UCONN HEALTH
Neuroscience Department
Exploring Minds, Illuminating Futures
Neurobiology of Disease Research
Basic Neuroscience Research
Welcome From The Chair
Riqiang Yan, PhD
The Department of Neuroscience has a rich history of research excellence since it had been formally established by Dr. Richard Mains in the year 2000. Currently, we have 26 faculty members, who are actively funded their research from various sources including the federal grants and philanthropic support. Our faculty and their laboratories utilize an interdisciplinary approach to research with the goal of understanding the normal function and disorders of the nervous system that may hold the key to developing novel therapies. We nurture an exceptionally collegial academic environment with high level of interaction and collaboration among laboratories in the Department and with other laboratories at UConn Health Center and at the UConn Storrs campus, all of which make the Department of Neuroscience a vibrant and dynamic place to do science.
Upcoming Events
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Apr
15
Neuroscience RIP Talk - Mitchell 12:00pm
Neuroscience RIP Talk - Mitchell
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026
12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Low Learning Center (UConn Health)
Research in Progress Talk
“Neural Representations of Uncertainty and Decision-Making in a Two-Armed Bandit Task.”
Presenter: Alexander Mitchell, Spellman Lab
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Apr
16
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Blumenfeld 11:00am
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Blumenfeld
Thursday, April 16th, 2026
11:00 AM
Low Learning Center (UConn Health)
Sponsored by the Kim Family
“Cortical and subcortical mechanisms for consciousness of external events”
Presenter:
Hal Blumenfeld, MD/PhD
Mark Loughridge and Michelle Williams Professor of Neurology; Professor of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT -
Apr
22
Neuroscience RIP Talk - Wilensky 12:00pm
Neuroscience RIP Talk - Wilensky
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026
12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Low Learning Center (UConn Health)
Research in Progress Talk
Presenter: Sarah Wilensky, Yan Lab
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Apr
23
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Kanadia 11:00am
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Kanadia
Thursday, April 23rd, 2026
11:00 AM
Low Learning Center (UConn Health)
Sponsored by the Kim Family
“Introns: The ‘dark matter’ of the genome, and their role in neuronal development and disease”
Presenter:
Rahul Kanadia, PhD
Associate Professor of Physiology and Neurobiology
UConn, Storrs, CT
Program Resources
Helpful contacts and series of milestones as you progress toward obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy degree from UConn Health.
ExplorePhD in Biomedical Science
Our graduate students receive comprehensive interdisciplinary training in all areas of neuroscience and perform translational research at the highest level.
ExploreStudy Abroad Program
Held in Salamanca, Spain, this course is for graduate students in Neuroscience and Hearing Research and upper-level undergraduate students.
ExploreDepartment and Program News
- New Study from Crocker Lab on Aging TreatmentCrocker Lab publishes landmark study in PNAS on negative impact of popular anti-aging treatment. In the March 18 issue of Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, the Crocker lab have published a study describing an unexpected negative impact of two drugs, dasanitib and quercetin (D+Q), which has been used in combination to offset the […]Posted on March 19, 2026
- Mary Katherine Eddy: Awarded the title of University ScholarMary Katherine Eddy, a junior at the University of Connecticut, has been awarded the title of University Scholar to conduct research in the Mohan Lab. This distinction is the highest academic honor bestowed upon an undergraduate at graduation and recognizes exceptional achievement in research, leadership, and scholarly contributions. Mary Katherine is also an Army Cadet […]Posted on December 23, 2025
- NIH CounterACT program R01 grant awarded to the Mohan labThe NIH has awarded Royce Mohan, who is a professor of neuroscience at UConn Health, a new R01 grant to study the mechanisms of corneal damage and sensory loss caused by exposure to chemical threat agents. His research team, jointly led by co-investigator Paola Bargagna-Mohan, will advance state-of-the-art methods that combine transgenic and gene knockout […]Posted on October 16, 2025
- BBRF 2025 Grant Supports PTSD Memory Research at UConn HealthDr. Sebnem Tuncdemir of UConn Health has been awarded a 2025 Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation to explore how the brain forms and recalls traumatic memories. Her team studies how specific hippocampal cell types may drive PTSD-related memory problems—insights that could lead to innovative therapies for trauma and anxiety disorders. […]Posted on October 6, 2025
