2026 Irvine Brain Bee Engages a Record Number of Southern California Students Through Hands-On Neuroscience
On Saturday, February 7, 2026, the UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) hosted the 8th annual Irvine Brain Bee, welcoming a record 143 high school students from across Southern California for a full day of neuroscience learning, discovery, and competition. The Brain Bee is an international neuroscience competition designed to inspire young minds to pursue careers in brain science by challenging their knowledge while introducing them to real research tools, laboratories, and scientists.
Free to all participants, the Irvine Brain Bee is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the CNLM and the remarkable dedication of CNLM Ambassadors, who organize and lead the day’s activities and hands-on learning experiences.
The Irvine Brain Bee was founded in 2019 by CNLM Director of Outreach and Education Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa, who directs the program and also serves as director of the USA National Brain Bee. The organizing committee was led by Dr. Rachael Hokenson, Winny Ning, Allison Morehouse, and Julie Loritsch, whose months of planning and coordination shaped this year’s program.
Students arrived in the morning, checked in, and completed the written and practicum portions of the competition. They then changed into their Brain Bee shirts, gathered for a group photo outside the Anteater Learning Pavilion, and joined CNLM Ambassadors for lunch and conversation. An interactive game of “human bingo” helped students connect with one another and earn raffle entries for prizes awarded during the finals round.
After lunch, the students immersed themselves in a series of hands-on neuroscience experiences. Activity rotations allowed participants to engage directly with core neuroscience methods and concepts. Students mounted real mouse brain tissue slices onto microscope slides, explored preserved human and sheep brains, and identified major anatomical structures. They also learned how neurons communicate and how muscle signals can be used to control prosthetic devices, activating each other’s muscles and a mechanical claw. They completed a mirror star-drawing task to explore principles of motor learning and memory, and toured active neuroscience laboratories to see research in action.
A highlight of the day was the keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Christie Fowler, titled “Before the Clinical Trial: The Scientific Research That Makes Medicine Possible.” Her talk introduced students to the foundational research that underlies medical advances and showed how discoveries in basic neuroscience move toward real-world treatments. Students enjoyed connecting with Dr. Fowler after her talk.
The day culminated in the highly anticipated finals round, where the top-scoring students faced off in a live question-and-answer session judged by CNLM faculty. The finals showcased both depth of knowledge and impressive composure under pressure.
The Top 10 Finalists for the 2026 Irvine Brain Bee are listed below in alphabetical order:
Arya Aia (Portola High School, 9th grade)
Ashley He (Palisades Charter High School, 11th grade)
Jayden Dang (Troy High School, 11th grade)
Justin Liu (Sage Hill School, 11th grade)
Mahima Wuppalapati (Portola High School, 10th grade)
Mia Niu (Diamond Bar High School, 11th grade)
Kayla Roh (Fairmont Preparatory, 11th grade)
Shravya Sethi (Gretchen Whitney High School, 11th grade)
Shaun Murzello (Troy High School, 11th grade)
Claire Yuan (Orange County School of the Arts, 11th grade)
After an intense final round, the top winners were announced.
Congratulations to the 2026 Irvine Brain Bee Winners:
1st place: Kayla Roh
2nd place: Justin Liu
3rd place (tie): Mahima Wuppalapati and Ashley He
As the Irvine champion, Kayla Roh will go on to represent the region at the USA Brain Bee National Competition. Reflecting on her experience, Kayla emphasized the long path that led her to this moment.
“Winning the Irvine Brain Bee was very meaningful to me because it was essentially a culmination of a many years' long journey in neuroscience mentored and assisted by numerous wonderful people at my school, in my family, and at the CNLM,” she said. “Being part of CNLM programs since elementary school has been invaluable, as the nurturing environment and access to resources fueled my curiosity to explore various aspects in neuroscience.”
Kayla’s journey is one example of how sustained exposure and mentorship can shape a student’s path in neuroscience.
“We are so proud of our finalists and of every high school student who participated in this year’s Irvine Brain Bee,” said Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa, CNLM Director of Outreach and Education and founding director of the Irvine Brain Bee. “I often say that teenagers are real-life superheroes, and seeing 143 of them choose to spend a Saturday at UC Irvine learning neuroscience is nothing short of amazing. Their curiosity, focus, and drive give me enormous hope for the future of science.”
She added, “I see the Irvine Brain Bee as an entry point into the scientific community. Students work with real brain specimens, visit research labs, and interact directly with scientists and trainees. These experiences help them see that a future in neuroscience is truly within reach. This event would not be possible without the dedication of our organizing committee, CNLM staff, and the 53 CNLM Ambassadors who volunteered their time and talent to make the day happen. Their impact on these students is real and lasting.”
Kayla Roh will join the other regional Brain Bee winners in April to compete for the USA National Brain Bee title.
The Irvine Brain Bee is 100% free to students and is powered by community members who believe that early exposure to science can open doors and shape futures. Learn how you can be part of that impact and donate here.
For more information about the Irvine Brain Bee and opportunities to support future initiatives, please visit irvinebrainbee.org or contact the CNLM Outreach and Education team at explorethebrain@uci.edu or (949) 824-5193.
About the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Established in 1983 by the UC Regents, with James L. McGaugh as its Founding Director, the CNLM is the first research institute in the world dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the fundamental brain mechanisms of learning and memory. It is credited with numerous seminal discoveries about how memory works and is recognized as a global leader in the area. Led by Director Michael Yassa, the CNLM is home to more than 120 faculty scientists at UCI and beyond. The Center’s Office of Outreach and Education develops and leads innovative neuroscience education programs that inspire and train the next generation of neuroscience leaders. For more information, visit cnlm.uci.edu.
Participation in the Irvine Brain Bee is 100% free to students. The program is possible thanks to charitable contributions from community members.
The Brain Explorer Academy engages high schoolers in neuroscience after school during the winter and spring quarters.