Our Vision:
The Society of Neuroscience Graduate Students (SONGS) is a student-run organization that was founded in 2017. The organization is not officially affiliated with Western University, though it operates with the permission of and in coordination with faculty members within the Neuroscience graduate program of Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
SONGS is a student organization that aims:
To unite and foster a sense of social, academic and scientific community among graduate students from different departments enrolled in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Western University
To provide Neuroscience graduate students at Western University a recognized organization through which they may express their needs and their opinions
To represent Neuroscience graduate students at all administrative and political levels at Western University
To organize and support initiatives that will serve scientific, academic, and social purposes to further create and promote a well-rounded and positive graduate student experience for all SONGS members
Click this link for our constitution and by-laws.
Executive Committee
Hayley Shanks
President
Hayley is a third year PhD student supervised by Dr. Taylor Schmitz and Dr. Stephen Pasternak. She is interested in understanding the vulnerability of cholinergic neurons to age and disease-related neurodegeneration. Hayley’s PhD project uses longitudinal MRI and PET imaging techniques to investigate this question. In her spare time, Hayley enjoys running, baking, and spending time with her friends.
Contact: hshanks@uwo.ca
Twitter: @hayleyrcshanks
Ashlyn Hersey
Vice President
Ashlyn is a 2nd year MSc student supervised by Drs. Tim Bussey and Lisa Saksida. She is interested in using touchscreen-based technology to evaluate cognitive judgement bias in mice. Outside of the lab, Ashlyn enjoys riding horses, playing volleyball, playing saxophone and spending time with friends and family.
Contact: ahersey3@uwo.ca
Michaela Kent
Academic Coordinator
Michaela is a third year PhD student in the Neuroscience program. Co-supervised by Drs. Emma Duerden and Jody Culham, her research focuses on studying the developing brain using naturalistic neuroimaging techniques. Specifically, Michaela is using fNIRS to explore social interactions and cognitive development.
Contact: mkent28@uwo.ca
Twitter: @michaelakent_
Greg Brooks
Administrative Lead
Greg is a 3rd year PhD student supervised by Dr. Stefan Kohler. He also completed his MSc with Dr. Kohler in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. His graduate research, with behavioural paradigms in combination with fMRI neuroimaging, explores the motivational consequences related to curiosity that unsuccessful memory retrieval can exert. Outside of the lab, he enjoys staying active, enjoying the outdoors, and cooking.
Contact: gbrook5@uwo.ca
Twitter: @GregBrooks_16
Omar El-Deeb
Neuroscience Student Rep
Omar is a second year PhD student using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster to study the influences of genetics on complex behaviours. Outside of the lab, Omar enjoys watching and playing basketball (go Raptors!), exploring new restaurants, and going down Wikipedia rabbit holes.
Contact: oeldeeb@uwo.ca
Alice Zheng
Social Coordinator
Alice is a third year PhD student supervised by Dr. Susanne Schmid and Dr. Brian Allman. Her project investigates the neural basis of altered sensorimotor processing in Cntnap2 knock-out rats, an animal model of autism spectrum disorder. Outside of the lab, Alice enjoys rock climbing, watching MCU movies/shows, and drawing.
Contact: azheng22@uwo.ca
Cadence Opoka
Media Coordinator
Cadence is a 1st year MSc student in the neuroscience program supervised by Drs. Tim Bussey and Lisa Saksida. Her project is focused on evaluating mouse models of neuropsychiatric disorders and developing a touchscreen-based task to access working memory in mice. In her spare time, Cadence enjoys baking, running, yoga, and fashion.
Contact: copoka@uwo.ca