Student Resources
Western Washington University’s NeRDS Club from Tanya German on Vimeo.
The Neuroscience Research Driven Students (NeRDS) club provides students interested in neuroscience with a link to the WWU neuroscience community. Visit the NeRDS Instagram page to learn more and get involved!
Winter 2020
Neural Substrates of Binge Drinking, a BNS Seminar by Dr. Angela Ozburn at Oregon Health & Science University.
January 28, 2020| 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Title: Neural Substrates of Binge Drinking
The goal of these studies is to identify how altering specific brain activity can reduce binge-like alcohol drinking in mice.
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Fall 2019
“Dopamine and Neuropeptide Regulation of Drug Taking”, a BNS Seminar by Ryan Farero at University of Washington.
Ryan is a PhD Candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at University of Washington studying the neurobiology of drug addiction. Ryan will discuss research on the biological mechanisms promoting aberrant dopamine transmission and the associated behavioral outcomes observed in animal models of drug addiction.
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Winter 2019
“Sex Differences in Reinforcement: Role of Environmental Enrichment and the Orbitofrontal Cortex”, a Psychology Department seminar by Dr. Jeff Grimm.
Dr. Jeff Grimm, professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Western Washington University presented, “Sex Differences in Reinforcement: Role of Environmental Enrichment and the Orbitofrontal Cortex” on Thursday, March 7, 2019.
Dr. Jeff Grimm’s lab investigates the neurobiology of relapse. With the collaboration of student laboratory assistants, he is conducting experiments to identify
brain areas involved in relapse. For more information please visit Dr. Jeff Grimm’s research lab website.
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Winter 2019
“Cracking the Cannabis Code”, a BNS Seminar by Dr. Josh Kaplan
Dr. Josh Kaplan is a new faculty member in the Behavioral Neuroscience program at Western Washington University. Dr. Kaplan will lecture on the developmental consequences and therapeutic efficacy of cannabis, and provide an overview of his lab’s focus. The event will be held in the Academic Instructional Center West 204. Everyone is welcome. For more information please visit Dr. Josh Kaplan’s research lab website.
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Fall 2018
“Individual differences in language and rhythm skills: a journey from behavior to brain to genetics”
Dr. Gordon’s research examines the relationship between rhythm and grammar skills in typical development and specific language impairment, the neural mechanisms underlying rhythm and grammar skills, the genetics of language disorders, and how musical training can improve language skills. This talk will be held Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. in MH 152.
“Exploring Huntingtin’s Nuclear Roles” Neuroscience Seminar
Dr. Carroll will discuss how his lab’s new work is aimed at understanding the roles played by the Huntingtin protein in the nucleus, and how these roles may be perturbed to cause Huntington’s Disease. Dr. Carroll’s presentation will be held in BI 234, at 4:00 PM on October 24th.
Behavioral Neuroscience Guest Speaker
Kevin Hope is a WWU BNS graduate, PhD Candidate, and Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Kevin will present mechanisms for seizures involved in Duplication 15q syndrome, a human neurodevelopmental disorder, using the Drosophila melanogaster model organism. His presentation will be held in BIO 234.
Viking Launch
BNS 195- Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience
September 16th-20th, 2019
Viking Launch is designed to provide incoming freshmen a strong, focused start-up to college life at Western. Research demonstrates that freshmen are most apt to succeed when they are socially and academically integrated within a campus community, when they are prepared and ready for their courses, and when they attend classes with an eye to their future goals and plans. Viking Launch is designed to help students successfully achieve these advantages before fall classes begin.
For complete details please visit the Viking Launch website.
BNS 195 Course Details
This course will introduce you to behavioral neuroscience in Western’s state-of-the-art neuroscience research facility, where you will learn about the role that the nervous system plays in normal and abnormal behavior, thought and emotion. (2 credits)
Viking Launch offers incoming freshmen a strong, focused start-up to college life at Western. Students will arrive on campus seven days early for an intensive week of study and preparation for a successful Western Experience.
To read course details for BNS 195 please visit the course details page.
Instructors: Dr. Mike Mana
WWU Links
- Classfinder – A handy tool for determining which classes to register for and when.
- Timetable of classes
- Web4U
- Graduation information
- Psychology Department page
- Biology Department page
- Chemistry Department page
- College of Humanities and Social Science page
WWU Library Resources
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Tutoring Center at WWU Library (Provides free tutoring in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math)
- Study Skills at WWU Library (Develop plan for achieving academic success)
- Interlibrary Loan Service (ILLiad)
Pre-Graduate
- Undergraduate Scholarship Program NIH
- GRE information
- Comparative information/reviews on GRE test-prep resources
- MCAT information
- Pre-Professional Advising
Graduate School Links
- GRE
- Society for Neuroscience
- American Psychological Society
- Society of Clinical Psychology
- American Public Health Association
- NIH Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award
- National Academy of Neuropsychology
- Research Careers
- Helping Students Get Into Grad School
Research Links
WWU has Pre-health profession advising available through the Career Services Center. Please visit their website by clicking here.
