FINAL USA BRAIN BEE PROGRAM 2026

USA BRAIN BEE

20 26

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP

Image by Matthew Sandoval

APRIL 25, 2026 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

WELCOME! 54 BRILLIANT MINDS FROM 33 U.S. STATES GATHER FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

WELCOME TO THE 2026 USA BRAIN BEE CHAMPIONSHIP!

ABOUT THE BRAIN BEE The International Brain Bee was founded 28 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 directed

by Dr. 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. MANUELLA OLIVEIRA YASSA USA Brain Bee Director Irvine Brain Bee Director Director of Outreach and Education University of California, Irvine DR. NORBERT MYSLINSKI Brain Bee Founder Neuroscience Professor University of Maryland

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

RESPECT

HONESTY

INTEGRITY

CELEBRATING A LEGACY

Look around you.

Remember the humans and peers who fill the music in this hall with notes of flattering butterflies and fireflies.

No matter what happens, I hope that the conversations and experiences you have today will remind you to look for the synaptic connections, to look for the brilliant sky, to look for beauty in each and every moment.

CLAIRE ZHOU 2025 USA BRAIN BEE WINNER 2025 INTERNATIONAL BRAIN BEE WINNER

WELCOME TO THE 2026 USA BRAIN BEE Dear 2026 USA National Brain Bee Competitors, Congratulations to each of you on the outstanding achievement of winning your regional Brain Bee competition. It takes tremendous drive, dedication, and perseverance to reach this stage, and I encourage you to take a moment to recognize how far you’ve already come.

Our understanding of the brain continues to shape the world in profound ways, and the future of neuroscience will depend on curious, innovative, and passionate individuals like you. The Brain Bee was created to spark that curiosity and to invite you into the fascinating world of brain science.

For some of you, this experience may mark the beginning of a lifelong journey in neuroscience. For others, it may be a moment of exploration and an opportunity to better understand the very organ that makes us who we are. Whatever path you choose, I hope your time in the Brain Bee becomes a meaningful chapter of growth, reflection, and discovery.

As you begin the National Championship, remember: it’s not the outcome of the competition that will shape you most, but the moments you’ve already experienced, the people you will meet here, and the memories you will create along the way.

Enjoy the journey.

Sincerely, Manuella Oliveira Yassa, PhD Director USA Brain Bee

PROGRAM OVERVIEW FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026 (OPTIONAL) 4PM

UC IRVINE CAMPUS TOUR DESSERT SOCIAL We will meet by the Qureshey Research Building.

Scan for UC Irvine Campus Map While we won’t be providing a group dinner this evening, we encourage you to enjoy one of the wonderful nearby restaurants.

Eureka! at University Town Center 4143 Campus Drive, Irvine (across the street from the UCI campus) Shake Shack at Crystal Cove 7703 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach (for classic SoCal beach burger and shakes)

University Town Center (walking distance from campus) offers many dining options. Additionally, Fashion Island and Irvine Spectrum (a drive from campus) are great options if you plan to stay through the weekend.

Check out summer.uci.edu/visiting-irvine-resources for more local attractions

PROGRAM OVERVIEW SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 9:00 AM

Competitor/Guest Check-in Anteater Learning Pavillion

9:45 AM

Welcome and Introductions Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa, Director, USA Brain Bee Anteater Learning Pavillion

10:00 AM

ROUND 1 Neuroscience Facts & Concepts Anteater Learning Pavillion

11:00 AM

Keynote Lecture * Dr. Michael Yassa, Professor and Director, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) Anteater Learning Pavillion

12:00 PM

Lunch Anteater Learning Pavillion Courtyard

1:00 PM

ROUND 2 Practical, Clinical, Scientific Knowledge Neuroanatomy Clinical/Scientific knowledge

2:30 PM

Break & Group Photo

3:00 PM

Keynote Lecture * Dr. Julianne McCall, CEO California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Anteater Learning Pavillion

4:00 PM

Introduction of Finalists * ROUND 3 Anteater Learning Pavillion

5:30 PM

Social, Dinner, Award Ceremony * Chaperones are invited to attend the Keynote Lectures and Round 3, marked above with asterisks (*)

LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION HOTEL Sonesta Irvine John Wayne Airport 17941 Von Karman Ave Irvine, CA 92614 (949) 863-1999

EVENT VENUE University of California, Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

TRANSPORTATION Transportation will be provided from the Sonesta Hotel to the event on Saturday morning (departing at 8:15am and 8:45am) and from the event to the Sonesta Hotel in the evening (7:00pm).

If you will be driving yourself to the competition, please park in lot 7 nearest the corner of Mesa and Peltason.

