ABOUT THE BRAIN BEE
The International Brain Bee was founded 25 years ago in 1998 by Dr. Norbert Myslinski with a mission to build better brains to fight brain disorders. Since its inception, this neuroscience competition has inspired thousands of teens to learn about the brain and pursue careers in neuroscience-related fields. Over 25,000 teens participate in Brain Bee competitions each year around the world.
The winner of each local USA chapter is invited to participate in the annual USA National Brain Bee Championship.
The top three winners of the national championship receive monetary awards. The first place winner is invited to advance to represent the USA in the annual World Championship, held during the summer.
The USA Brain Bee is now codirected by Dr Norbert Myslinski and Manuella Oliveira Yassa. The Brain Bee is possible thanks to the hundreds of individuals around the world who volunteer their time to host local competitions.
DR. NORBERT MYSLINSKI
Brain Bee Founder
USA Brain Bee Co-Director
Neuroscience Professor University of Maryland
DR. MANUELLA OLIVEIRA YASSA
USA Brain Bee Co-Director
Irvine Brain Bee Director Director of Outreach and Education
University of California, Irvine
CODE OF CONDUCT AND RULES
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of California, Irvine is committed to providing an atmosphere that encourages free expression of ideas in a safe, positive, and harassment-free environment that is welcoming to all participants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender transition status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services. No bullying, discrimination, harassment or retaliation of any sort will be permitted at the event.
RULES
No recording (audio, visual, or written) of the competition questions or answers is allowed
A competitor is allowed to compete in the USA National Brain Bee competition only once in a lifetime
The competitor must be between the ages of 13 and 19
The competitor must not have knowledge of the confidential questions and answers before the competition
Competitors are expected to generate answers without the help of any individuals or materials
The decisions of the judges are final
CELEBRATING A LEGACY
Dear 2025 USA Brain Bee Participants,
Congratulations! You are here at the USA National Brain Bee representing your communities because you have won a regional Brain Bee competition Your curiosity and commitment to learning about the brain, and your drive to push yourselves have brought you here That’s something to celebrate and I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on how far you ’ ve come No matter what happens in the competition today, you have already shown the qualities that will carry you far curiosity, perseverance, and a passion for discovery.
The Brain Bee is so much more than a competition. It’s a community. It’s a launching point. It’s an invitation to imagine how your knowledge and passion can shape the future of neuroscience and the world. Across the country and around the world, Brain Bee alumni are making a difference as scientists, physicians, educators, and advocates. You are now part of that story, and I cannot wait to see where your journeys will take you.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Norbert Myslinski, who founded the Brain Bee nearly 30 years ago with a simple but powerful vision: to inspire young people through the wonder of the brain Today, thanks to his leadership, the Brain Bee touches the lives of thousands of students in more than 50 countries igniting curiosity, advancing knowledge, and fostering hope
I also want to extend my deepest thanks to Dr Michael Matise and the committed organizing committee at Rutgers University Their dedication and hard work have made this championship possible, and we are so grateful for everything they’ve done to welcome us to New Jersey and create a meaningful experience for all of you.
Congratulations once again. We are so proud of you, and we are rooting for you.
Sincerely,
Manuella Oliveira Yassa, PhD Co-Director, USA Brain Bee Director of Outreach and Education University
of California, Irvine
TO THE 2025 USA BRAIN BEE
Dear 2025 US National Brain Bee Competitors,
Congratulations to all of you for your exceptional achievement in reaching the Final Round of the 2025 US National Brain Bee Competition at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School!
We are delighted to welcome you to Central New Jersey for a weekend of competition and enrichment activities. We are eager to share with you our passion for neuroscience and research to help foster these interests in all of you. In a world where knowledge and learning have come under attack by powerful people, it is more important than ever to cultivate this passion in the next generation of scientists and physicians.
We seek to pass the torch of progress on to you so that the next generation will continue to build upon the remarkable gains in human health and knowledge that we have experienced in our past
Together, let us celebrate your accomplishments and look ahead with determination, secure in the knowledge that the future of science is in capable and curious hands.
Sincerely,
Michael Matise, PhD Organizer
2025 US National Brain Bee Championship
Rutgers-RWJMS
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025
(OPTIONAL)
4PM
5PM - 7PM
Registration
Refreshments and Networking
Heldrich Hotel
Merchant Amphitheatre Foyer
Panel
Heldrich Hotel
Merchant Amphitheatre
While we won’t be providing a group dinner this evening, we encourage you to enjoy one of the wonderful nearby restaurants Here are a few options to explore
Christopher’s Restaurant & Bar
The Heldrich Hotel
Tavern on George
1 block from the Heldrich
Stage Left Steak
Across the street from the Heldrich
Delta’s (Southern Soul Food)
2 blocks from the Heldrich
Ramen Nagomi (Japanese Food)
1 block from the Heldrich
Esquina Latina (Latin American Food)
Down the street from Heldrich
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025
Competitor/Guest Check-in
Great Hall
Welcome and Introductions
Main Lecture Hall
10:10 AM ROUND 1
Neuroscience Facts & Concepts
Main Lecture Hall
11:00 AM
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Lecture
Dr. Huaye Zhang
Neuroscience Research at Rutgers
Main Lecture Hall
Lunch and Poster Session
Great Hall
ROUND 2
Practical, Clinical, Scientific Knowledge
Group A: Neuroanatomy first
Group B: Clinical/Scientific knowledge first
Break 2:30 PM
3:00 PM
5:00 PM
Keynote Lecture
Dr. Max Tischfield
Impairment and restoration of the cerebrolymphatic system in aging and disease
6:00 PM
Main Lecture Hall
Introduction of Finalists
ROUND 3
Main Lecture Hall
Social, Dinner, Award Ceremony
LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION
HOTEL
Heldrich Hotel
10 Livingston Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 729-4670
EVENT VENUE
Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey 675 Hoes Lane West Piscataway, NJ 08854
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation will be provided from the Heldrich Hotel to the event Saturday morning and from the event to the Heldrich Hotel in the evening.
