University Scholar
OUR Supply Award Fall 2015, Fall 2016
SURF Fellow Summer 2016

Honors Scholar
Presidential Scholar 2013-Present
New England Scholar 2014, 2015
Homer Babbidge Scholar 2016
OUR Supply Award Fall 2015
University Scholar
Phi Beta Kappa (honors society) 2016-Present

University Scholar
Honors Scholar
Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Spring 2016 
Babbidge Scholar Spring 2015, 2017
SURF Fellow Summer 2016
Lt. Paul Drotch Memorial Scholarship Recipient Spring 2015
OUR Supply Award Fall 2015, 2016

Shannon May bio:

Shannon has a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience with a specialization in Biochemistry from the University of Rhode Island where she researched in the labs of Dr. Jodi Camberg, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Dr. Nasser Zawia, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. As a graduate student, Shannon researched protein misfolding in Alzheimer’s disease and focused on understanding the role of AAA+ chaperone protein interactions with misfolded proteins, aggregated proteins, and amyloids. Currently, Shannon is researching stem cell dynamics in the ventricular-subventricular zone neural stem cell niche and investigating the effects of ventricular enlargement and hydrocephalus on neural stem cell-mediated repair mechanisms, proliferation, and differentiation in the ventricular-subventricular zone niche.

Awards: Graduate Student Fellowship, George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island; Enhancement of Graduate Research Award (EGRA) Grant, University of Rhode Island; Poster Prize at the Rhode Island Alzheimer’s Association Conference, 2015

Undergraduate Major: Neuroscience
Undergraduate Institution: Connecticut College, – New London, CT

Accolades
2017 Mentorship Excellence Award
2016 IBACS Graduate Fellowship

Spring 2017 IBACS Undergraduate Research Fellowship
SURF Fellow Summer 2017

Major:     Physiology and Neurobiology
Minors:   Molecular and Cell Biology &
Health Care Management and Insurance Studies

Accolades
University Scholar
Honors Scholar
Spring 2017 IBACS Undergraduate Research Fellowship
New England Scholar 2016

Bio
Ben is a junior pre-medical student from Shrewsbury MA, looking to study neuro-musculoskeletal medicine and to receive his MBA in Healthcare Management. He was recently recognized as a University Scholar for his research efforts in the Conover laboratory, where he currently uses mouse models to study the development of the lateral ventricles. Specifically, he focuses on tracking the lineage of the neuroepithelial stem cells in the V-SVZ stem cell niche. The main goal of his research is to evaluate the mechanisms of normal and hydrocephalic brain development using spatiotemporal characterization of stem cell differentiation in order to progress the research in this area and to provide clinical practitioners with the knowledge necessary to enhance treatments for and diagnoses of hydrocephalus. In his free time, Ben enjoys running, hiking, snowboarding, biking and many other outdoor activities. He is a member of the UConn Marching Band and Pep Band and is a member of Engineering Ambassadors, an organization that inspires young students to pursue STEM related careers. Upon graduation from UConn he plans to pursue a one year course work masters degree before entering into medical school.

Honors Scholar
OUR Supply Award Spring 2016
New England Scholar
Alpha Eta Mu Beta National Biomedical Engineering Honors Society (AEMB)

LSAMP Scholar 2013-2016
Travel to Conduct Research Award Recipient 2015

3D Modeling of the Lateral Ventricles and Histological Characterization of Periventricular Tissue in Humans and Mouse

The Subventricular Zone Microenvironment and Its Regulation

An Analysis of the Association Between Ependymal Integrity and Ventriculomegaly

Midbrain Dopamine Neurons and Adult Neurogenesis

The Effects of Aging and Injury on the Murine Ependymal Barrier and Subventricular Zone

Age-Related Changes to the Subventricular Zone Stem Cell Niche