These scholars began their fellowship by attending the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., Feb. 14-18.

As an undergraduate, George earned a B.S. in neurobiology and worked as a lab manager under Edward Hubbard, an assistant professor with the School of Education’s No. 1-ranked Department of Educational Psychology. Hubbard directs the Educational Neuroscience Lab, where George studied children’s mathematical brain development.

George today is a first-year student in UW–Madison’s neuroscience Ph.D. program and is also pursuing a master’s of public administration. George joined these programs so she could help integrate science and policy. She believes it is necessary for people to be able to converse in both languages in order to better facilitate science and health policy making.

In terms of research, George is interested in using clinical and neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI, TMS, and EEG, to understand mental health and psychiatric disorders and how they affect children’s educational and life outcomes. Her career goals are to work at the NIH, NIMH, or Department of Education and to use both degrees to advance science, education, and health policy. Grace wants to do government level policy work to help those with developmental, neurological, learning, and mental health disorders.

The YCA provides graduate students with opportunities for mentoring, networking, and skills for development, and for making contributions to their communities through science outreach.