If you will be driving yourself to the competition, please park in lots A, B, or C. Guests must use the link that was emailed to register for the event. They must enter an email address where they will receive a confirmation. Until this process is completed their vehicles are not registered and guests may receive a citation. Special Event parking does not include metered parking or spaces marked RESERVED or GUARANTEED.
LECTURES
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH AT RUTGERS
DR.HUAYEZHANG
AssociateProfessor
NeuroscienceandCellBiology
IMPAIRMENT AND THE RESTORATION OF THE CEREBRO-LYMPHATIC SYSTEM IN AGING AND DISEASE
DR.MAXTISCHFIELD
AssistantProfessor
NeuroscienceandCellBiology
2025 PARTICIPANTS
YAHYA ALZAYYAT
Central-Mid
Michigan Brain Bee
Michigan
NAVNEETH BADHRI
Pacific Northwest Brain Bee
Washington
AMEYA BALAJI
Los Angeles Brain Bee
California
SAHARSH BANGARU
Princeton Brain Bee
New Jersey
AMIT BHATT
Iowa Brain Bee
Iowa
SHAMINI BIJU
Central Mass. Brain Bee
Massachusetts
NIVRITI CHANDRASEKAR
Oregon Brain Bee
Oregon
CHRISTIAN CHRYSSOS
Rutgers Central New Jersey Brain Bee
New Jersey
2025 PARTICIPANTS
ALEXANDRA CLARK
Southern Maryland Brain Bee
Maryland
SAMARTH DUNAKHE
Arizona Brain Bee
Arizona SHREENIK ENTURI
St. Louis Area Brain Bee
Missouri
ISABELLA FONG
Long Island Brain Bee
New York
MANU GADHIRAJU
Chicago Brain Bee
Illinois
ATUL GANESH
Brain Bee at Michigan State Univ
Michigan
VIDHA GANJI
San Diego Brain Bee
California
NAVYA GOYAL
North Central Florida Brain Bee
Florida
2025 PARTICIPANTS
QIAN (ANN)
HAN
Tidewater Brain Bee
Virginia
ELAINE HU
Philadelphia Regional Brain Bee
Pennsylvania
SOHAN
JAYAPPA
Arkansas Brain Bee
Arkansas
JONATHAN JUNG
University of Michigan Brain Bee
Michigan
NITYA KATHIRAVAN
Newark New Jersey Brain Bee
New Jersey
OLIVIA KIM
Bay Area Brain Bee
California
BHUVIKA KODALI
Albany Regional Brain Bee
New York
RIYA KOYA
Indianapolis Brain Bee
Indiana
2025 PARTICIPANTS
GRAYSEN LEE
University of Minnesota
Minnesota
JORDAN LEVIN
Norteast PA (NEPA) Brain Bee
Pennsylvania
ALLISON
LOWE
Central Florida Brain Bee
Florida
JOSHUA LUGO
Triangle Brain Bee
North Carolina
KATHLEEN MCCARGAR
New Mexico Brain Bee
New Mexico
KARTHIK NAGA
Houston Brain Bee
Texas
SOFIYA
RADLOVSKAYA
Jacksonville Brain Bee
Florida
FILIP RAMAZAN
Northern Nevada Brain Bee
Nevada
2025 PARTICIPANTS
NEELANSH SAMANTA
Pittsburgh Brain Bee
Pennsylvania
ASHWIN SARODE
Central Pennsylvania Brain Bee
Pennsylvania
JIEUNHELRENA SHIN
Creighton Brain Bee
Nebraska
NEIL SRIKANTHA
Alabama Brain Bee
Alabama
STANLEY SUEN
Irvine Brain Bee
California
KONNIE TOWNER
Alaska Regional Brain Bee
Alaska RACHEL TRUONG
James Madison Univ Brain Bee
Virginia
THEHARA UBAYAWARDENA
Rochester Brain Bee
New York
2025 PARTICIPANTS
ARCHITH VENKAT
Miami Dade Brain Bee
Florida
TARUN VENKATESH
Kansas City Brain Bee
Missouri
ARJUN VENKATESHWARAN
Boston University Brain Bee
Massachusetts
YULANIA
MOMIN WAQAR
Vermont Brain Bee
Vermont SONJA XIE
Westchester Brain Bee
New York
MATTHEW YANG
Baltimore Brain Bee
Maryland
CLAIRE
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 ORGANIZERS AND VOLUNTEERS
We are deeply grateful to the following individuals at Rutgers University whose dedication and support helped make the 2025 USA Brain Bee Championship possible:
Michael Matise, PhD Associate Professor
Organizer, Rutgers RWJMS Brain Bee
Joan Mordes Administrative Assistant
Steven Levison, PhD Professor
Organizer, Rutgers-Newark Brain Bee
Cheryl Dreyfus, PhD Distinguished Professor and Chair
Diana Glendinning, PhD Associate Professor
Aaron Milstein, PhD Assistant Professor
Roko Rasin, MD/PhD Associate Professor
Kaliris Salas, PhD Associate Professor
Huaye Zhang, PhD Associate Professor
Special thanks to the Rutgers graduate student volunteers who made this event a success!
USA BRAINBEE
MAY 2 - 3 2025
Robert