Bringing Research And Innovation in Neuroscience to
Workshops for Advancing Visionary Educators
BRAINWAVE is a pioneering neuroscience education initiative that bridges cutting-edge brain research with dynamic classroom teaching. Led by passionate postdoctoral fellows, BRAINWAVE empowers elementary, middle, and high school teachers across Los Angeles, especially those working with underrepresented minority students and communities with low resources and opportunities, with:
- State-of-the-Art Neuroscience Training: Dive deep into the intricacies of the brain, gaining insights into the latest scientific breakthroughs.
- Innovative Pedagogy Techniques: Master evidence-based teaching methods that transform complex neuroscience topics into engaging, accessible lessons, enhancing student learning and retention.
- Inspiration and Implementation: Implement practical, research-driven strategies that not only captivate students’ interest but also encourage their pursuit of science and STEM fields in higher education.
- Comprehensive Resources: Access a robust collection of materials designed to effectively communicate neuroscience knowledge, fostering a stimulating and curious classroom environment.
Through immersive workshops, hands-on activities, up-to-date brain research insights, and exclusive tours of UCLA neuroscience labs, BRAINWAVE equips teachers to revolutionize their classrooms. At the same time, BRAINWAVE provides a unique opportunity for UCLA postdoctoral fellows to share their neuroscience expertise, refine their teaching skills, and engage in meaningful science communication with the broader community. Our instructors, deeply passionate about teaching, guide, inspire, and collaborate, to create a new paradigm in education.
Mission Statement:
At BRAINWAVE, we believe every teacher has the potential to be a catalyst for change, and every student the capacity to excel. Our mission is to revolutionize education by equipping teachers with the latest neuroscience insights and evidence-based teaching strategies. By emphasizing early exposure to brain science, we inspire both teachers and students, particularly those from underrepresented and low-resource backgrounds, to explore STEM fields. Through fostering a community of forward-thinking educators, we’re not just enhancing education—we are setting off a wave of change that shapes the future of learning and inspires the next generation of scientists.
BRAINWAVE Workshop Highlights 🧠✨
Our first-ever BRAINWAVE workshop (September 25, 2024) focused on the Neuroscience of Learning and Memory, brought together passionate educators for an immersive day of neuroscience exploration, hands-on activities, and classroom-ready insights. From understanding the science of learning and memory to engaging in interactive sessions led by UCLA experts, teachers left inspired and ready to bring these new tools back to their students.
Watch the video above to get a glimpse of the event. Stay tuned for information regarding future workshops. If you are interested in participating in our upcoming workshops, please scroll down to fill in your details using the BRAINWAVE teacher participation form.
Meet the BRAINWAVE team!
Vidya Saravanapandian, PhD
Founder and Director, BRAINWAVE
Vidya was born and raised in India. She earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA and a Master of Engineering (M.E.) in Biotechnology from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. She is an IRACDA Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Golshani laboratory at UCLA, investigating changes in sleep physiology in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and their impact on cognitive and developmental outcomes. She is passionate about bridging clinical and animal model research to advance our understanding of NDDs. As a neuroscience education advocate, Vidya has been working with LAUSD schools to bring neuroscience education to K-12 students in low-income communities. Recognizing the importance of early exposure and awareness of brain health, she created BRAINWAVE to empower teachers and impact a greater number of students, particularly those from underserved communities. Through this program, Vidya also strives to build a community of UCLA neuroscientists passionate about teaching and communicating science and help them extend their reach into classrooms. In her free time, she enjoys baking and exploring new hiking trails.
Ceazar E. Nave, PhD
Instructor, BRAINWAVE
Ceazar is an IRACDA Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Neurobiology under the supervision of Dr. Jeffrey Donlea. His current research studies how various environmental conditions can shape brain structures and behaviors. Specifically, he is interested in studying how erratic, and harsh environmental conditions shape the neural circuits that govern sleep and the biological clock. Ceazar is incredibly passionate about science communication and making science accessible to everyone – being part of BRAINWAVE, he believes, will allow him to share his excitement about neuroscience with a new audience, especially those that can have a major impact on future scientists!
