does desynchronization cause hallucinations or the hallucinations cause the desynchronization? We don’t know yet.

  • Owen Rutenberg

    Co-President
    CHEMISTRY + BIOPSYCHOLOGY MAJOR

    Hey, I'm Owen, a senior from Arlington, Virginia. The human brain has always fascinated me, and I’m excited about the prospect of working with neuroscience in a medical capacity someday. I love live music and going for runs. Coffee is another passion of mine, and in my downtime, you can find me exploring new places around Boston.

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT: The brain can process an entire image when displayed for as little as 13 milliseconds.

  • Disha Bhowmick

    TREASURER
    COGNITIVE AND BRAIN SCIENCE + BIOTECHNOLOGY MAJOR

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT:

  • Yerkezhan (Jane) Smagulova

    LAB COORDINATOR
    BIOPSYCHOLOGY MAJOR

    Hey guys! I mostly go by Jane on campus but my given name is Yerkezhan. I am a sophomore here at Tufts, most likely majoring in Biopsychology, and am an international student from Almaty, Kazakhstan. I love spending time outdoors (hiking, skiing, etc.), running, spending time with friends, and listening to music (genres vary by mood)!

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT: Gratitude and positivity changes your brain structure. Practicing positive thinking can strengthen neural pathways associated with joy, resilience, and optimism. Regular gratitude practices, for example, help increase activity in the brain's reward system, making positivity more of a default state.

  • Dylan Landau

    LAB COORDINATOR
    BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR

    Hi! I’m a sophomore from NY studying biomedical engineering on a pre-med track. Alongside my passion for science, I enjoy getting outdoors, listening to music, and going on runs. I also play tennis on the club tennis team here at Tufts and with my brother and dad when I’m home. 

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT: The human brain is not fully developed until 25, and development occurs from the back of your brain to the front. The frontal lobe is usually the last part of your brain to fully develop, which is responsible for reasoning, decision-making, and planning.

  • Sarah Dorielan

    Social Media + NN Task Force Representative
    BIOPSYCHOLOGY MAJOR + CHILD STUDIES & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT MINOR

    I am a daydreamer and avid fan of concerts and all things R&B from the Greater Boston area. In the future, I hope to be in a career involving psychiatry, but as for right now, you can typically find me crocheting or journaling with my headphones on.

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT: Daydreams can shape the brain's future response to what it sees!

  • Ella Lombardo

    EVENTS COORDINATOR
    BIOPSYCHOLOGY + CHILD STUDIES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT DOUBLE MAJOR

    Hi! I’m currently a freshman studying Biopsychology and Child Studies. I’m from Miami, FL so right now I’m currently missing the sun… I love dancing and I am a zumba instructor here at Tufts (every Tuesday at 6pm, hope to see you there!!). Other than that I love doing escape rooms, arts & crafts, and trying new things with my friends :)

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT: My favorite brain fact is that you can have a hole in your brain and still function normally. This happens because the brain has plasticity and is very adaptable. It can rewire itself to make up for the damaged part. It's amazing how our brain can adjust and keep us going!

  • Kaylie Wang

    RESOURCE AMBASSADOR
    CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY + CHILD STUDIES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT DOUBLE MAJOR

    Hi everyone :) I am a junior studying clinical psych and child studies interested in becoming a clinician providing culturally sensitive care to populations where mental health is stigmatized. Outside of academia, I love collecting trinkets, traveling, going on nature walks, and trying new restaurants.

    FAVORITE BRAIN FACT: Your brain can heal and grow- thanks to neuroplasticity.