Katie Groen (She/Her)

Academic Year: Senior

Email: kgroen [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Katie became a Neuroscience Student Ambassador because she wants to help cultivate a welcoming and supportive neuroscience community by building connections between students, staff, and faculty. She hopes to share the positive experience she has had in the neuroscience program with others and be a resource for current and incoming students.

Katie grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and is a part of the Molecular, Cellular, and Physiological NEUR track. In addition to being an ambassador, she is involved with the CARing Kids mentoring program and Food Recovery Network on campus. Katie also works as a teaching assistant with the AMP (Academic Peer Mentoring) program. In her free time, she enjoys nature photography, baking, and spending time with her dogs!

Katie’s favorite part of the brain is the suprachiasmatic nucleus! She is fascinated by its role as a “master clock” that controls the body's circadian rhythms — coordinating rhythms of metabolism, sleep, hunger and more is critical to our functioning and is an impressive feat!

Nqaba Mamba (He/His)

Academic Year: Senior

Email: nmamba [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Nqaba became a neuroscience ambassador to contribute to creating a strong community within the major. He wants to ensure that incoming and existing students will find it easy to meet and connect with their peers in the department.

Nqaba is from Swaziland but has lived in Derwood, Maryland for the majority of his life. He is currently on the Behavior and Cognition track with aspirations to become an affective neuroscientist or neuropsychologist. He hopes to one day own his own brain clinic, similar to that of Daniel Amen's.

In his free time, Nqaba loves to watch and play soccer as he wants to become a coach one day! He also enjoys working out, listening to music, and editing videos.

His favorite part of the brain is the amygdala because he finds the power of emotions to be fascinating.

Anca Bouvier (She/Her)

Academic Year: Senior 

Email: anca.bouvier [at] gmail.com

Anca chose to become a NEUR ambassador to spread her passion about neuroscience to new students and help bridge the gap between NEUR faculty members and students. She is a NEUR ambassador on the Molecular and Cellular track. In her free time, she runs a small business selling handmade clothing, rock climbs, and does gymnastics.

Anca is currently applying to pharmacy school and pursuing a second B.S. degree in Public Health Science while also interning at the US Government. She hopes to pursue a career in pharmaceutical development and biotechnology.

Anca’s favorite part of the brain is the basal ganglia, she's interested in the role it plays in dopamine secretion and movement.

Bo Verboom (He/Him)

Academic Year: Senior

Email: bverboom [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Bo is a neuroscience ambassador in the branch of professional development because he wants an active role in helping others reach their goals in the neuroscience field. He is on the MCP track whilst being pre-med. Alexandria, Virginia is his hometown. Apart from being an ambassador, he is a research assistant at The Hearing Brain Lab at UMD, works for Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Emergency Department under the American Red Cross, and serves at Jill’s House. He likes to skateboard in his free time. His professional aspiration is neurosurgery.

Bo’s favorite part of the brain is the Broca’s area because it’s the area responsible for speech production. He wants everyone’s voices to be heard.

Amrutha Alibilli (She/Her)

Academic Year: Sophomore 

Email: aalibill [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Amrutha Alibilli became a Neuroscience Ambassador to help develop unique mentorship and outreach programs to advance broader interest in the field, propelling students' academic and professional aspirations.

Amrutha is a pre-med student on the MCP Neuroscience track. Originally from Ellicott City, MD, she is involved in a myriad of student organizations, including Lean on Me, Moksha, AMSA, RAM, and SHAC. In her free time, she enjoys Indian classical dance, gardening, and spending time outdoors.

Her favorite brain region is the hippocampus due to its striking seahorse shape and its cornerstone functions involved with human memory, cognitive learning, and neural plasticity. In addition to playing an essential role in storing knowledge essential for education, it also saves remnants of sweet and bitter memories, forming one's cherished life chronicle.

Meghan Hnilo (She/Her)

Academic Year: Senior

Email: mhnilo [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Meghan became a neuroscience ambassador to guide students on their journey through the neuroscience program and to grow the NEUR community!

Meghan is on the MCP track and is currently applying to grad schools for Fall 2025. She is originally from Frederick, Maryland and enjoys spending time with friends and reading in her free time. Meghan is an active member of the STEM community through her role as a scholar in Nvolve, a women in STEM program, as well as a research trainee in the Angueyra Lab studying visual system development.

Her favorite part of the brain is the basal ganglia because it facilitates motivation!

Caleigh Moreland (She/Her)

Academic Year: Junior

Email: caleigh.moreland [at] gmail.com

Caleigh became a neuroscience ambassador to help out students who are new to the program because she knows how overwhelming planning your courses and choosing your major can be.

Caleigh is from Bethesda, Maryland. She has Irish danced for 16 years and ran track in high school. She loves going to the beach or on vacation, and like to hang out with her friends in her free time. Her favorite part of the brain is the amygdala because it's crucial for survival instincts, something that is super important in life!

