About Us
Founded in May 2019, Simply Neuroscience is an international, student-led nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering students' interdisciplinary interests in the brain, specifically through neuroscience and psychology education, outreach, and awareness.
Our aim is to empower youth to engage in brain-related fields through projects and initiatives on local, regional, national, and international levels.
Overall, we work to increase early neuroscience access by connecting students with free online resources, opportunities, events, mentorship, and more through our diverse array of 25 departmental initiatives.
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Pursuing the brain and unlocking the future -- one neuron at a time
Meet Our Initiatives & Leadership
Interested in having a Simply Neuroscience team member speak at an event? Email us at info@simplyneuroscience.org
Chinmayi Balusu, MPH
Chinmayi is a clinical stroke and brain injury researcher who is passionate about global health, neuroethics, and youth science communication. She is an alumna of Columbia University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in medical humanities and neuro-epidemiology.
In free time, Chinmayi enjoys practicing taekwondo, exploring nature trails, watching Telugu movies, and gardening.
(she/her)
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Sasha Tunsiricharoengul
Sasha is an undergraduate student in her third year at Harvard University studying Neurobiology and Comparative Literature. She is passionate about neurosurgery, raising disability awareness, biomedical research, and education. She also enjoys reading, working on graphic design projects, taking nature walks, watching movies, and playing the piano.
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(she/her)
Chief Operating Officer
Ishani is a junior attending Edison High School with a special interest in neuroeconomics. She is passionate about incorporating STEM and neuroscience into the growing world of finance. In her free time, Ishani loves to read, advocate for community issues, bake and consume a wide array of desserts, and binge rom-coms.
Chief Financial Officer
Ishani Bakshi
(she/her)
Patrick Bloniasz
Patrick F. Bloniasz is a mathematical neuroscientist and educational reformer. Patrick is a PhD student at Boston University where he creates models of neural time series at different spatial scales (e.g., spike trains, ECoG, and EEG/MEG). He is currently using the anesthetic propofol to study stages of consciousness in humans and monkeys. He is also a Research Associate at Bowdoin college where he maps functional networks underlying human memory. Previously, Patrick served as the Director of Education at the non-profit Aeon for Ocean, as a researcher for the Maine Department of Education, as a national researcher for America’s Service Commissions, and as a Senior Interviewer at Bowdoin College. Outside of science, Patrick is a certified personal trainer, a coffee enthusiast, and avid runner. Find Patrick at his website (patrickbloniasz.com) or on Twitter (@PatrickBloniasz).
(he/him)
Board President
Madeline Chiang
Madeline Chiang is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Neuroscience with minors in Anthropology and Compassionate Care in Medicine at the University of Notre Dame. She is passionate about education outreach and mental health research and advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys baking, swimming, hiking, and hanging out with family and friends.
(she/her)
Board Vice President
Mei Oguma
Mei is a Freshman at the University of Washington who is deeply fascinated by neuroscience. Her favorite parts of Neuroscience include, but not limited to, neuroanatomy, neurological diseases, neurobiology. In her free time, Mei enjoys swimming and traveling.
(she/her)
Board Secretary
Accessible Axon Initiative (AAI)
The Accessible Axon Initiative is a global, student-led initiative devoted to increasing resource accessibility at Simply Neuroscience. We are dedicated to introducing interdisciplinary neuroscience to the visually-impaired, auditory-impaired, and neurodiverse communities.
Tarah Jilles
Bio Coming Soon!
(she/her)
Co-Director
Madeline Chiang
Madeline Chiang is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Neuroscience with minors in Anthropology and Compassionate Care in Medicine at the University of Notre Dame. She is passionate about education outreach and mental health research and advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys baking, swimming, hiking, and hanging out with family and friends.
(she/her)
Co-director
Action Potential Advising Program (APAP)
​APAP virtually connects neuroscience students (“advisees”) with professionals (“advisors”) to provide free educational guidance and mentorship. The APAP team envisions creating an international, centralized space that goes beyond individual schools and colleges. We aim to help both STEM and STEM-adjacent brain enthusiasts develop their interest in neuroscience and provide a channel for inspiration from experts in the field through this flexible program
Max Feng
Max Feng is a driven and accomplished junior at Horace Mann School with a strong interest in neuroscience. His focus lies in psychiatry, the neuroscience of memory and law, and behavioral neuroscience. Alongside his academic pursuits, Max as a passion for figure skating, playing the piano, playing video games, which he pursues in his free time.
(he/him)
Director
Awareness Content Creation
​The Awareness team aims to bring attention to the connection between mental health and neuroscience, with a specialization in destigmatizing neurological disorders in adolescent communities. We conduct research in order to create content guides as well as connect with experts in order to make the conversations about struggles with mental health easier to access in our communities.
