NEUROBRIDGES:

Connecting Brains and Boricuas

About

NeuroBridges is a collaboration between the Office of Outreach and Education at the UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) and Neuroboricuas, a non-profit organization that focuses in empowering young Puerto Ricans to engage in science and helps schools in Puerto Rico perform scientific research.

Questions? Contact NeuroBridges founder Gimarie Irizarry-Martinez at girizarr@uci.edu.

CNLM Director of Outreach and Education Dr. Manuella Yassa and CNLM Travel Award recipient Alison Santos-Marquez pose in the CNLM courtyard at UC Irvine.

Pamela Perez-Vazquez presenting a poster of her research at the 2024 CNLM Spring Meeting.

Vision & Mission

Vision: to foster an inclusive neuroscience community in Puerto Rico, where Puerto Rican students are contributing to our understanding the brain to benefit society.

Mission: To provide educational and experiential opportunities in neuroscience for students in Puerto Rico and to engage students from Puerto Rico in topics related to current areas of neuroscience research.

Education
- Provide educational opportunities in neuroscience to students and prospective students living in Puerto Rico.
Experience
- Engage students in the discovery of their own academic and career interests through interactions with current graduate students, neuroscientists, postdocs, and professors.
Mentorship
- Guide students through navigating their academic, research, and career exploration by utilizing existing mentoring structures at UCI and UPR campuses.
Networking
- Create an environment that fosters personal and professional relations in a setting that places priorities on equity, justice, and inclusivity.

Seminar Series

Neuroscience Talks:

Talks will be grounded in basic neuroscientific topics as a method of introducing students from a variety of academic disciplines. Each talk will introduce an active area of neuroscience research to a broad audience and allow for conversation and questions with presenters.
Each seminar will be conducted by faculty, post-docs, or graduate students and will include an introduction to the speaker, a 40-minute presentation by the presenter, and 15 minutes for questions.

Graduate School Talks:

Lectures will be centered around understanding and applying to graduate schools in neuroscience. These are intended to demystify the process and experiences of graduate school training while encouraging diversity in graduate school programs.

Benefits of participating:

Certificate of participation

Upcoming Meeting

Past Meetings

CNLM Travel Award

The CNLM supports NeuroBridges participants with an opportunity for two Puerto Rican undergraduate students to attend the annual CNLM Spring Meeting, a two day conference at UC Irvine that attracts leading learning and memory researchers to present and discuss on emerging research topics.

2026 Travel Award Recipients

2026 recipients of the CNLM award, Paulette Vazquez Martinez (left) and Andrea Garcia Quinones (right) standing with the 2026 Spring Conference poster.

The recipients of the 2026 CNLM Travel Award include:

Paulette M. Vázquez Martínez
Graduate Student
University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus

"Attending the 2026 CNLM Spring Conference at UC Irvine was an enriching and inspiring experience that expanded my perspective on hippocampal research. Throughout the two-day event, I engaged with diverse studies and dynamic presentations that highlighted both the complexity and innovation driving the field. Beyond the academic value, this opportunity allowed me to connect with researchers and immerse myself in meaningful scientific dialogue. As a Puerto Rican, I felt a deep sense of pride in representing my community in an international space, made possible by the support of the 2026 CNLM Travel Award, which enabled both my participation and full engagement in this impactful experience."

Andrea García Quiñones
Undergraduate Student
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

2024 Travel Award Recipients

Pamela Perez-Vazquez, Manuella Yassa, Gimarie Irizarry-Martinez, and Alison Santos-Marquez pose at the 2024 CNLM Spring Meeting.

The recipients of the 2024 CNLM Travel Award include:

Pamela Perez-Vazquez
Undergraduate in the Chemistry program (4th year)
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

"Participating in the 2024 Spring Conference of the UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory was an enriching experience. Engaging with experts in the field and exploring cutting-edge research broadened my understanding of neuroscience. Moreover, being honored with the NeuroBridges travel award not only provided me with the opportunity to participate but also facilitated my complete immersion in the conference's enlightening discussions, fostering meaningful connections that will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors in the field. I am genuinely grateful for the support and opportunity that enabled this amazing experience."

Alison Santos-Marquez
Undergraduate in the Cell and Molecular Biology program Minor in Computer Sciences (3rd year)
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

"Attending the CNLM 2024 Spring Conference was an enriching experience that exceeded my expectations. The conference was excellently organized, with short, theme-specific talks and well-timed breaks that kept the audience engaged and fostered meaningful discussions. I was captivated by the vibrant atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with peers and experts alike. Particularly memorable was the dinner discussion about the future of graduate neuroscience education, which offered specific insights and valuable career advice. Presenting my poster and exploring UCI’s beautiful campus were definite highlights, reinforcing my desire to pursue graduate studies at CNLM, where I can envision thriving in a dynamic academic environment. Overall, the conference left a lasting impression, inspiring me both professionally and
Academically."

NeuroBridges at Summer Institute

The Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience Program is an intensive 10-week program that immerses 20 undergraduate students in neuroscience research and trains them with the skills necessary for success in graduate school and beyond.

