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
Cadence Opoka
Co-President
Cadence is a PhD student supervised by Drs. Tim Bussey and Lisa Saksida. Her project is focused on evaluating mouse models of neuropsychiatric disorders and developing touchscreen-based tasks to access attention and working memory in mice. In her spare time, Cadence enjoys baking, finding new restaurants, yoga, and fashion.
Contact: copoka@uwo.ca
Hayley Shanks
Administrative Lead
Hayley is a fourth year PhD student supervised by Drs. Taylor Schmitz and Stephen Pasternak. Her research uses longitudinal neuroimaging to study cholinergic dysfunction in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. In her free time, Hayley enjoys playing flag football, traveling, and watching reality TV.
Contact: hshanks@uwo.ca
Twitter: @hayleyrcshanks
Abeni Flynn
Social Coordinator
Abeni is a second-year Master’s student in the neuroscience program supervised by Dr. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton. Her project is focused on the role of serotonin in immediate early gene ZENK dishabituation while birds attend to song. Outside the lab, she enjoys tap dancing, exploring new places, and (attempting) to snuggle with her bunny.
Contact: aflynn32@uwo.ca
Alice Tan
Academic Coordinator
Alice is a first-year Master’s student in the Neuroscience program, supervised by Dr. Andrew Pruszynski and Dr. Paul Gribble. Her research involves studying stretch reflexes and what can affect them. Outside the lab, Alice enjoys travelling, learning about history, and being active through sports like swimming and skiing.
Contact: atan84@uwo.ca
Samina Panjwani
Media Coordinator
Samina is a second-year Master’s student in the neuroscience program supervised by Dr. Tim Bussey and Dr. Marco Prado. Her project is focused on investigating the impacts of alpha-synuclein pathology on sustained and selective attention in mice. In her spare time, she enjoys playing volleyball and watching Formula 1.
Contact: spanjwa8@uwo.ca
Hiruthika Ravi
Treasurer
Hiruthika is a second-year Master’s student in Neuroscience supervised by Dr. Rishi Ganesan and Dr. Yalda Mohsenzadeh. Her project focuses on using EEG to explore delirium in critically ill children out of Victoria Hospital. In her spare time, she enjoys large puzzles, spending time with her dog, and cheering for/yelling at the Leafs.
Contact: hravi@uwo.ca
Hannah Gray
EDI Rep
Hannah is a PhD student supervised by Dr. Ana Suller Marti and Dr. Kevin Shoemaker. Her research focuses on outcomes of epilepsy and severe seizure conditions. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys hiking, travelling, and playing board games with friends.
Contact: hgray24@uwo.ca
Chloe Cheung
Neuroscience Student Rep
Chloe is a third year PhD student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program supervised by Dr. David Seminowicz. Her research involves studying treatment response in migraine using neuroimaging techniques. In her spare time, Chloe enjoys reading, travelling, and going to the gym.
Contact: ocheun@uwo.ca