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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Sep
9
Neuroscience Journal Club - Mitchell 12:00pm
Neuroscience Journal Club - Mitchell
Wednesday, September 9th, 2026
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
E4036
MEDS 6497 Neuroscience Journal Club
“Frontal noradrenergic and cholinergic transients exhibit distinct spatiotemporal dynamics during competitive decision-making.”
Presenter: Alexander Mitchell, Spellman Lab
Course Co-Directors: Paola Bargagna-Mohan: bargagna-mohan@uchc.edu
Alice Burghard: burghard@uchc.edu -
Sep
10
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Zhang 11:00am
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Zhang
Thursday, September 10th, 2026
11:00 AM
Low Learning Center (UConn Health)
Sponsored by the Kim Family
“Multiscale Proteomic Modeling Reveals Interacting Neuronal and Glial Protein Networks Driving Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis”
Presenter:
Bin Zhang, PhD
Willard T.C. Johnson Research Professor of Neurogenetics
Director of the Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY -
Sep
16
Neuroscience Journal Club - Papile 12:00pm
Neuroscience Journal Club - Papile
Wednesday, September 16th, 2026
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
E4036
MEDS 6497 Neuroscience Journal Club
“Microglial TDP-43 mediates myelin refinement and represses Tyrobp cryptic exon inclusion in mice.”
Presenter: Lucy Papile, Crocker & Spellman Labs
Course Co-Directors: Paola Bargagna-Mohan: bargagna-mohan@uchc.edu
Alice Burghard: burghard@uchc.edu -
Sep
17
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Sjulson 11:00am
Neuroscience Seminar Series - Sjulson
Thursday, September 17th, 2026
11:00 AM
Low Learning Center (UConn Health)
Sponsored by the Kim Family
“Leveraging systems neuroscience to develop novel treatments for substance use disorders.”
Presenter:
Lucas Sjulson, MD/PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor, Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience
Albert Enstein School of Medicine, New York, NY
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.
ExploreDepartment and Program News
- Moumita, Jacob and Shreya win at Graduate Student Research DayMoumita Bhattacharya, 2026 Biomedical Science Program Student Leadership Award This award honors a student who has made sustained and outstanding contributions in leadership activities during his or her studies in the program that improve graduate student life and further the educational mission of the university or the community. Jacob Brady, 2026 GSRD Oral Presentation Award-1st […]Posted on August 28, 2026
- Lucille Papile receives 2026-27 Lepow AwardLucille Papile of the Crocker and Spellman labs has been selected as the recipient of the Lepow Award for the 2026-27 academic year. The Lepow Award was established in 1986 in honor of Dr. Irwin H. Lepow, a well-known faculty member, researcher, and founding father of the Health Center. This award is given to the outstanding fourth-year […]Posted on August 28, 2026
- Zelda Galdenzi wins SfN Trainee Professional Development AwardZelda Galdenzi, a rising 4th-year PhD student of the Xiong Lab, won the SfN Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) that recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and post baccalaureate and postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research this year. Society for Neuroscience – Trainee Professional Development Award – Society for NeurosciencePosted on August 27, 2026
- NEW Graduate Study Opportunity in Neuroscience!The Neuroscience Graduate Program, an area of concentration within the Biomedical Science Graduate Program at UConn Health, is pleased to announce we are now accepting applications for a new opportunity in a Master of Science in Biomedical Science, Neuroscience! The Department of Neuroscience at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine has a strong […]Posted on June 24, 2026