Merel Dagher, PhD
Instructor, BRAINWAVE
Merel is a Postdoctoral IRACDA Fellow at UCLA researching in areas of behavioral neuroscience. She was born in the country of Syria. Merel and her immigrated to the United States when she was 4 years old. In 2016, she received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Cognitive Science and Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2017, she began graduate school at UCLA where her research examined the neurobiological effects of exposure to in utero stress and antidepressants on offspring using a rodent model. In May 2022, she graduated with a PhD in Molecular Toxicology and shortly after, began her postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Catherine Cahill. Merel’s current research examines brain circuits involved in chronic pain and opioid seeking. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she was fortunate to have incredible professors who encouraged her to pursue higher education by making science accessible and relevant. She has enriched her research experiences with teaching neuroscience and psychiatry courses throughout her academic training. She has a deep interest in STEM outreach and the BRAINWAVE program, which helps her provide resources to young students interested in STEM and empower them to enjoy, succeed, and thrive in their scientific journey.
Takahiro Ohara, PhD
Instructor, BRAINWAVE
Takahiro grew up in Southern California but spent a good amount of time living on the East Coast and Midwest. He is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at UCLA studying the interaction between the gut microbiota and the brain (aka the microbiota-gut-brain axis). He joined BRAINWAVE because he enjoys teaching and being able to work directly with teachers, he believes, is a unique opportunity.
Shivan Bonanno, PhD
Instructor, BRAINWAVE
Shivan is from Davis, CA, and is currently a Project Scientist in the Krantz lab at UCLA, where he researches the connectivity of serotonin circuits and their long-term adaptations to psychiatric drugs like SSRIs. He has always enjoyed teaching, especially the room for creativity in inspiring junior scientists to treat the scientific process as a personal and rewarding journey. He is very excited to contribute to BRAINWAVE and explore new ways to bring biomedical research to younger students.
Kat Silaj, PhD
Instructor, BRAINWAVE
Kat is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Mount Saint Mary’s University and a recent graduate of UCLA’s Psychology program. With experience as a former high school teacher, Kat brings a deep passion for making classrooms more inclusive by applying the latest research on how people learn and remember. Their work also looks at how emotional factors like anxiety can shape learning and memory. Kat is driven by a commitment to help both students and educators better understand how their brains work so that they can reach their goals in school and beyond. As a BRAINWAVE educator, Kat is excited to collaborate with educators who share a vision for more inclusive and effective teaching.
Joseph E. Quintero
Operations Guru, BRAINWAVE
Joe Quintero serves as the Programs and Operations Manager of the Brain Research Institute. He collaborates closely with the Director and Chief Administrative Officer to supervise established programs and execute new initiatives. Joe has orchestrated a series of highly successful events, including workshops, poster sessions, and multi-day symposia that have garnered significant attention. His meticulous and strategic event planning has left a lasting impression on attendees, effectively showcasing the institution’s and neuroscience community’s efforts. Joe is excited to support the BRAINWAVE initiative and help bring neuroscience to educators, empowering them to inspire the next generation of students.
Interested in participating in a BRAINWAVE workshop?
Are you a K-12 teacher passionate about enhancing your classroom teaching with the latest advancements in neuroscience? BRAINWAVE invites you to join our transformative workshops designed to bridge cutting-edge brain research with dynamic classroom practices.
If you’re interested in participating in an upcoming workshop, please fill out our BRAINWAVE Teacher Participation Form.
By joining BRAINWAVE, you’ll gain access to neuroscience educational resources, teaching techniques, and a supportive community dedicated to revolutionizing education through neuroscience. Together, we can unlock the full potential of every student and create an engaging learning environment.
Interested in becoming a BRAINWAVE Instructor?
Are you a UCLA Postdoctoral Research Scholar passionate about teaching and eager to share your expertise in neuroscience with educators? BRAINWAVE is always looking for enthusiastic instructors to join our team and contribute to our mission of revolutionizing education through neuroscience.
If you would like to participate in future workshops, please fill out our BRAINWAVE Instructor Interest Form.
Together, we can inspire and equip school teachers to bring cutting-edge neuroscience into their classrooms, fostering a new generation of curious, engaged learners.
