News & Announcements
Past news and announcements are shown below. Current news is shown on our homepage.
Professor Rebecca Spencer to give CNS's NATURES talk
Professor Rebecca Spencer to give CNS's NATURES talk
How does sleep (or lack of it) impact your life? Learn about the function of sleep with Dr. Rebecca Spencer
The College of Natural Sciences presents “Sleep On It: The Power of Sleep” with renowned sleep researcher Dr. Rebecca Spencer at the NATURES public lecture on April 26, 2012.
Dr. Spencer, an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at UMass Amherst, studies the impact of sleep on learning and its effect on memory as people age. Her recent findings—covered in scientific publications such as the Journal of Neuroscience and Journal of Sleep Research as well as in media such as The New York Times, USA Today, and O, The Oprah Magazine—include scientific substantiation of the old advice to “sleep on it” when trying to make a decision and not sleeping after a traumatic event can lessen its emotional impact.
In her NATURES lecture, Dr. Spencer will discuss the impact of sleep on cognitive function across the lifespan.
Dr. Spencer’s NATURES presentation is at 5:30 PM in the O'Connor Lecture Hall (Room 221) in the Integrated Sciences Building, 661 North Pleasant Street, on the UMass Amherst campus. A reception will follow the presentation.
NATURES, sponsored by the College of Natural Sciences, is a series of faculty presentations discussing ongoing research that has implications for everyone.
Jacquie Kurland receives $1.75 million to study intensive treatment outcomes in people with chronic aphasia
Jacquie Kurland receives $1.75 million to study intensive treatment outcomes in people with chronic aphasia
Jacquie Kurland, a faculty member in the NSB Program recently received a $1.75 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study intensive treatment outcomes in people with chronic aphasia.
Neuroscience and Behavior Program’s graduate students thrill local students
Neuroscience and Behavior Program’s graduate students thrill local students
During Brain Awareness Week (week of March 12), a large contingent of graduate students from the Neuroscience and Behavior Program led by Emily Manoogian, as well as undergraduates from NSB labs went into the local schools (Greenfield High School, Greenfield Middle School) to teach students how the brain works and how neurons communicate. Reports from the teachers at the Greenfield Middle School indicate that the activities were a great success with the students buzzing about them all day. Thanks to the students who were involved in this: Emily Manoogian, Jesse McClure, Lauri Kurdziel, Bryan Olson, Akshata Sonni, Mary Catanese, Amy Ryan, and Amanda Hamel, and undergraduates Alina Bahlavouni, Ryan Bottary, Alina Gusev, Marysa Mezzetti and Lauren Szymula.
Faculty member receives Chancellor's Medal
Faculty member receives Chancellor's Medal
Jeff Blaustein, Director of the NSB Program presented a Distinguished University Faculty Lecture, entitled "Stress, Puberty, and Mental Health: Remodeling of the Brain’s Response to Hormones," on April 7, 2012. He received the Chancellor's Medal from Chancellor Robert Holub.
Katherine V. Fite Distinguished Alumn Speaker
Katherine V. Fite Distinguished Alumn Speaker
I am happy to announce the establishment of the annual Neuroscience and Behavior Program Katherine V. Fite Distinguished Alumn Speaker to honor Kay’s tireless leadership in creation of our Neuroscience and Behavior Program. Although there were a number of other individuals involved in its inception, it is fair to say that Kay was the pivotal person, who brought the Program to fruition. Kay is now retired, but she has always been an indefatigable champion of interdepartmental graduate programs at UMass. With this speaker, we want to honor Kay and showcase some of our alumns. Although starting in 2013, we hope to hold the banquet along with the annual recruiting event, in this transitional year, the banquet will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2012.
I am also pleased to announce that our first speaker will be Kay’s final doctoral student, Skirmantas Janusonis, Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Hava Siegelmann elected to office
Hava Siegelmann elected to office
Hava Siegelmann was elected a governor of the International Neural Network Society
NSB alumn receives award
NSB alumn receives award
Eliza L. Nelson, an alumn of the NSB Program received the Hennessey-Smotherman Best Student Paper Award at the 44th annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology in Washington, D.C. in November 2011. Publication: Nelson, E.L., Emery, M.S., Babcock, S.M., Novak, M.F., Suomi, S.J., & Novak, M.A. (2011). Head orientation and handedness trajectory in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Developmental Psychobiology. 53: 246-255. The Hennessy-Smotherman Best Student Paper Award is made for the best paper by a student published in Developmental Psychobiology over a one year period. The goals of the award are: (1) to promote the highest quality of student research in the field of developmental psychobiology, and (2) to encourage students in the field to submit their best work to Developmental Psychobiology.
Linda Witt to retire
Linda Witt to retire
Congratulations and best of luck to Linda Witt on her retirement in January 2012, after 30 years of dedicated service to the University, the last 25 of which have been as Program Manager of the Neuroscience and Behavior Program.
Sandra Petersen receives Distinguished Outreach Research Award
Sandra Petersen receives Distinguished Outreach Research Award
Sandra Petersen, a faculty member in the NSB Program, received the College Distinguished Outreach Research Award.
Jason Breves receives Best Postdoctoral Poster Award
Jason Breves receives Best Postdoctoral Poster Award
Jason Breves, a postdoc in the lab of Rolf Karlstrom and an associate member of the NSB Program received the Best Postdoctoral Poster Award from the North American Society for Comparative Endocrinology.