Mariia Matsiiako
(she/her)
Co-Director
Mariia is a current student at St. Paul's School. Her favorite areas of Neuroscience include Neuropharmacology, Behavioral Neurosciece, and Neurogenetics. In her freetime, Mariia enjoys photography, dancing, playing the piano, and reading.
Danielle Choi
Danielle is a current student at the Glenelg Country School. Her favorite areas of Neuroscience include Neuroethics, Neuroanatomy, and Clinical Neuroscience. In her freetime, she enjoys playing the flute, writing poetry, and painting.
(she/her)
Co-Director
Brain Resource Creation
​The Brain Resource Creation Department’s goal is to create engaging educational content to help students of all levels learn about the brain and its interconnected fields. This includes creating and hosting workshops, video series, and providing resource databases.
Patrick Bloniasz
Patrick F. Bloniasz is a mathematical neuroscientist and educational reformer. Patrick is a PhD student at Boston University where he creates models of neural time series at different spatial scales (e.g., spike trains, ECoG, and EEG/MEG). He is currently using the anesthetic propofol to study stages of consciousness in humans and monkeys. He is also a Research Associate at Bowdoin college where he maps functional networks underlying human memory. Previously, Patrick served as the Director of Education at the non-profit Aeon for Ocean, as a researcher for the Maine Department of Education, as a national researcher for America’s Service Commissions, and as a Senior Interviewer at Bowdoin College. Outside of science, Patrick is a certified personal trainer, a coffee enthusiast, and avid runner. Find Patrick at his website (patrickbloniasz.com) or on Twitter (@PatrickBloniasz).
(he/him)
Co-Director
Amrendra Kushwaha
Amrendra is a current student at Nepal Medical College. His favorite areas of Neuroscience include Neuroengineering, Neurocardiology, and Clinical Neurosceince.. In his free time, Amrendra enjoys volunteering, watching movies, and photography.
(he/him)
Co-Director
Campus Brain Ambassador Network (CBAN)
The Campus Brain Ambassador Network works to bridge the gap between neuroscience and psychology opportunities present at grassroots through global scales. Each Ambassador has the opportunity to interact with fellow students in the network from around the world to collaborate in hosting events, amplifying resources, and more.
Sevinch Rakhmonova
Sevinch is a dedicated undergraduate student in Philadelphia studying the neurobiology of motivated behavior using dual-wavelength fiber photometry, optogenetic, and chemogenetic strategies in the Monel Chemical Senses Center. She loves pilates, journalism, and photography. She has plans to pursue an ND-PhD and explore a multidisciplinary path in patient care and research to serve marginalized communities.
(she/her)
Co-Lead
Sahana Potu
Bio Coming Soon!
(she/her)
Co-Lead
Events
​The Events Planning department ideates and organizes events such as Simply Neurocon, Synaptic Hacks, Neuroethics Student Championship, workshops, fireside chats, and much more to encourage involvement and foster curiosity amongst youth within the neuroscience community. From devising themes, to acquiring speakers and sponsorships, to logistics and wrapping up, the department is responsible for the organization and execution of all Simply Neuroscience’s much-awaited events!
Tisya Mahajan
Tisya is a current senior at Marvin Ridge High School. Her favorite areas of Neuroscience include Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience, and Neurosurgery. In her free time, Tisya enjoys Reading, Dancing, and Drawing.
(she/her)
Co-Director
Editing
​The Editing department works to revise and provide feedback on materials written or created by individuals in any of Simply Neurosciences’ departments or initiatives. Editors seek to transform written material into pieces that are relevant, professional, free from errors, and easily readable for all audiences. All our pieces are published on the Simply Neuroscience website, and past topics have included anything from neurotech startups tackling big issues to psychological analysis of parasocial relationships
Nadia Hall
Nadia Hall is the Director of Editing here at Simply Neuroscience. She graduated college with a bachelor's degree from UCLA. Her favorite areas of Neuroscience/Psychology
include Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Psycho Linguistics. In her spare time, Nadia enjoys reading and playing the flute.
(she/her)
Director
Engagement
The Engagement team organizes welcome calls, social gatherings, and more for SN team members!
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Human Resources (HR)
​The HR team coordinates the volunteer application, interview, and onboarding process. HR members gather feedback from the broader team and work to support Simply Neuroscience’s team culture behind the scenes.
April Yu
April is a freshman attending East Brunswick High school, who is passionate about the workings of the brain and how it affects human behavior. Her favorite parts of neuroscience include Behavioral neuroscience, social neuroscience, and biopsychology. In her free time, April enjoys exploring her creative side through writing, and loves to play the flute. April is also an avid runner who can also be found curled up around a good book.
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Director
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Humans of Neuroscience (HoN)
​HoN is devoted to empowering neuroscience aspirants by sharing the stories of individuals in neuroscience. Our aim is to inspire students by showcasing the extent of diversity and opportunities in neuroscience and psychology
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Suhani Modha
Suhani is a High School student from New Jersey. The sections of Neuroscience that interests her the most are Neuroengineering, computational neuroscience, and neurogenetics. In her spare time, Suhani enjoys tennis, traveling, and bike riding.
(she/her)
Co-Lead
Shreya Vogety
Shreya is a Senior at Dougherty Valley High School. Her favorite areas of Neuroscience include Neurobiology, Neurogenetics, and Computational Neuroscience. In her free time, Shreya enjoys scrapbooking and watching movies.
Co-Lead
Marketing
The marketing team works to maintain strong ties to our middle, high school, university and professional audiences by designing content (graphics, takeovers, etc.) for our various social media channels as well as regular newsletters. Our goal is to expand our online presence by spreading the word about Simply Neuroscience's initiatives, as well as establishing a positive relationship with the larger SN community
Mei Oguma
Mei is a Freshman at the University of Washington who is deeply fascinated by neuroscience. Her favorite parts of Neuroscience include, but not limited to, neuroanatomy, neurological diseases, neurobiology. In her free time, Mei enjoys swimming and traveling.
(she/her)
Co-Director
Presynaptic Project
The Presynaptic Project is an international, student-led initiative devoted to inspiring students across the world to pursue neuroscience through diverse integrations and introductions of interdisciplinary neuroscience into early education-by creating unique lesson plans and hosting international workshops and summer camps/competitions.
Elizabeth Yang
Elizabeth Yang is a college freshmen at Northwestern University. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and has always been fascinated with the science behind dreaming. She became specifically interested in neuroscience and psychology after learning about neurologic music therapy and its application to sensory and cognitive dysfunctions. Outside of neuroscience, she enjoys reading, playing the piano, as well as making mini clay art
(she/her)
Co-Lead
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Simply Neural Network
The Simply Neural Network is a global coalition of nonprofits, clubs, and initiatives centered around neuroscience, psychology, mental health, disability advocacy, and other related interdisciplinary themes. Through this network, nonprofits gain access to an unparalleled host of collaboration opportunities, media amplification, and logistical support by-students-for-students
Technology
The Technology team works on website and app development. Website development focuses on coding and creating the layout, design, and functionality of Simply Neuroscience's website. App development focuses on creating and designing the Simply Neuroscience app.
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Meghana Hebbar
Meghana is currently a Sophomore in High School. She enjoys Coding, Graphic Design, and Web Design. Her favorite areas of Neuroscience include Computational Neuroscience and Neurobiology. In her free time, Meghana enjoys drawing, reading, listening to music, and going on runs.
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(she/her)
Director
"The Synapse" Podcast
Our team has established series including the College Neuro Network, Every Kind of Mind, and Neuron Y Parle under The Synapse Podcast. Our teammates are involved in contacting guests, hosting speakers, editing, marketing, and transcript writing.
Simon Jiang
Simon is a current Junior at Ramsey High School. His favorite areas of Neuroscience include Cognitive neuroscience, Social Psychology, and Neurophilosophy. In his freetime, Simon enjoys Jazz saxophone, Minecraft, re-reading Harry Potter, watching anime, and lifting weights.
(he/him)
Co-Director
Translation
The Translation team's goal is to bridge the language barriers and work to make Simply Neuroscience's educational content and resources more accessible by translating them into multiple languages outside of English.
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Jun Kyoung Kim
Jun is a Freshman at The University of Pittsburgh. She is fascinated by behavioral, psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. Her hobbies include working out, hiking, and yoga.
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Project Lead
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (concluded)
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We partnered with Erevna and dcyphr to connect undergraduate students and mentors through virtual independent research projects.
Wellness Week (concluded)
The Wellness Week initiative aims to promote mental health awareness and well-being in schools and communities around the world starting at the local level by young adults seeking to make a difference.
Writing
The writing department consists from writers from all over the world to publish pieces on the Simply Neuroscience blog that inform and entertain readers on many disciplines of neuroscience. Our aim is to create a space in which neuroscience can be accessible to everyone, regardless of prior knowledge. Topics have ranged from parasocial relationships to interviews with respected individuals in the field. The writing department works closely with the editing department as all the pieces will go through a traditional writing process, with every aspect of the process done by members of the SN community.
Riyaa Sri Ramanathan
Riyaa is a sophomore in High School and the Co director of Writing at Simply Neuroscience. Her favorite areas of Neuroscience include Neuroanatomy, Neurogenetics, and Neuroplasticity. In her free time, Riyaa enjoys Scientific research, art, music, and advocating with the Alzheimer's Association.
(she/her)
Co-Director
Bio Coming Soon!