Aditya Singhvi (He/Him)

Academic Year: Sophomore

Email: asinghvi [at] terpmail.umd.edu

As a Neuroscience Ambassador, Eric wanted to connect more with the NEUR major community and get a chance to help others in his field advance their understanding of career paths in the future.

Eric is from North Bethesda, Maryland and on the molecular, cellular, and physiological track. In his free time, he occasionally go to jiu jitsu club.

His favorite part of the brain is the basal ganglia because it has interesting mechanisms for initiating and coordinating movement.

Perfect Sare (She/Her)

Academic Year: Senior

Email:psare [at] umd.edu

Perfect became a Neuroscience Ambassador because of how much the program developed her passion for Neuroscience. She is inspired by the interdisciplinary nature of Neuroscience because can lead to different paths, and Perfect wants to help other students navigate their educational journey as they plan for the future.

Perfect is from Odenton, Maryland. She is completing the MCP track and is excited to go to law school and apply her Neuroscience background in law-related areas. During her free time, Perfect loves to play her guitar, read all kinds of books and be out in nature. Her favorite part of the brain is the hypothalamus, because she is especially fascinated by its role in forming social bonds.

Aditi Kulkarni (she/her) 

Academic Year: Sophomore

Email: akulka08 [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Aditi became a Neuroscience Ambassador to help make the neuroscience community more welcoming to all students who are new to the program!

Along with being an ambassador, Aditi is an undergraduate research assistant at UMD’s Neurobiology lab and spends time outside of class and lab at UMD’s badminton club with her friends. Aditi has lived in Ellicott City, Maryland for most of her life.

Aditi’s favorite part of the brain is Wernicke’s area as it helps understand written language, and she is a big reader!

Brianna Gayle (She/Her)

Academic Year: Junior 

Email: bgayle [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Brianna became a neuroscience student ambassador because she wanted to show people why the neuroscience major at UMD is practical and worthwhile.

Brianna is on the molecular, cellular, and physiological track as well as premed. She is from Yardley, PA and likes to read, bake, and spend time with her friends and family.

Brianna's favorite part of the brain is the DLPFC because it shows activity when someone makes a moral choice over a self-serving choice.

Natalie Eisen (She/Her)

Academic Year: Senior

Email: neisen1 [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Natalie became a neuroscience ambassador to help foster a collaborative community within the major. She wants to inspire new and prospective students to learn and participate in the neuroscience opportunities at UMD!

Natalie is on the Molecular, Cellular, and Physiological track and wants to pursue a PhD in neuroscience research. She ultimately wants to work in a lab doing medical science research. Natalie is a member of APO, a co-ed community service fraternity on campus. She is from Rockville, Maryland, and loves to bike, cook, and create new Spotify playlists!

Natalie's favorite part of the brain is the habenula (in the limbic system) because although it is so small, it plays a large role in reward-related behaviors and even has the ability to change behavior.

Maha Idsassi (She/Her)

Academic Year: Junior

Email: midsassi [at] terpmail.umd.edu

As a Neuroscience Ambassador, Maha chose this role out of a passion for sharing knowledge and guiding fellow students in their academic journeys. From Laurel, Maryland, Maha is currently a junior pursuing the Molecular, Cellular, and Physiological track of Neuroscience. This choice reflects her deep interest in the intricate mechanisms that govern cellular functions and physiological processes in the human brain.

In terms of academic fascination, Maha's favorite part of the brain is the prefrontal cortex. She is particularly intrigued by its role in regulating critical cognitive processes, emotions, and social interactions. The prefrontal cortex's unique ability to integrate diverse information from various brain regions and adapt to complex situations makes it an area of special interest for Maha, especially considering its implications in problem-solving and creative decision-making.

Outside the academic realm, Maha enjoys crocheting, reading, and spending time outdoors, finding balance in leisure activities that complement her rigorous academic pursuits.

Tal Bresler (She/Her)

Academic Year: Junior 

Email: tbresler [at] umd.edu

Tal is a junior from Silver Spring, MD on the MCP track, planning to pursue an MD. Outside of classes, Tal likes to play guitar, draw, take care of her plants, and hang out with friends!

Tal joined NEUR ambassadors to build a greater sense of community within our major and to spread the word that neuroscience is the best major at UMD!

Marvi Shukla (She/Her)

Academic Year: Sophomore 

Email: marvi29 [at] terpmail.umd.edu

Marvi became a neuroscience because of her passion for the field and to help others navigate their academic journey in neuroscience here at UMD.

Marvi is from Ellicott City, Maryland and is a premed student on the molecular, cellular, and physiological track. She is also a research assistant at the Aphasia Lab and involved in premed clubs on campus. In her free time, Marvi loves playing badminton, watching movies, volunteering at the local dog shelter, and cooking. She is a HUGE foodie!

Marvi's favorite part of the brain is the prefrontal cortex because it's the place where all the warm, fuzzy feelings come from when she sees something adorable, like a cute puppy!