Scan for UC Irvine Campus Map

KEYNOTE LECTURES

Dr. Michael Yassa

Professor and McGaugh Chair Neurobiology and Behavior, Psychiatry, and Neurology, UC Irvine

NAVIGATING CHAOS: A NEW WAY TO THINK ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Dr. Julianne McCall Chief Executive Officer

California Council on Science and Technology

YOUR BRAIN ON POLICY: Why the world needs neuroscientists in the room where it happens 2002 Regional Brain Bee Winner (Ohio) 2002 International Brain Bee 3rd Place Winner Brain Bee Advocate for over 20 years

2026 PARTICIPANTS

SATYA ACHANTI

ANIKETH AYYAGARI

Arkansas Brain Bee

Princeton Brain Bee

Arkansas

New Jersey

SHIREEN ARORA

AVEER BAWA

AZ Regional Brain Bee

Central Pennsylvania

Arizona

Pennsylvania

DEVARSH ASWIN

MARIA BERNITSAS

Pacific Northwest Brain Bee

Creighton Brain Bee

Washington

Nebraska

ANSHIKA ATLURI

NEEV BHANDARE

JMU Brain Bee

Memphis Brain Bee

Virginia

Tennessee

2026 PARTICIPANTS

NIRUPAMA BHATT

SAM GLAUNER

Brown Brain Bee

Southern Maryland Brain Bee

Rhode Island

Maryland

BOLIN DONG

KYLE GURR

UTDallas Brain Bee

Sierra Nevada SfN Chapter Brain Bee

Texas

Nevada

AARAV DOSHI

DESHAUN HAZAR HADLEY

Central Michigan

Jacksonville Brain Bee

Michigan

Florida

NATALIE GEENEN

ADAM HONG

Chicago Brain Bee

Long Island Brain Bee

Illinois

New York

2026 PARTICIPANTS

MEERA IYER

ARTINA KAZEMI

Rochester Brain Bee

Minnesota Brain Bee

New York

Minnesota

ARAV JHA

BEHRAM KHAN

SfN KC Brain Bee

Brain Bee at Virginia Tech

Kansas

Virginia

SOPHIA JIANG

NATHAN KING

Atlanta Regional Brain Bee

St. Louis Area Brain Bee

Georgia

Missouri

AANYA KARTHIK

ROSA LEE

Los Angeles

Bay Area Brain Bee

California

California

2026 PARTICIPANTS

YUMAN LI

EASON YUZE LU

Brain Bee at MSU

Newark NJ Regional Brain Bee

Michigan

New Jersey

JENSEN LIN

CALEB MALEK

Eastern Iowa Brain Bee

Houston Brain Bee

Iowa

Texas

JAYDEN LIN

ELLE MCAVEY

Brain Bee at UTMB

Vermont Brain Bee

Texas

Vermont

MUYAN LIU

LEO MENG

NEPA BrainBee

San Diego

Pennsylvania

California

2026 PARTICIPANTS

MARIAM MOHAMED

ERIC PENG

Boston University Brain Bee

Pittsburgh

Massachusetts

Pennsylvania

VISHNU MUKKU

JOSEPH PENG

Yale Brain Bee

Central Massachusetts Brain Bee

Connecticut

Massachusetts

JAYDEN NARCISO

KAYLA ROH

New Mexico Brain Bee

Irvine Brain Bee

New Mexico

California

KEVIN O'DONNELL

SIMON ROPICKI

Westchester (Burke) Brain Bee

North Central Florida Brain Bee

New York

Florida

2026 PARTICIPANTS

REYA SATAM

ARJUN SWAMINATHAN

Upper Valley Brain Bee

Michigan Brain Bee

New Hampshire

Michigan

MUSFIRAH SOHAIL

RUFEI TANG

Indianapolis Brain Bee

University of Pennsylvania Brain Bee

Indiana

Pennsylvania

CHINMAYI SHYAM SUNDAR

SAM VADIVELU

Triangle Brain Bee

Albany Regional Brain Bee

North Carolina

New York

PRANAV SUNDARRAJAN

ANYA VERMA

Tidewater Brain Bee

Central Jersey Regional Brain Bee

Virginia

New Jersey

2026 PARTICIPANTS

VIOLA VOIGT

GAVIN WILLIS

Alaska Regional Brain Bee

SLC Brain Bee Utah

Alaska

SAATHVIK VOORA

PETER YANG

Olympia Brain Bee

Baltimore City Brain Bee

Washington

Maryland

ERIC WANG South Carolina Brain Bee South Carolina

JEREMY WHITE Alabama Brain Bee Alabama

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 ORGANIZERS AND VOLUNTEERS We are deeply grateful to the following individuals at UC Irvine whose dedication and support helped make the 2026 USA Brain Bee Championship possible:

Dr. Julianne McCall CEO, California Council on Science and Technology Keynote Speaker Dr. Michael Yassa Professor and CNLM Director Keynote Speaker and Judge Dr. Eitan Schechtman Assistant Professor Judge Dr. Elizabeth Head Professor Judge

Brain Bee Organizing Committee: Dr. Morgan Coburn Dr. Erin Conway Dr. Rachael Hokenson Julie Loritch Allison Morehouse Winny Ning UCI CNLM Staff: Cecilia Szarnyasi Erynn Nassif Thien Pham

Special thanks to the CNLM Ambassador volunteers who made this event a success!

ABOUT THE PROGRAM COVER The cover of this year’s program features an image from a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience by scientists at the UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. The image shows a coronal section of a mouse brain, captured using fluorescence microscopy. In this technique, specific molecules are tagged so they emit light when excited under a microscope—here, the protein MDGA1 is shown in red and all cell nuclei are shown in blue—allowing scientists to map where proteins are expressed across different brain regions.

On the left is the official cover of The Journal of Neuroscience. On the right is a photo of the study’s first author, PhD student Matthew Sandoval, alongside his advisor, Dr. Javier Diaz Alonso, in the lab where the research was conducted.

USA BRAIN BEE

APRIL 25, 2026 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory