The Neuroscience Undergraduate Program offers several awards and scholarships supported by our generous donors. Through the Experiential Learning Fellowships, students are provided with an in-person experience to learn and work along side faculty and contribute to a research lab. It is an opportunity for students to gain knowledge and guidance from other lab members as they identify their specific area of research.
Brian Phillip Rakusin Neuroscience Scholarship Award
Established in memory of Brian Phillip Rakusin, USC’s first Neuroscience Major. Recipients of this award must have sophomore or junior standing and remain on campus for a year following receipt of the award (2025 or 2026 graduates). Successful candidates must demonstrate outstanding achievements and aspirations in the field of Neuroscience. Applicants must be majoring in Neuroscience, with an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher. (deadline Thursday, March 13, 2025, 5 pm); submission will include a resume, STARS report, a paragraph describing the student’s research (limit 650 words) that highlights their scientific contribution to the research and a letter of support from your PI; an example of their scholarship (paper or poster) may also be submitted. Please submit all materials (in a single combined PDF file) and in the subject line put Brian Phillip Rakusin Scholarship Application – First Name, Last Name to Erin Russell at erin.russell@usc.edu. The Brian Phillip Rakusin Scholarship is administered consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Recipients are chosen without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited characteristic.
Recipients:
2025: Jason Toliao
2024: Allison Chang
2023: Lisa Tchitchkan
2022: Alethea Vittali de Jesus
2021: Ammar Dharani, Isabella Gianatiempo and Nishan Sohoni
2020: Zihan Sun
2019: Ali Sahimi
2018: Catrina Hacker
2017: Kevin Jiang
2016: Mehak Khan
2015: Eshed Margalit
2014: Sarah Herald
2013: Manan Shah
2012: Russell Stewart
2011: Brenda Yang and Jeannie Zhang
2010: Erika Schnaps
2009: Ashnoo Nanavatu
2008: Timothy J. Florence
2007: Ehte Bahiru
2006: Krissti Coonce
2005: Ashley Wofford
Brian Phillip Rakusin Neuroscience Scholarship Award Recipient 2025
Jason Toliao is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. His early interest in neurosurgery and brain imaging motivated him to begin research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles under the mentorship of Dr. Peter Chiarelli and Dr. Pradip Chaudhari as a freshman. Since then, Jason has led multiple research studies focused on improving pediatric brain neuroimaging. Most recently, he presented his work on the use of rapid brain MRI in the emergency department at the Trauma Association of Canada 2025 Annual Scientific Conference in Quebec. His ongoing research explores innovative approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and traumatic brain injuries in children. On campus, Jason is the founder of Conversations Without Borders, an international exchange initiative designed to connect USC students with Latin American students to foster cultural understanding and provide English lessons. He is also an instructor for Keck School of Medicine’s Medical Spanish course, the Director of Outreach for Troy Philippines, a Learning Assistant for Organic Chemistry, and a liturgy intern for the USC Caruso Catholic Center. Outside of academics and research, Jason is an active member of USC men’s club beach volleyball team. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and continue conducting research at the intersection of clinical practice and neuroimaging.
Neuroscience Outstanding Student of the Year Award
Candidates for this award will typically be graduating seniors (although students at all levels are eligible) and must demonstrate outstanding achievements and aspirations in the field of Neuroscience. Applicants must be undergraduate students majoring in Neuroscience, with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher. (deadline Thursday, March 13, 2025, 5 pm); the submission will include a resume, a STARS report, a paragraph describing the student’s research (limit 650 words) that highlights their scientific contribution to the research, and a letter of support from your PI; an example of their scholarship (paper or poster) may also be submitted. Please submit all materials (in a single combined PDF file) and in the subject line put Neuroscience Outstanding Student of the Year Award Application – First Name, Last Name to Erin Russell at erin.russell@usc.edu. The Neuroscience Outstanding Student of the Year Award is administered consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Recipients are chosen without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited characteristic.
