UChicago Neuroscience at SfN 2024: Showcasing Research, Networking, and Community Connections

The UChicago Neuroscience community came together for a memorable Society for Neuroscience (SfN) meeting in Chicago.

With a strong presence and active participation, our researchers, faculty, and students showcased their cutting-edge work and contributed to the advancement of the field.

Faculty members, graduate students, undergraduate students, and postdocs participated in symposia and presented a wide range of research findings, from neuroimaging studies to computational neuroscience models. Their posters and presentations were well-attended and sparked discussions among fellow neuroscientists from around the world.

For Zulfar Ghulam-Jelani, a CNS graduate student in Kaufman Lab who attended the meeting for the first time, seeing the vast array of research on display was motivating.

“The level of interaction between presenters and attendees made me excited about the idea of sharing my own work in the future. I walked away with new insights and ideas,” says Ghulam-Jelani.

CON graduate student Anahi Bustillos Salazar (Xu Lab) attended the meeting for the first time and said that although it can be a bit overwhelming, it is always exciting to learn about the latest research and techniques in the field. She also had the opportunity to present a poster.

"I presented my poster on the conference's final day, and I felt it went well. It was really nice to have so many UChicago community members engage and ask insightful questions about my work."

Besides learning about other scientists’ work, the SfN meeting was also an opportunity to engage in networking, forge collaborations with national and international peers, and establish partnerships for future research endeavors.

Graduate Fair

As always, UChicago Neuroscience also had a recruitment table at the graduate fair. The booth attracted numerous prospective applicants who were eager to know more about the programs we offer. 

“The graduate fair was a highlight for me. Everyone I spoke with seemed genuinely interested and excited to learn more about UChicago. It felt rewarding to engage with bright students considering their next steps,” says Ghulam-Jelani.

Dr. Jaramillo, one of the faculty members who stayed in the booth to talk to students, described his experience as “memorable.” “It was my first time participating in the graduate fair. I could witness the genuine excitement of potential students for our programs.”

Building Connections

As part of the SfN experience in Chicago, the Neuroscience Institute and the Committees on Neurobiology and Computational Neuroscience hosted a social event on Sunday evening, October 6th, at the Chicago Athletic Association. 

The 18th annual event was a resounding success, bringing together over 300 attendees and fostering meaningful connections and conversations among our community, alumni, and guests. 

“It created a relaxed environment for networking and catching up with colleagues. It was also nice to meet some of the prospective students from the graduate fair in a more informal setting,” said Ghulam-Jelani.

Jaramillo added, “Since the UChicago social took place within the dates of SfN, we could interact with alumni and other scientists affiliated with the university. Overall, it was a great success.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL GALLERY WITH PHOTOS OF THE EVENT.