The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently highlighted MIT graduate student Mingus Rae Zoller in a front-page feature.
She was awarded a new Gilliam fellowship funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Through the HHMI Gilliam Fellows Program, Zoller will focus on studying Alzheimer's disease and potential treatments.
She will also receive support to advance understanding of this neurodegenerative disease.
The Gilliam fellowship provides resources for Zoller and her advisor at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory to raise awareness of the challenges posed by neurodegenerative diseases, particularly among disadvantaged populations who may struggle to access adequate healthcare due to financial constraints.
In her second year of graduate study in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Zoller has been exploring research questions aimed at addressing the complexity of Alzheimer's disease.
Zoller's research will investigate how 40Hz stimulation affects the activity and gene expression of resident immune cells, building on new results and previous findings.
Zoller, who previously studied neuroscience at Reed College, mentioned that her participation in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Application Assistance Program and the Women+ of Color Project enabled her to help numerous scientists from underserved backgrounds improve their academic writing skills and develop compelling statements of purpose for their graduate applications.
Zoller also expressed her desire to establish a club at MIT to support students who are caring for loved ones with neurodegenerative diseases and facing financial challenges that may hinder their ability to provide care.
Reflecting on the honor of being part of the Gilliam community, Zoller emphasized the unique opportunity to build lifelong connections with individuals who share similar backgrounds and aspirations.
She described it as an incredibly supportive network that will be valuable throughout her personal and professional journey.
With a new Gilliam Fellowship from @HHMINEWS, graduate student Mingus Rae Zoller will be working to advance understanding of #Alzheimers and increase equity and inclusion in science.https://t.co/Hn2UDcPlpO @mitbrainandcog @ScienceMIT
— MIT Picower Institute (@MIT_Picower) July 9, 2024
In 2022, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) renamed a program in honor of Freeman A. Hrabowski, the former president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
The Freeman Hrabowski Scholars program is a nearly $1.5 billion initiative aimed at cultivating a diverse scientific workforce.
Over the next 20 years, HHMI plans to appoint and support up to 150 early-career faculty as Freeman Hrabowski Scholars, with 30 Scholars appointed every other year for the next decade.
Each Scholar will hold a five-year appointment, renewable once with evaluation, and receive up to $8.6 million over ten years, including full salary, benefits, a research budget, and scientific equipment.
Additionally, Scholars will participate in professional development programs to enhance their leadership and mentorship skills.
With these resources, Scholars will be well-positioned to advance their scientific research and foster an equitable and inclusive lab environment that values diversity.
HHMI expects the Scholars to become leaders in their field and believes that this program will benefit everyone working in their labs, laying the foundation for their future success in science.
