Congratulations go to our Integrated Masters student, Haady Brendan Hajar, who has recently been accepted to the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Scholars Programme for 2022.

The BNA Scholars programme was launched at the beginning of January last year, and has enjoyed a year of success. The programme was created in consultation with BNA members and others interested in improving equity, diversity and inclusion in neuroscience, to support students from currently under-represented ethnic groups in neuroscience and build a supportive community within the discipline and the BNA.

Now in its second year it has been expanded in response to feedback from the inaugural cohort, and offers students a mentoring scheme, networking opportunities, and membership to both the BNA and (Federation of European Neuroscience Societies) FENS, as well as funding towards conferences.

Brendan is currently working in the Gigg Lab, taking his MSci final year project on deficits in object and social memory in the 3xTg mouse model for Alzheimer’s disease, Brendan believes he has much to gain from the opportunities that this award will present.

Commenting on his award Brendan said: “Having a mentor who can guide me through the various steps of the daunting PhD application process will be incredibly valuable. Being able to present posters at the BNA Festival of neuroscience and FENS will provide me with one of a kind opportunities to network and increase the impact of my research. Overall, I feel that being a part of the BNA scholars programme will help me feel more at ease in the research world whilst simultaneously providing me with many opportunities to become more confident in my academic work.”

• Find out more about the scholarship programme.