Two members of the Princeton Neuroscience Institute community were recognized for their outstanding ability to communicate complex research during Princeton Research Day 2025.

Jeffery Chen ('25, Neuroscience and Theater major), advised by Shariffa Ali, Chesney Snow, and Michael Berry, received the Arts & Humanities Award ($1,500) for his original musical, A Life Worth Living. The musical addresses adolescent mental health, exploring themes of grief, friendship, and recovery through music and comedy, sparking meaningful dialogue and promoting empathy.

Serene Dhawan (PNI graduate student advised by Bradley Dickerson), earned the Innovation Award ($1,000) sponsored by the Princeton Entrepreneurship Council. Dhawan’s project, Flying Lessons: Mapping the Neural Circuits that Control Wing Motion, uses imaging and artificial intelligence to decode how fruit flies maintain flight stability, which might lead to insights into advancing human health and robotics.