2018 Award Winners
The Neuroscience Behind Preconception Care
Participant: Serena Jenkins
Serena Jenkins (MSc ' 17) is researching how maternal choices prior to pregnancy influences offspring development. The results of Serena's research can guide preconception care programs and help people better understand how preconception lifestyle choices are as important to the development of their children as the ones women make during pregnancy.
The Stress of Moving Out
Participant: Janet Poplawski, Supervisors: Tony Montina (BSc '08, MSc '10) and Dr. Gerlinde Metz
Janet Poplawski (BSc '17) is researching whether migration stress, the stress immigrants and refugees feel when moving to a new country, have long-term health effects. By understanding the physical and chemical changes that occur in the brain due to migration stress, we can predict, identify and potentially treat stress-related disease long before symptoms develop.
Playing Sports Makes You Smarter
Participant: Veronica Oczkowski, Supervisor: Dr. Robbin Gibb
As an athlete and academic, Veronica Oczkowski (BSc '17) is researching the effects of exercise on cognitive reserve, the brain's ability to find solutions for everyday problems. Those with high cognitive reserve are better able to stave off brain changes due to aging or neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, as well as function better when faced with unexpected, stressful or traumatic life events.