Pre-Med Resources
Check out WWU’s Pre-Med Club!
Learn about the Medical School Application Process.
Read about the MCAT
Pre-Dental Resources
Learn about the Dental School Admissions Process
Read about the DAT
Pre-Pharmacy Resources
Learn about Pharmacy School Application Requirements
Read about the PCAT
As a faculty-mentored student researcher, undergraduates are presented with several opportunities to present their research projects to the scientific or academic community.
PsychFest
PsychFest is a great opportunity for Psychology Department students to present their research to other members of the Psychology Department and other interested students/faculty. This event takes place yearly at the end of Spring quarter, and includes student poster presentations and student/faculty talks. Click here for more information, including registration information and important dates.
Scholars Week
Scholars Week is a campus-wide celebration of dedication to scholarly research. Graduate and undergraduate students from any department are encouraged to present their research in the two-day long poster presentation session. This week is typically the second week of May. Click here for more information on this exciting opportunity. Additionally, participants in the campus-wide Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Digital Image Competition showcase their micrographs at this event. This competition is open to all students. Click here for more information on the SEM competition.
BNS Major Exclusive Offerings
The Behavioral Neuroscience (BNS) Program is proud to offer several scholarships each academic year. Two different types of scholarships are provided. Scholarships can be awarded the basis of financial need and involvement in the field of BNS, or academic performance and involvement in the field of BNS. Scholarships are allocated over three quarters (fall, winter and spring). Other allocation arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis.
For the Spring quarter application and complete details please visit our Scholarship Page.
A variety of WWU BNS graduates have kindly agreed to answer questions about the grad school application process, and their experiences in graduate school. Please email the BNS coordinator (BNS@wwu.edu) to request contact information for neuromentors who have attended:
University of Houston (Clinical Neuropsychology)
UW School of Medicine
UW School of Occupational Therapy
WSU School of Veterinarian Medicine
WSU School of Pharmacy
WSU (PhD, Neuroscience)
Arizona State University (PhD, Neuroscience)
OHSU (PhD, Neuroscience)
Medical University of South Carolina (PhD, Neuroscience)
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
University of Oregon (Bioinformatics/Genomics)
USC (Social Psychology)
2020-2021 Outstanding Graduate: Reece Budinich ’21
Congratulations to Reece Budinich ’21, the Behavioral Neuroscience Program’s Outstanding Graduate from the school year 2020-2021. To learn more about Reece please read on, “During my time at Western, I had the honor of working in Dr. Kaplan’s research lab examining the effects of commercially available CBD products on anxiety behaviors. I also enjoyed being able to participate in NeRDS club as both a member and an officer, in the Virtual Neurosurgery Internship, and as a TA for courses taught by Dr. Mana and Dr. Finlay. Outside of neuroscience, my passions include photography and making coffee. Currently, I am applying to research assistant jobs, and I eventually plan on attending graduate school. I would like to thank all the amazing people that make up this program, both as students and as faculty. I am very grateful for the wonderful opportunities that this program offers, and I would highly recommend for those interested in BNS to take advantage of all the ways that they can get involved!”
2019-2020 Outstanding Graduate: Mason Hardy ’20
Congratulations to Mason Hardy ’20, the Behavioral Neuroscience Program’s Outstanding Graduate from the school year 2019-2020. To learn what Mason is working on post-graduation please read on, “After graduating from Western, I started working as a temporary Animal Care Technician for Western’s Behavioral Neuroscience Program. Recently, I have transitioned to working as a temporary Molecular Extraction Technician at Northwest Laboratory. As part of their molecular team, I assist with clinical laboratory screening for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This has been an exciting opportunity to experience working in a clinical laboratory while helping address growing testing needs inside and outside of Washington. After Northwest Laboratory, I intend to transition into preclinical laboratory research and eventually pursue higher education through graduate school. I would like to thank all of the faculty who supported me throughout my undergraduate studies and who have motivated me to follow my ambitions. Lastly, I would like to encourage current and future BNS students to utilize the many great resources available to them through the program, and to reach out to faculty with questions or for advice.”