Several Neurobridges students have participated in this program. Explore their successful summer experiences below:

2026 Summer Institute in Neuroscience

Yaisha M. Camis Bonilla is a rising 3rd year student from University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras studying Psychology. This summer, in Dr. Sara Mednick’s Lab, Yaisha worked with her PhD Student mentor, Allison Morehouse, to research how changes in heart rate across the menstrual and sleep cycle can predict emotional memory processing.

"Having the privilege of joining the Summer Institute in Neuroscience 2026 cohort at the University of California, Irvine was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This exposed me to extraordinary learning opportunities, from hands-on research experience to immersion in diverse and extraordinary neuroscience laboratories. I was able to connect with and learn from an immense array of experts in fields that I’m passionate about. Additionally, it allowed me to
develop and complete a research project, while expanding my analytical and research skills. I am immensely grateful for the NeuroBridges association for their work in allowing me to participate in this program."

Verónica Rodríguez González is a rising 4th year student from the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras studying Molecular Biology. This summer, in Dr. Han Tan’s Lab, Veronica researched how expression of certain genes in the brain contribute to obesity and how do GLP-1 drugs affect the brain.

"Being part of the CNLM Summer Institute was an amazing opportunity! The program truly focused on each one of us individually and helped us grow not only as professionals, but also as people. The talks, workshops, and experiences offered throughout the program were not only educational but also challenged us to think critically and step outside our comfort zones. I am especially grateful for the mentorship and connections I gained throughout this experience, which broadened my perspective on neuroscience and helped shape the scientist I aspire to become. This opportunity was truly meaningful, and I am incredibly thankful to NeuroBridges and to everyone who made this experience possible"

2025 Summer Institute in Neuroscience

Jassiely Bigas Hamden is an Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience NSF-REU Scholar (2025) and an undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez. She was also a member of the 2025 Summer Institute cohort. During the summer, Jassiely worked in Dr. Liz Chrastil's laboratory with her graduate student mentor, Alina Tu, to research differences in spatial navigation in midlife adults using virtual reality and fMRI.

"Being selected to be part of the Irvine Summer Institute in Neuroscience 2025 cohort has been by far the most enriching experience in my college career. For the very first time, I was able to dive into the world of neuroscience in an incredibly immersive manner: I learned how to code in order to conduct statistical analyses, strengthened my literature review skills, and, by the end of the summer, I was able to present my findings at a concluding symposium through a carefully curated scientific poster. I could not be more grateful to have been given such a wonderful opportunity, and it would not have been possible without the guidance and support I received from the Neurobridges program."

NeuroBridges at Society for Neuroscience

Gimarie Irizarry Martinez, Ph.D. student at UC Irvine, presented her 2024 project, “A Neuroscience Collaboration to Broaden Participation in Neuroscience throughout Puerto Rico,” as a Society for Neuroscience (SfN) poster presentation at a Dana Foundation event. The project highlights efforts to expand neuroscience education, research, and opportunities across Puerto Rico.

Gimarie Irizarry Martinez, a Ph.D. student at UC Irvine, and Pamela Perez Vazquez, a Ph.D. student at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, presented “Neuroscience in Rice and Beans: A Booklet to Inspire Curiosity and Understanding of the Brain” as an SfN poster at a Dana Foundation event.

At the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) poster presentations, Neurobridges students have showcased their work on expanding neuroscience education and participation. In 2024, Gimarie Irizarry Martinez, a Ph.D. student at UC Irvine, presented “A Neuroscience Collaboration to Broaden Participation in Neuroscience throughout Puerto Rico.” In 2025, Gimarie and Pamela Perez Vazquez, a Ph.D. student at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, presented “Neuroscience in Rice and Beans: A Booklet to Inspire Curiosity and Understanding of the Brain.”

NeuroBridges and Brain Awareness Week

Neurociencia en Arroz y Habichuelas

This resource was born through NeuroBridges, a partnership between the University of California, Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (UCI CNLM) and NeuroBoricuas, a nonprofit led by Puerto Rican scientists and educators dedicated to promoting neuroscience education and research on the island. The vision was simple but powerful: create a neuroscience resource that reflects Puerto Rican culture, speaks the language of its audience, and sparks curiosity about the brain.

Neurociencia en Arroz y Habichuelas was created in celebration of Brain Awareness Week, a global campaign that foster enthusiasm and support for brain science.

Learn more about Brain Awareness Week here.

Click Here to Learn More!

Team

Manuella Oliveira Yassa, PhD

Director of Outreach and Education
UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Christian Bravo-Rivera, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Anatomy, and Neurobiology
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

President of NeuroBoricuas

Logo of NeuroBoricuas

Morgan Coburn, PhD

Assistant Director of Academic Programs
Office of Outreach and Education
UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Gimarie Irizarry-Martinez

NeuroBridges Founder
PhD Student
University of California, Irvine

Erin Purvis Conway, PhD

Assistant Director of Community Engagement
Office of Outreach and Education
UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Pamela Perez Vazquez

PhD student at University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

Veronica Rodriguez Gonzalez

Undergraduate Student at University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

In the News

Building (Neuro) Bridges

July 12, 2024

BUILDING (NEURO)BRIDGES Gimarie Irizarry Martinez Receives Director’s Excellence Award for Establishing NeuroBridges Gimarie Irizarry Martinez, a UC Irvine graduate student, has been awarded the prestigious Center for the Neurobiology of…