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Graduate Program Awards

The Neurosciences Graduate Program presents the following research awards during an award ceremony held at the end of the year. Congratulations to the NGP Students who have won the following awards! 

Call for Nominations are sent in mid-April and awards are presented at the end of the year. Students and Faculty will receive a notification via our department mailing lists. 

 

How to Nominate

Nomination Process

Faculty and eligible nominators should submit nominations using the official award nomination form.  Please review the award descriptions carefully and select the award that best aligns with the nominee’s research and accomplishments.

Students may self-nominate or nominate their peers for the Community and Teaching award. 

After a nomination is submitted, the nominee may be contacted separately to provide a current CV and dissertation for review by the selection committee.

Nomination Deadline: Tuesday, May 15, 2026

Form: Award Nominations

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4eXaQu_ZFOWBCPKox3NwnY2zdKLrJiGThk7PICNbdqOiOYg/viewform?usp=dialog 

Leon Thal: Excellence in Neuroscience Research Award


Leon Thal Award

Named in honor of Dr. Leon Thal, a renowned neuroscientist and leader in Alzheimer’s disease research, this award recognizes an exceptional graduate student whose doctoral research reflects outstanding scientific scholarship in all areas of neuroscience.

The award is intended for a student who is in candidacy and nearing graduation from the program, with research accomplishments (publications, datasets, patents etc.) that demonstrate excellence, impact, and strong promise in the field.

Learn more about Dr. Leon Thal’s life and legacy here.

Eligibility

  • Current PhD or MD-PhD candidates in the Neurosciences Graduate Program
  • Must be in candidacy and nearing graduation
  • Research that is affiliated with Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegenerative disease, or a closely related area is prioritized

Nomination Materials

Nominations must be submitted by the nominator using the official nomination form.

  • Letter of nomination
  • Upon nomination, the Program Office will collect the following from the nominee:
  • Current CV
  • Dissertation

Award Recipients

  • 2025 - Celina Nguyen
  • 2024 — Sydney Smith & Jess Haley
  • 2023 — Joseph Herdy
  • 2022 — Christian Cazares


    Funded by: Leon J Thal  Educational Scholarship in Neurosciences

The Edward Koo Dissertation Award in Neurosciences


Edward Koo Dissertation Award in Neurosciences

The Edward Koo Endowed Dissertation Award honors outstanding graduate students who demonstrate exceptional promise in neuroscience research and service to the neuroscience community. Established to perpetuate Dr. Koo’s commitment to scientific excellence, the award provides both financial support and public recognition to help recipients advance their scholarly pursuits.

Read more about Dr. Edward Koo’s legacy here

Eligibility

  • Current PhD or MD-PhD candidates in the Neurosciences Graduate Program
  • Must have successfully defended the dissertation, or be scheduled to defend within the award year

Nomination Materials

Nominations must be submitted by the nominator using the official nomination form.

  • Letter of nomination
  • Upon nomination, the Program Office will collect the following from the nominee:
  • Current CV
  • Dissertation

Supporting the Award

A dedicated fund has been established for the Edward Koo Endowed Graduate Student Award. Contributions help sustain the honorarium and promote continued excellence in neuroscience research.

Neuroscience Teaching Award

NGP Outstanding Teaching Award

The NGP Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award honors teaching assistants who exhibit exceptional dedication, support, and mentorship in the classroom and beyond. This award recognizes the important contributions of teaching assistants in facilitating learning and strengthening the educational experience within neuroscience graduate coursework at UC San Diego.

Nomination Materials

  • The student’s current CV
  • Statement from the student (up to 500 words), which may include:
  • Description of course or courses taught, including primary responsibilities
  • Description of teaching methods or overall approach to teaching
  • Additional teaching development or training activities
  • Letter of support from the course instructor or supervisor

Award Recipients

  • 2025 - Camilo Londono
  • 2024 — Michaela Cullum Doyle
  • 2023 — Cynthia Nyongesa

NGP Community Leadership Award

NGP Community Leadership Award

The NGP Community Leadership Award honors outstanding and transformational service that advances community building within the Neurosciences Graduate Program at UC San Diego. This award recognizes students whose leadership, service, and outreach have made a meaningful impact on the graduate program community and its affiliated organizations.

Nominees typically demonstrate sustained engagement through leadership roles in NGP committees, student groups, or affiliated organizations, and have contributed in ways that strengthen connection, inclusion, mentorship, and program culture.

Nomination Materials

  • Letter of nomination
  • Leadership statement from the student (up to 500 words)
  • Student CV

Award Recipients

  • 2024 — Louise Stolz
  • 2023 — Emily Baltz

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