Avery Van De Water successfully presented and defended their thesis on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Their research was conducted under the guidance and mentorship of Dorit Kliemann, PhD. Avery joins a growing list of new PhDs graduating during the 2026 - 2027 academic year.

The Neuroscience Graduate Program welcomed fourteen exceptional scientists during orientation week and celebrated the 2026 cohort with a laboratory coat ceremony on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Ahmet Kuralay successfully presented and defended his thesis on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. His research in the laboratory of Jon Resch, PhD in the department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology.

Sara Mitchell successfully presented and defended her thesis on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Her research in the laboratories of Hanna Stevens, MD, PhD, in the Department of Psychiatry, and Rainbo Hultman, PhD, in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics.

To honor Ben's memory and enduring contributions to the Neuroscience Graduate Program, we are proud to announce that the Young Investigator Award will be renamed the Benjamin J. DeCorte Young Investigator Award. This recognition reflects the qualities Ben exemplified throughout his career: scientific excellence, innovation, integrity, and a commitment to advancing neuroscience.