This summer, 18 interns completed the fifth annual Women in Neuroscience (WiN) Summer Intensive internship program, supported by The University of Texas at Austin Department of Neuroscience and the Department of Neurology at Dell Medical School. The “WiNterns” gave their Final Presentations of Learning on July 27 and July 28 in several focus areas of neuroscience and attended an awards ceremony on July 29.
WiN’s eight-week paid internship encourages high school seniors and college women from historically underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in neuroscience and neurology. WiNterns from Huston-Tillotson University, Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, and the UT Austin College of Natural Sciences partner with faculty mentors, attend daily seminars to build professional development skills, gain clinical and lab experience, and present their research at the conclusion of the program. They also receive ongoing mentorship.
“This internship made me feel like I had a community,” said WiNtern Aundrea Hodges. “I had people to talk to, people that had the same experience as me. Relatability is important.”
Pediatric neuroscience faculty mentors this year included Dr. Audrey Brumback (autism and epilepsy), Dr. Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara (pediatric neurosurgery), and Dr. Dave Clarke (pediatric epilepsy). Dr. Steve Roach taught a half-day course on biomedical writing.
“I don’t think I could have done research to this extent during the summer without this program,” said WiNtern Priya Mahbleshwarkar. “I’m just so thankful.”