2019-2020 Outstanding Graduate: Mitchell Bishop ’19
Congratulations to Mitchell Bishop ’19, the Behavioral Neuroscience Program’s Outstanding Graduate from the school year 2018-2019. To find out what Mitchell is working on post-graduation, please continue reading. “Following graduation I received the NIH Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award, and joined the Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuits Unit in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Our lab is investigating neural and glial interactions involved in control of motor behavior, such as respiration and vocalization, in mammals! I’m excited for this opportunity to develop myself in every step of the scientific process: from experimental design to analysis and dissemination. Thank you to all the faculty that continue to give new researchers like myself opportunities to grow, in and out of the classroom. And to new undergraduate researchers in the Behavioral Neuroscience Program, seize those opportunities; you never know where an agar plate full of worms can take you!” -Mitchell Bishop
2017-2018 Outstanding Graduate: Anna Marie Yanny
Anna Marie Yanny of Seattle graduated magna cum laude with University Honors in June with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Behavioral Neuroscience and as the Outstanding Graduate of the program. A member of Western’s Honors Program, Yanny completed an ambitious research project in Associate Professor McNeel Jantzen’s Language and Neural Systems Lab, where they studied how musical training enhances speech perception. She also worked with Associate Professor Dietmar Schwartz’s Ecology Lab, studying the apple maggot fly, a major pest in the state of Washington. She presented her work at Western’s Scholars Week and she was a recipient of the Behavioral Neuroscience Neurodiagnostic Internship, which gave her experience in the PeaceHealth Neurology Clinic in Bellingham. In addition to her work in the Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Yanny founded and was president of the WWU Poets and Lyricists Club, which hosts bi-weekly poetry open mics, runs writing and performance workshops, and brings nationally known poets to campus. The most rewarding part of her college career, she said, was giving others a platform to tell their stories. Now, she wants to build a career as a neuroscience researcher and science communicator. Yanny is a graduate of Nathan Hale High School.
2016-2017 Outstanding Graduate: José Carrillo
Video: start at 23:13
2017 Outstanding Graduate and first generation student from Peru, José Carrillo worked with Dr. Jeff Carroll at WWU, about which he says, “Working in Dr. Carroll’s lab has taught me a lot about science and what it takes to do research. My involvement in his lab is what I’m proudest of at Western.” Jose received the Barbara Ellen Maguire Scholarship established by Dr. Veith and his family, and joined the Veiths—including Barbara Ellen Maguire— in April 2016 for a lunch in Seattle. José was a double-major in Philosophy and Behavioral Neuroscience and graduated with honors in both majors. A 2017 Outstanding Graduate in Behavioral Neuroscience and he is currently applying for medical school. https://alumni.wwu.edu/alumni-star/brain-trust-dr-veith-behavioral-neuroscience-and-our-alumni-connections
2015-2016 Outstanding Graduate: Benjamin Ratcliff
Graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Neuroscience, a minor in Communication Studies and as the Outstanding Graduate in Behavioral Neuroscience. Ratcliff worked as a resident adviser in University Residences for two years and worked in the Human Cognition and Neural Dynamics Lab. He is co-author of a research paper on how the brain processes infant faces differently than adult faces, now out for review. Ratcliff also studied abroad in India and Nepal to study global health and received the 2015-16 Goldman-Blackwell Scholarship. He was also a member of Western’s Cuong Nhu martial arts club. Next, he’ll move to Miami to teach Biology through Teach for America, then continue on to graduate school to become a neuropsychologist. A graduate of Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Ratcliff is the son of Brad Ratcliff and Robin Hines. https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/news/releases/wwu-names-2015-16-outstanding-graduates
2014-2015 Outstanding Graduate: Rebecca Scheurich
Outstanding Graduate in Behavioral Neuroscience, graduated magna cum laude in December 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Neuroscience and Music. Scheurich also served as lab manager in Assistant Professor of Psychology McNeel Jantzen’s Language and Neural Systems Research Lab at WWU, orchestrating several research projects at once. She co-authored two peer review publications with Jantzen and is working on a third. Additionally, she presented her research at the Human Brain Mapping Conference and completed a neurosurgical internship with Dr. David Goldman. Meanwhile, Scheurich was an integral member of Western’s orchestra and worked in the Tutoring Center. Since graduation, Scheurich has been working as a research assistant at ILABS at the University of Washington. She has been accepted into the doctoral program in Psychology at McGill University where she will be working with Professor Caroline Palmer and colleagues at the Brain, Music, and Sound (BRAMS) International Laboratory, studying the neural mechanisms behind music production. She is the daughter of Leslie and Larry Scheurich, fiancé of pianist Michael Refvem, and graduate of Tigard High School. https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/news/releases/wwu-names-2014-15-outstanding-graduates
2013-2014 Outstanding Graduate: Andrea Marie Schiller
Video starts: 26:11
Outstanding Graduate for Behavioral Neuroscience, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry. At Western, Schiller was outreach coordinator for the NeRDS (Neuroscience Research-Driven Students) Club, organizing trips to elementary schools to teach neuroscience. She was president of the Pre-Dental Club and volunteered with the Whatcom County Oral Health Coalition and for events such as Sealant Day and Project Homeless Connect. Schiller is also a member of a research lab that uses gene knockout techniques to study cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia, presenting her research at two international Society for Neuroscience conferences. She has been accepted to the Doctor of Dental Surgery program at the University of Washington and will begin in the fall. A graduate of South Bend High School, Schiller is the daughter of Geoff Schiller and Emily Popovich. https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/content/2013-14-outstanding-graduates