Carol Becker McGaugh Award

Purpose and Criteria: This award was established in the School of Biological Sciences in 2003 by Carol Joyce Becker McGaugh and James L. McGaugh. The award is presented to an undergraduate student completing their 3rd year for outstanding research in the neurobiology of learning and memory. The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward a student who excels in both scholarship and research, and to support the student in completing research in their senior year. The recipient will be additionally recognized at the School of Biological Sciences' Undergraduate Honors Convocation Ceremony.

Eligibility: Must be a UCI undergraduate in Biological Sciences completing his or her third year of studies.

Awards available: 1 or more $1,000 awards

Requirements: CV/resume (max 2 pages), unofficial transcript, and personal statement addressing research experience, current research, future research goals, and how the award will be used to support research activities (500 words).

2024

Isha Bhakta

(Advisor: Dr. Katherine Thompson-Peer)

Rushika Weerackoon

(Advisor: Dr. Michael Yassa)

2023

Vicky Lam

(Advisor: Dr. Katherine Thompson-Peer)
"Ouch! Dendrites can detect injury and regenerate too!"

2022

Erick Ho

(Advisor: Dr. Kevin Beier)
"Reducing memory loss in Alzheimer's disease"

2021

Vivian Chau

(Advisor: Dr. Javier Diaz-Alonso)
"Exploring the localization of MDGAs and their role in synaptic excitation and inhibition balance"

2020

Jeanine Sandra Esteban

(Advisor: Dr. Stephen Mahler)
"Exploring the brain's mechanisms of motivation"

2019

Nima Hadidi

Nima's research focused on computational modeling of stress response regulation.

2018

Jude Banihani

Jude's research focused on the role of CREST in the regulation of memory-associated genes.

2017

Ivan Shu

While at UCI, Ivan worked in the Wood Lab which focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying normal long-term memory processes, memories associated with drugs of abuse, and age-related memory impairments.