Three seniors from Westminster College - Emily Pitzer, Kristina Scanlan, and Tiffany Wilkins - presented their capstone neuroscience research at the Society for Neuroscience Conference in Washington D.C. They attended symposiums, met researchers, and presented their posters. The students found the experience opened their eyes to the variety of topics in neuroscience and motivated them to pursue further research and education in the field. They were amazed by the number of researchers and breadth of studies at the conference.

1. Maura Hunter
huntmj22@wclive.westminster.edu
724-504-6273
As it is known, our college was declared one of the top schools for women in science,
many were able to see three of our own display these skills on Nov. 12 in Washington, D.C.
Seniors Emily Pitzer, Kristina Scanlan and Tiffany Wilkins attended the Society for
Neuroscience Conference earlier this month. While there, the three presented their capstone
research in a poster session, attended symposiums and had the opportunity to meet others in the
neuroscience field and learn about new research.
“It is a great opportunity to be able to interact with distinguished professors and
researchers, as well as graduate students who are just starting their career in the field” said
Wilkins.
“It is truly exciting to know that there are Nobel Prize winners and other top researchers
in the field present at the conference” said Scanlan.
The conference was an opportunity to gain experience in presenting research, as well as
learning about the variety of topics that neuroscience entails, “This experience really opened me
up to the field of neuroscience” said Wilkins, “I did not realize just how much you could do
within neuroscience.”
The conference fulfilled a graduation requirement for neuroscience majors, it is necessary
for students to present research at a conference outside of the college. The Drinko Center granted
the students a travel award to present their individual research studies at this conference. Alan

2. Gittis and Robin McGovern, the students’ capstone advisors, have been regularly attending this
conference for years.
The conference lasts about a week and 30,000 people from around the globe attend. It
gives researchers the opportunity to see lectures from distinguished individuals in the field and
attend symposiums, poster sessions, workshops and meetings, as well as other events related to
neuroscience.
The Society for Neuroscience website states that it is a nonprofit organization and that
their mission is simple: advance the understanding of the brain and nervous system by bringing
together scientists of diverse backgrounds; provide professionals development activities
information, and education resources for neuroscientists at all stages of their careers; promote
public information and general education about the nature of scientific discovery and the results
and implications of the latest neuroscience research; and inform legislators and other
policymakers about new scientific knowledge and recent developments and their implications for
public policy, societal benefits, and continued scientific progress.
“I have only been here a few days, but it has already opened my eyes to the amount of
amazing research topics and studies within the field,” said Pitzer. She was amazed at what vast
individuals were at the conference, from Nobel Prize winners to other undergrads like her, who
were all incredibly passionate about neuroscience research. “This experience has definitely
motivated me even more to pursue research and has made me even more passionate about the
field.”
After graduation, Pitzer wishes to be a part of a neuroscience program and earn her PhD
so she can eventually conduct research.
After attending the conference in 2009, Scanlan was still amazed this time around.

3. “It is interesting to see the most current research out there,” said Scanlan and she plans to
attend medical school and become a physician.
“I believe that I will take away a new perspective on not only my own field of research
on autism spectrum disorders, but other areas of neuroscience as well.”
Believing this was a great opportunity; Wilkins learned how to present research as well as
discovered a variety of new and diverse topics within the field. Wilkins plans on attending
medical school and specializing in neurosurgery.
“This was an amazing experience”, said Pitzer, “The conference fulfilled one of its main
purposes: it brought together so many people from diverse backgrounds and educated us all on
the latest neuroscience information.”
Fulfilling this graduation requirement ended up being an opportunity for these students to
learn even more about their chosen field, neuroscience.