Chicago Society for Neuroscience and International Neuropsychological Society Recognize DU Students

Photo: Jashui Zárate Torres and her original design depicting learning and memory.

Three Dominican University neuroscience students were recognized recently for their research and contributions to science.

Two students took home awards at the Chicago Society for Neuroscience Meeting, held March 21 at Northwestern University’s medical school campus in downtown Chicago.

Harmony Perez was awarded second place in the undergraduate poster session for her research project on sporadic epilepsy, which she conducted at the University of Chicago last summer. This is the fifth time a Dominican student has been recognized in the poster competition since a delegation of students began attending this meeting in 2009, said Dr. Robert Calin-Jageman, professor of psychology and director of the Neuroscience Program at DU.

Jashui Zárate Torres was awarded third place in the inaugural “neuro art” competition for her original design depicting learning and memory.

Separately, Nafia Khan, a junior and neuroscience major, was selected to present research at the 2025 International Neuropsychological Society meeting in New Orleans in February.

Khan contributed to the presentation entitled The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Neighborhood Resource Deprivation, and Learning and Memory Performance in Older Adults with Primary Memory Complaints. The project was developed during a Dominican-sponsored research internship at UIC’s Neuropsychology Clinic where Khan gained insights into neuropsychology and analyzed data the clinic had collected across a diverse population of patients, Calin-Jageman said.