Taught By

Dr. Asante Kamkwalala

Dr. Asante Kamkwalala is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University with a Ph.D. in Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Kamkwalala's clinical research focuses on how trauma, aging, and chronic disease affect the brain. At Johns Hopkins, Dr. Kamkwalala manages the department's student research programs, including the Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences and the Neuroscience Scholars Program, matching young researchers with faculty mentors. With more than a decade of research and mentoring experience across Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and Emory, Dr. Kamkwalala is passionate about guiding students through research design, scientific literature, and presenting their work.

Week by Week Curriculum

Week 1: Univesity-Level Neuroanatomy & Choosing Your Research Focus

Learn the major structures and organization of the human brain, as taught in pre-med and college neuroscience courses
Study the brain's major cell types, neural networks, and how the human brain compares with other organisms
Preview the final research project and choose the brain region your independent project will focus on

Week 2: Neurotransmission & How Neurons Communicate

Master action potentials and neuron-to-neuron communication, core topics in pre-med and university neuroscience coursework
Follow signal propagation and ion flow along the neuron
Study the primary excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters and what each one does

Week 3: Research Methods & Developing Your Research Question

Survey the fields of neuroscience and the model systems and study designs professional researchers use
Develop a strong, original research question and learn how to interpret research results
Read and summarize a peer-reviewed neuroscience journal article

Week 4: Brain Diseases, Disorders & Clinical Neuroscience

Review the symptoms and pathology of common neurological and psychological diseases
Explore how brain disorders are managed in medicine and the role of neuroplasticity
Build your research project with live feedback and Q&A from your Johns Hopkins mentor

Week 5: Neuromedical Technology & Project Development

Evaluate real, fake, and future technologies used to study and understand the brain
Refine your research project with mentor guidance and Q&A during project work time
Finalize a polished research presentation slide deck

Week 6: Final Research Presentations & Next Steps

Present your independent neuroscience research project to your mentor and peers
Celebrate your work and wrap up the program
Plan next steps for pursuing neuroscience research in high school, with a final open Q&A with your mentor

Neuroscience Research with Johns Hopkins Professor

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