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CSfN hosts the largest and oldest brain research meeting in the Midwest every year in Chicago, and more than 400 scientists and students attend. Lake Forest College is an academic sponsor of this meeting and has been sending students to attend the conference since 2003.

This year, the College sent 68 students along with four faculty, including Disque D. and Carol Gram Deane Professor of Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience Shubhik DebBurman, Assistant Professor of Psychology Jean-Marie Maddux, Assistant Professor of Biology Margot Schwalbe, and Associate Professor of Psychology Naomi Wentworth.

Amanda Grassel ’23, Ryan Osselborn ’23, Noah Mueller ’23, and Allison Coffell ’23 presented their research projects at the conference.

“These opportunities to present and participate in research have given me a lot of valuable experience with communicating scientifically and exposure to neuroscientists from a variety of different backgrounds,” Grassel said. “By being able to meet and work with so many different people, I've been able to get a lot of insight into the many potential avenues of research that I could pursue for my career in neuroscience.”

The College’s location near Chicago provides students with ample opportunities for scholarship, career networking, and professional development.

Leslie Casares ’26 also attended and found the exposure to a rich research community inspiring.

“Personally, as someone who came into college wanting to become a neurosurgeon, this meeting made me realize how much I want to become involved in research. It has made me start thinking about going for a PhD or MD program since both have appealed to me,” Casares said. “Opportunities like these provided by Lake Forest have helped me figure out more about what I want to do.”

Twenty-two Lake Forest College graduates have previously won awards for undergraduate research at the conference since 2003. DebBurman believes that the consistency with which the College’s science students continue to shine for their research communication at professional venues is the product of the innovative science curriculum.

“We are all deeply motivated to train our students to think and work like scientists and be best prepared to become members and leaders of the biomedical community,” DebBurman said. “To witness our students receiving accolades year after year for their scientific discoveries at professional conferences like CSfN is simply the icing on the cake.” 

Since the College first started sending students to the CSfN meeting in 2003, an estimated 500 Foresters have attended and expanded their understanding of research, presentations, and scholarly engagement at a professional level.