Summer Research at Bryn Mawr: Student Contributions in Neuroscience
Professor Anjali Thapar, Chair of the Bi-Co Neuroscience Program, has dedicated over 20 summers to mentoring students in research. This summer, her guidance has significantly impacted students Ciara Grimes ’27 and Rebecca Rothstein-Epp ’27.
Grimes is advancing eye-tracking research, pivotal for her senior thesis, moving it from theory to practical application. Thapar notes Grimes’s impressive work in transforming conceptual research into tangible experiments.
Rothstein-Epp is investigating age-related differences in emotion recognition and linking olfactory function to cognitive aging, while gaining skills in processing and analyzing EEG data.
Having returned for a second summer, Grimes aims to explore deception detection using eye-tracking technology, building on her previous work examining brain activity associated with lying. Collaborating with Professor Cora Mukerji’s lab, she is pioneering new applications of this technology.
Rothstein-Epp’s focus involves analyzing EEG data from different age groups’ reactions to stimuli, hoping to identify potential biomarkers for cognitive decline, motivated by personal experiences with her grandmother.
Thapar emphasizes the importance of allowing students to shape their own projects, fostering independence and critical thinking. She believes the program equips students with robust research skills and confidence to engage in the scientific process.
The collaborative Neuroscience Program between Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges continues to create a nurturing environment for innovative research and student development.