Recipients:
2025: Robert Harutyunyan
2024: Maxfield Hohn
2023: Arun Ahuja
2022: Alicia Kao and Zasca Ristianto
2021: Alex (Jin Hyung) Chung and Bryce Lorenz
2020: Rae Lan
2019: Catrina Hacker
2018: Kevin Jiang
2017: Mekah Khan
2016: Samantha Howard, Eshed Margalit, and Arvin Saremi
2015: Sarah Herald and Manan Shah
2014: Joshua Dreyzen
2013: Katherine Fu and Russell Stewart
2012: Brenda Yang
2011: Kelly Girskis, Yvonne Kaptein, and Jeremy Tanner
Robert is a graduating neuroscience major who plans on pursuing a PhD in neuroscience to study brain-computer interfaces. As a research assistant in the Hires Lab, he studies acetylcholine dynamics in the mouse cortex using widefield fluorescence imaging. His research aims to determine how acetylcholine is clustered across the cortex. Robert is also a part of the USC Neurotech BCI project, where he helps with developing an EEG headset that can measure and quantify mental fatigue. Beyond the lab, he has applied his knowledge as a home healthcare agency intern and as a calculus tutor. Robert is deeply honored to receive this award and extends his thanks to Dr. Andrew Hires, Benjamin Isaac Cohen, all of his lab colleagues, and his family for their invaluable support and guidance.
Dornsife Neuroscience Experiential Learning Fellowship
The Dornsife Neuroscience Experiential Learning Fellowship provides USC Dornsife Neuroscience undergraduate students with a limited number of fellowships for undergraduate research in the neurosciences. Each undergraduate student funded by the program will receive a stipend in the amount of $1000 to support research specifically in the Dornsife College. Students are expected to conduct research during the awarded term (the Spring 2025 semester) of not less than 10 hours per week. All full-time USC Dornsife faculty engaged in neuroscience research are eligible to serve as faculty supervisors. The Faculty supervisors will also receive $500 toward their lab for each student supervised.
Eligibility and Application Requirements:
Students must be a declared Neuroscience major or minor in good academic standing in order to apply. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. Students are asked to provide the following:
- A support letter from a faculty member in Dornsife College who agrees to sponsor the student.
- A one-two page research proposal detailing the research that the student will be conducting, and specifically how it relates to the neurosciences.
Please submit all materials (in a single combined PDF file) and in the subject line put “Dornsife Neuroscience Experiential Learning Fellowship Application – First Name, Last Name” to Erin Russell at erin.russell@usc.edu. All applications are to be emailed by Thursday March 13, 2025, 5 pm in order to receive full consideration. The Dornsife Neuroscience Experiential Learning Fellowship is administered consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Recipients are chosen without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited characteristic.
Ng Family Fellowships in Computational Neurosciences
The Ng Family Fellowships in Computational Neurosciences provides USC Dornsife Computational Neuroscience undergraduate students with a limited number of fellowships for undergraduate research in the neurosciences. Each undergraduate student funded by the program will receive a stipend in the amount of $2000 to support research specifically in the Dornsife College. Students are expected to conduct research during the awarded academic year (2024-2025) of not less than 10 hours per week. All full-time USC Dornsife faculty engaged in neuroscience research are eligible to serve as faculty supervisors. The Faculty supervisors will also receive $500 toward their lab for each student supervised.
Eligibility and Application Requirements:
Students must be a declared Computational Neuroscience major in good academic standing in order to apply. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. Students are asked to provide the following:
- A support letter from a faculty member in Dornsife College who agrees to sponsor the student.
- A one-two page research proposal detailing the research that the student will be conducting, and specifically how it relates to the neurosciences.
Please submit all materials (in a single combined PDF file) and in the subject line put “Ng Family Fellowships in Computational Neurosciences Application – First Name, Last Name” to Erin Russell at erin.russell@usc.edu. All applications are to be emailed by Thursday March, 13 2025, 5 pm in order to receive full consideration. The Ng Family Fellowships in Computational Neurosciences is administered consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Recipients are chosen without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited characteristic.