APRIL 2025

Celebrating a Bold Step in Brain Health Research

As part of its annual “Brainy Days” celebrations, Florida Atlantic University’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute (SNBI) celebrated the launch of the David and Lynn Nicholson Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research.

The evening featured a special reception and dinner for SNBI supporters and collaborators followed by a lecture from eminent Alzheimer’s disease researcher, Sir John Hardy, Ph.D., chair of Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease at University College London’s Institute of Neurology.

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New Student Award

Ellie Pfahler, a student at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, is the inaugural recipient of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches’ Student Civic Engagement Award.

In partnership with the college, also celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Forum Club developed the pilot program to recognize students in the local community. To be considered, students must demonstrate a commitment to leadership and civil discourse and create environments where people from diverse backgrounds can come together and exchange ideas.

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WHC Retains Multi-year Streak of Goldwater Scholars

For the fourth consecutive year, Florida Atlantic University students have been recognized as Goldwater Scholars. Aiden Geleta and Vincent Stafford, both form the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, have been awarded the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious national research fellowship for undergraduate students.

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2025 Kenan Scholars

The Kenan Social Engagement Program at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College announced its annual scholarship winners for 2025. Isabelle Solages, Kassandra Liburd and Michael Pedro (in partnership with Juan Jaramillo) were named this year's Kenan Scholars, each earning $2,500 in seed funding for their social ventures in addition to academic scholarships.

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Participate in Infant Research at FAU!

Are you interested in developmental research? The Infant Cognition Lab at FAU uses neuroimaging, eye-tracking technology and parent reporting to investigate what infants know about their world and how they learn. The Infant Cognition Lab is looking for infants to participate in research studies at our offices on the Boca Raton campus. Appointments take approximately 45 minutes, and our studies are interactive and fun! Participating families receive a photo and a free $20 Amazon gift card with participation. Schedule your appointment today.

Get started.

Around Campus

President Hasner Returned to FAU Jupiter

Florida Atlantic University President Adam Hasner, along with First Lady Jillian Hasner, returned to FAU Jupiter to host an Appreciation Breakfast for the faculty and staff. President Hasner shared his history with the development of the John D. MacArthur Campus and its biomedical research hub and excitement about the possibilities of the future.

Emerging Leaders

Nearly 200 guests, faculty, staff and students gathered at the John D. MacArthur Campus for the annual Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College Morton Research Forum. The event featured testimonials from students supported by the Forum and an interactive poster session where students presented their research and experiences. 

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23rd Annual WHC Scholarly and Creative Research Symposium

FAU’s Jupiter campus bustled with excitement as over 120 undergraduate students presented their thesis projects to faculty, staff, students, family and supporters – the culmination of countless hours of research, scientific inquiry and artistic creation.

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FAU High - Jupiter Senior Symposium

Seniors from Florida Atlantic University High School in Partnership with Max Planck Academy presented their research projects during the annual Senior Symposium at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. Throughout their participation in the program, these 29 student researchers worked in laboratories across the John D. MacArthur Campus and field research sites, contributing to the broader research landscape in South Florida and beyond. During their research pursuits, they collectively secured $32,230 in grant funding and research awards to bolster their work. In addition to earning their high school diplomas, they are dual-enrolled at the Wilkes Honors College and are well on their way to earning their undergraduate degrees.

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2025 Northern Campuses Awards

The Northern Campuses Awards ceremony is held annually in collaboration with the John D. MacArthur Campus and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Jupiter provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who have exhibited academic or leadership excellence. The Northern Campuses Awards also provides recognition of outstanding work and accomplishments for students, staff, and faculty on the northern campuses who have been outstanding members of the campus community.

Congratulations to this year's winners!

• Distinguished Student Award: Rebecca Stanley, Wilkes Honors College
• Owl of the Year: Allison MacKenzie, Wilkes Honors College
• Rising Star: Paige Aldred, FAU Harbor Branch
• Outstanding Student: Ellie Pfahler, Wilkes Honors College
• Undergraduate Researcher of the Year: Vincent Stafford, Wilkes Honors College
• Graduate Researcher of the Year: Ryan Eckert, FAU Harbor Branch
• Volunteer of the Year: Ashley Espinosa, Wilkes Honors College
• Student Employee of the Year: Ian Aviles, Wilkes Honors College
• Student Employee of the Year: ZaKiyah Word, Wilkes Honors College
• Intern of the Year: Grace Patterson, Wilkes Honors College
• Faculty of the Year: Michael McCoy, Ph.D., FAU Harbor Branch
• Faculty of the Year: Wairimũ Ngaruiya Njambi, Ph.D., Wilkes Honors College
• Staff of the Year: Gabby McHenry, Ph.D., FAU Harbor Branch
• Special Recognition: Michael Pontorno, FAU Dining Services
• Special Recognition: Anna Holmes, Wilkes Honors College
• Employer of the Year: The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology

Community

Brainy Days 2025

Each year, throughout the month of March, the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute presents "Brainy Days" a celebration of brain science and health. This year's program was packed with events, including evening lectures from leading scientists, a celebration of the opening of the David and Lynn Nicholson Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, and the Brain Sparks family fun event hosted by Cox Science Center and Aquarium.

Highlights include this year's keynote speaker, Sir John Hardy, Ph.D., from University College London, who shared his decades of groundbreaking work investigating the genetic source behind hereditary forms of Alzheimer’s disease and the ongoing quest to understand and halt the disease process. In addition, Dr. Andrew B. Newberg, MRI Director for FAU's state-of-the-art MRI research facility, shared his fascinating research into the neuroscience behind faith and religion.

"Brainy Days" is sponsored by Palm Health Foundation and supported by partnerships throughout the community. The annual program aims to promote brain health, share neuroscience discoveries and reduce the stigma associated with brain disorders.

Sunshine Gala

The Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute was a sponsor of the Alzheimer's Association - Southeast Florida Chapter's Sunshine Gala fundraiser, which raised over $500,000 the organization's local education, advocacy and research initiatives for those living with dementia and their families.

Featured Events

Events

Resources

Campus Virtual Tour 

Explore key Jupiter campus locations and learn about life as a Wilkes Honors College student without leaving your home.

The virtual tour takes visitors through the John D. MacArthur Campus, world-class research facilities and the Jupiter community with nearby beaches.

Tour now.

Momentum Report

FAU's Division of Research’s 2024 Annual Momentum Report underscores the university's meteoric growth in research over the last five years, driven by faculty expertise, best-in-class facilities and innovative collaborations with premier partners.

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