They’ve got brains—and not just under their microscopes

The BRAINYAC program at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute offers a classic summer gig for high schoolers: looking at brains under a microscope and authoring projects with titles like “5-HT modulating GABAergic signaling in the dlPAG” and “Semaglutide and Brain Activity: A Pathway to Understanding Appetite Suppression.”

With support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the BRAINYAC program brings New York City high school students into neuroscience labs, where mentors help them build science skills, gain familiarity with the field, and complete substantial projects. At a recent graduation ceremony for this year’s 19 BRAINYAC participants, we saw high school students present graduate student-level posters on a variety of neuroscience-related topics.

For some participants, the program kindles an incipient interest in STEM into something stronger. “Through BRAINYAC I’ve been able to understand and broaden my scope on what neuroscience is as a STEM field, and I’m excited about how much more there is to learn,” said one participant. “BRAINYAC has fostered a safe and open environment for students that are new to neuroscience to be able to learn and explore the many different aspects that go into neuroscience and working in a lab,” said another.

For others, it’s a hands-on experience with a topic they’re already passionate about. “Although I was already very interested in neuroscience, BRAINYAC gave me the opportunity to explore it in much more depth. I was not only able to experience the diverse aspects of the field, like its intersections with computer science and psychology, but also work with amazing resources ranging from microscopes to real brains,” said a participant.

Though they’ve still got plenty of time to explore, BRAINYAC helped solidify students’ plans in college and beyond. “I now can strongly say I want to pursue studying neuroscience in some way during college, whether that be as a major or minor,” said one. “I feel that the program solidified what science I'd like to pursue in college. I have also matured more with the help of this program, as it has prepared me to tackle challenges differently and view science in a holistic perspective,” said another. “[The program] provided me with mentorship and the ability to see firsthand how research translates into real-world solutions, something that aligns perfectly with my long-term goal of leading a lab at a university or hospital,” said a third.

Guiding them on their journey of discovery are Columbia researcher-mentors who for their part express being inspired by the students. “What I enjoyed most about the BRAINYAC mentorship experience was the opportunity to see young, curious minds engage deeply with scientific research,” said one mentor. “It was incredibly rewarding to witness their growth in understanding complex concepts and developing critical thinking skills over the course of the mentorship. Additionally, the mentorship allowed for the development of meaningful connections with the students, helping to inspire the next generation of scientists.”