Embedded Files
Michigan Union
Michigan Union
The 2026 Michigan Brain Bee will be at the Michigan Union. We will be between the Kuenzel Room (first floor) and the 2210 ABC (second floor).
On competition day, there will be signs posted around the Union to help you navigate between rooms.
Michigan Union
Michigan Union
First Floor
Michigan Union
Michigan Union
Second Floor
8:30am-9:30am
Check-In
Check-In
Outside Kuenzel Room
Please bring completed consent forms with you to make the check-in process faster!
9:30am - 9:45am
Welcome Address
Welcome Address
Kuenzel Room
10:00am - 11:00am
Session I
Session I
2210 ABC
55-question written examination
Parent Information Session
Parent Information Session
Kuenzel Room
Presentation and Q/A with Sehj Rai, a senior undergraduate student working in the Michigan Neuroscience Undergraduate Program Office
11:15am - 12:30pm
UM Neuroscience Lab Visits
UM Neuroscience Lab Visits
Students will be assigned to one of these five labs to visit and will be escorted by chaperones
Lab Mentors
Dr. Dinesh Pal
Dr. Pal is an associate professor of anesthesiology and physiology and researches the neural regulation of natural and drug induced states of arousal using psychedelics and other similar drugs. You can find more about his research here!
Dr. Sandra Hunter
Dr. Hunter is a professor of movement science and researches the neural mechanisms of aging and fatigue in muscles for diabetes patients, the protective effects of exercise and sex differences. You can find more about her research here!
Dr. Paul Kramer
Dr. Kramer is an associate professor in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology and researches axon transmission and physiology and its effects on substance use disorder and Parkinson's Disease. You can find more about his research here!
Dr. Elise Savier
Dr. Savier is an associate professor of ophthalmology and physiology and researches the neural mechanisms of the visual processing pathways and how they shape and are shaped by experiences. You can find more about her research here!
Dr. Anahita Mehta
Dr. Mehta is an associate professor of otolaryngology and researches the neural mechanisms of auditory processing, such as pitch perception, feature integration, context effects, and hearing loss. You can find more about her research here!
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Undergraduate Student Panel
Undergraduate Student Panel
Kuenzel Room
Parents and students will be able to ask questions regarding admissions, majors, premed/prehealth, student life, and more to current UM students
2:00pm - 2:30pm
UM Neuroscience Research Spotlight - Dr. Kristina Smiley
UM Neuroscience Research Spotlight - Dr. Kristina Smiley
Kuenzel Room
Dr. Smiley's research focuses on neural and physiological mechanisms that control animal and human social behavior throughout life and how they have evolved over time. Her research looks at neural, hormonal and sensory parenting responses using zebra finches as a model! Similar to humans, zebra finches are monogamous, biparental and highly social. You can find more about her research here!
2:30pm - 3:00pm
UM Neuroscience Teaching Spotlight - Dr. Jennifer Cummings
UM Neuroscience Teaching Spotlight - Dr. Jennifer Cummings
Kuenzel Room
Dr. Cummings is an esteemed lecturer in the Brain and Behavior area of the Psychology Department at the University of Michigan. She was also recently named George C. Rosenwald Collegiate Lecturer of Psychology. She teaches a wide variety of psychology and neuroscience courses from introductory neuroscience to advanced courses such as Hormones and Behavior and Determinants of Health and Disease. You can read more about her here!
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Session II/III
Session II/III
Kuenzel Room
Top 8 performers from Session I answer 25 interactive questions using models, diagrams, and MRI/CT scans
(Top 2 performers from Session II move on to Session III)
4:00pm - 4:30pm
Awards Ceremony + Closing Remarks
Awards Ceremony + Closing Remarks
Click here to learn more about each session of the competition!
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