NURC 2020

Learn about the latest undergraduate research projects or showcase your own work at the 4th Annual UBC Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference! 

The UBC Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Conference (NURC), hosted by the UBC Neuroscience Club (UNC), brings together the neuroscience community at UBC to celebrate undergraduate research. 

Tickets for NURC 2020 can be purchased here.

4th Annual UBC Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference 

Date & Time: Thursday, January 30th 2020 from 4:00-9:00pm

Location: Rudy North Lecture Hall at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

NURC 2020 hosts students from various disciplines that share an interest in understanding the nervous system and behavior. The annual meeting features a faculty keynote speaker and provides an opportunity for students to explore the various neuroscience topics as well as research opportunities here at UBC. All students are welcome to attend and food will be served during the conference.

If you are working on or have completed research in a neuroscience-related field or have an interdisciplinary focus with neuroscience applications, you are encouraged to come to showcase your work through an oral or poster presentation at NURC 2020! To learn more about presenting please visit our application page. The conference features numerous undergraduate research projects and there will be prizes for the top presenters in each category of presentations.

Keynote Speaker for NURC 2020 Conference:
Catharine Rankin

Before joining the department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, Catherine Rankin completed her master’s degree at the University of Guelph and pursued her doctorate degree in biopsychology at the City University of New York.  During her postdoctoral research, Rankin worked with Thomas Carew at Yale University studying the development of learning in the marine mollusk Aplysia. She is internationally recognized for her work with invertebrate systems in addition to her discovering the capability of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans of learning and memory. Moreover, she has identified genes that play an essential role in habituation a form of learning which is altered in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She continues her research through behavioural phenotyping projects aimed to functionalise genes involved in ASD and important in understanding disease variants and how they alter gene function in ASD patients.

We look forward to hearing about Dr. Rankin’s studies at NURC 2020.

___________________________________________________________________

This year’s conference will also be featuring 5 workshops:

First-round workshops (6:15-6:40 pm):

Careers Workshop – LinkedIN 101: The Centre for Student Involvement and Careers will be presenting an informative workshop on how to best use LinkedIn to leverage your skills and experiences. This is an opportunity to transform your online presence and ask questions to a professional in this field.

AutismBC Awareness Training: AutismBC is a non-profit organization that aims to provide information and support to individuals and families affected by autism. This year they will be hosting an educational workshop at NURC 2020 based on behavioural intervention!
AutismBC awareness training gives community members an overview of what autism is and how it can affect people on the autism spectrum. Over the course of our workshop you will be invited to expand your awareness about how people with autism may experience the world as well as gain a basic understanding of Autism and how it affects behavior and communication. Our training is informed and developed by experts in the field of ASD and self-advocates.

Life After Undergrad Panel: This panel will feature a current UBC medical student, a student from the UBC Masters in Neuroscience program, a full-time researcher and a non-profit worker. They will be talking about how their experiences at UBC has shaped their lives post-undergrad.

Poster Session: Hear from over 18 undergraduate researchers through interactive poster presentations on topics including behavioral, computational and cognitive neuroscience. Each presenter will be available to explain and answer questions about their research.

Second-round workshops (6:45-7:10 pm):

Artificial Intelligence Workshop: The Turing Club will be presenting an interactive workshop on the connections between Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. This is a great opportunity for students interested in technology, neural networks, and ethics to learn more about these fascinating topics!

Undergraduate Research Panel: Hear from 3 current undergraduates who are conducting Neuroscience research at UBC. This is a great opportunity to learn how to get involved in research, what opportunities are available and to network with like-minded students.

Life After Undergrad Panel: This panel will feature a current UBC medical student, a student from the UBC Masters in Neuroscience program, a full-time researcher and a non-profit worker. They will be talking about their experiences at UBC has shaped their lives post-undergrad.

Poster Session: Hear from over 18 undergraduate researchers through interactive poster presentations on topics including behavioral, computational and cognitive neuroscience. Each presenter will be available to explain and answer questions about their research.

___________________________________________________________________

This page will be continually updated with more information about our speakers, ticket sales and more!