The UCLA-CDU Dana Center fellowship program is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders at the intersection of neuroscience and society.
The Center builds bi-directional bridges in neuroscience research between fundamental and clinical neuroscience, neuroscience adjacent academic disciplines, and local communities. We do this by engaging with individuals with different lived-experiences and knowledge, including but not limited to community organizations and residents of South LA, neuroscientists, and people with expertise in social science, education, policy, and the humanities.
Fellows in our program are prepared to ask critical questions at the intersection of neuroscience and society and co-create projects that start from and are responsive to the interests of community organizations in South LA. To this end, individuals from a wide range of disciplines and community members are encouraged to apply. Interested individuals should join our mailing list to get updates on our 2025 RFA posting.
Our 2025-2026 Fellowship Application Cycle is Open
We now welcome applications for our 2025-2026 program cycle.
Our Fellowship RFA can be accessed here. For more information or assistance, email our admin team at: danacenter@mednet.ucla.edu
Key dates for our 2025-2026 application cycle:
- Applications will only be accepted via our submission portal. The portal for submission is available here.
- The fellowship application deadline is June 30, 2025
- Award notification date is August 15, 2025
- Our fellowship program begins October 1, 2025
Eligibility For Our Fellowship In Brief
Our Fellowship program is open to individuals including:
- Pre- or post-graduate trainees (Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD, postdocs) in neuroscience, social science, public health, public policy, humanities
- Medical students at UCLA and CDU
- Community leaders and members with relevant experience and commitment to neuroscience and society
- UCLA Bunche Fellows (selected separately, but fully participating in the program)
Fellowship Components
Research
- Fellows will either join an existing Center seed grant project or develop an independent research project aligned with the Center’s mission.
- Each fellow will be assigned a mentor
- applicants may name a preferred mentor (e.g., a seed grant PI) in their application.
- Fellows must produce a measurable deliverable such as a white paper, journal article, public-facing media project, poster presentation, workshop, curriculum, or teaching material.
Seminar Series
- Attend weekly seminars covering topics such as participatory research, neuroethics, science communication, and career development.
- Some sessions may be led by fellows as skill-shares or replaced by special Center events
Participation in the CDU Pipeline Program
- Design materials and otherwise support the CDU Pipeline Program, which provides educational pathways in science, medicine, and health for Pre-K to 12th-grade students in South Los Angeles.
- Help expand opportunities for students to engage with a novel neuroscience curriculum
Community Events and Community Programing
When appropriate, fellows may also engage in other activities, including:
- Human Centered Design Workshops, where center priorities are identified
- Idea Salon Sessions, featuring guest speakers and collaborative discussions
- Events, such as town halls or people’s assemblies, with south LA partners
Who are Dana Center Fellows?
The Dana Center Fellowship Program has worked with a broad range of qualified individuals, including but not limited to:
- Undergraduate, Masters, PhD, or post-doctoral trainees in neuroscience, social science, public health, public policy, or humanities disciplines
- Medical students interested in neuroscience and society, especially during the discovery year at UCLA and pursing research requirements at CDU
- Community leaders with an understanding of the needs of their communities and a passion for bridging the gap between neuroscience and society.
Our 2024-2025 Fellowship began on October 1, 2024. We are enthused to have been working with the following twelve researchers from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds.
Postdoctoral Fellows:
- Akila Kadambi
- Lilyana Levy
- Paola Odriozola
- Sydney Wing
Undergraduate, Graduate and Community Fellows:
- Shantée Ayala Rosario
- Torrence Brannon-Reese
- John Horton
- Anna Immergluck
- Kayla Lim
- Erin Morrow
- Ana Rodriguez Vega
- Dr. Hafifa Saddiq
Past and Present Fellows
