Jessa Buring is a PhD student in the integrated neuroscience at Dartmouth (IND) program. Jessa is one of the organizers behind this year’s Upper Valley Brain Bee.
What program are you part of at Dartmouth, and what sparked your interest in that field?
I am a first-year student in the integrative neuroscience program. This field sparks my interest because it has immense potential to impact public health; the brain is very complex, and scientific discoveries are being made daily that contribute to the understanding of this important organ.
What do you consider your hometown, and how has it impacted who you are today?
My hometown is Burlington, Wisconsin, which has a population of about 10,000 people. Growing up in a small town gives you an innate sense of community because everyone seems to know everyone. So, emulating this communal sense that makes people feel supported is something that I carry with me throughout all aspects of my daily life.
Where did you earn your undergraduate degree, and how did your academic journey lead you to Dartmouth?
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022 with a BS in psychology, Spanish, and criminal justice. The combination of these three unique degrees is what contributed to my interest in public health and research. After graduation, I worked at a lab in Boston that studies Alzheimer’s Disease, and that solidified my desire to pursue neuroscience.
Which professors or mentors are you working with right now, and how have they influenced your research?
Throughout my first year in the program, I have rotated with Wilder Doucette, Francesca Gilli, and Pia O’Neill. All three of these mentors have made me feel empowered and competent as a graduate student researcher by encouraging me to ask critical questions about their research. I feel very grateful to be learning from them throughout my rotations because it has made me a better scientist.
What motivated you to get involved in organizing the Upper Valley Brain Bee? What do you hope participants walk away with?
I was motivated to get involved with the Upper Valley Brain Bee because community outreach and encouragement of learning are a major part of being a scientist. Dartmouth is such a hub of knowledge, and this is something that should be shared widely and easily accessible.
Moreover, disseminating research information in a digestible way and encouraging others to pursue questions critically when they are confronted with an unknown is a very important part of being a scientist. So, I was excited to spread knowledge about the brain in a fun and interactive way to the Upper Valley community!
Can you share a memorable moment from this year’s Brain Bee? How do you think events like this impact the broader community?
I think that events like the Brain Bee allow students to explore questions that they may have about how their body works, how understanding the brain contributes to public health, and what kind of research is being done at Dartmouth.
In high school, I don’t know if I fully understood what a ‘neuroscientist’ was, so providing students with the opportunity to ask questions and engage with people who are experts in their field is a great way to get them excited about it.
One memorable moment from the Brain Bee this year was that our speaker, Wilder Doucette, had also attended the same high school that many of our competitors were from. He was able to eat lunch with the competitors and talk to them about his research and future directions in the field, and it was great to see the students so engaged.
Why did you choose Dartmouth to pursue your degrees?
I chose Dartmouth because the integrative neuroscience program curriculum and layout was exactly what I was looking for. They combine multiple disciplines and encourage students to collaborate, which allows us to look at research questions in different ways, explore new ways of thinking, and meet new people!
Outside of your studies, what are some of your hobbies or interests?
I enjoy anything that can be done outdoors, like running, hiking, kayaking, and biking, and am looking forward to some nice weather to do more of it!
