Director | Professor of Teaching | Co-Founder of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience

Steven J. Barnes (he/him/his) is well-regarded for his work related to online learning technologies (e.g., the Tapestry Project; see tapestry-tool.com), student mental health and wellbeing, and bipolar disorder (BD). Steven is deputy co-lead of the Collaborative RESearch Team to study psychosocial issues in BD (CREST.BD; see crestbd.ca), a BD research and knowledge exchange network which received the 2018 CIHR Gold Leaf Prize for Patient Engagement, Canada’s most prestigious recognition for patient engagement in research across all health disciplines.

Department: Psychology

Professor | Co-Founder of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience

I am interested in the functional analysis of transmembrane and secreted Semaphorins in the developing nervous system. We also examine the mechanisms that underlie directed cellular motility. My lab is currently working on three main projects: (1) Intracellular signaling during neurite outgrowth and sprouting, (2) Identification of small molecules that stimulate neurite outgrowth and regeneration, and (3) Examination of the role of semaphorins during embryonic development.

Department: Cellular and Physiological Sciences (CPS)

Professor | Co-Founder of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience

My research program investigates the roles that glia play in the development and function of the nervous system. Glia are known to fulfill a number of important functions during nervous system development. Glia help guide axon guidance, separate axons bundles in nerves and finally wrap and insulate their associated axons and nerves. The molecules and mechanisms that mediate these roles of glia are not well understood. Yet knowing how glia function is important given the essential role that glia play in the nervous systems of all animals. Any mutation or disease that disrupts glial cell function or development results in disruption of nervous system function and can lead to paralysis or death of the animal.

Department: Zoology

Faculty Member

Dr. Hagar Goldberg is a neuroscientist, educational and leadership consultant. She is driven by her passion for neuroscience dissemination and supporting students harnessing their neuroplasticity to maximize their learning and growth. Her multidisciplinary work combines methods and theories from neuroscience, psychology, education and group facilitation. In her research and teaching, she explores the behavioural and neuronal mechanisms of human learning, neuroplasticity, neurodiversity, empathy, and creativity.

Department: Psychology

Sessional Instructor and Graduate Neuroscience Curriculum Assistant

Achol Jones is a graduate of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, now doing her PhD in Interdisciplinary studies in the intersections of neuroscience, psychology, and education. She integrates research, teaching, and curriculum development to advance equity-driven and learning-centred education. Her focus in teaching is to build neuroeducation-informed learning environments where students are excited to engage in the process of learning.

Department: Interdisciplinary Studies

Undergraduate Neuroscience Program Manager and Academic Advisor

Department: Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience

Neuroscience Academic Advisor

With a background in Communications and Public Relations, Livia brings nine years of advising experience in Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at UBC. She joined the Neuroscience program in 2025 on a part-time basis and is dedicated to mentoring students as they navigate their academic and career journeys. Outside of work, Livia enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with her son and their cat.

Department: Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience

Neuroscience Lab Technician

Negin is a lab technician for the NSCI300 course, supporting lab operations, student learning, and equipment maintenance. She ensures a safe and efficient lab environment while helping students develop essential scientific skills.

Department: Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience

Strategic Plan Committee Co-Chair

Ethan is a fifth-year student in the Cellular and Molecular stream. He currently Co-Chairs the UPN 2027-2037 Strategic Planning Committee with Steven Barnes. In addition to this, Ethan has served on the UPN EDI-D Committee since 2025 and chaired this committee over the 2025-2026 academic year.

Department: Psychology

Administrative Assistant

Lexi is the Administrative Assistant for the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience (UPN) and a PhD candidate in Cell and Developmental Biology at UBC. Her doctoral research investigates the spatiotemporal functions of neurodevelopmental disorder risk gene orthologs. She brings her research and academic experience to supporting UPN students, faculty, and program initiatives.

Department: Cell and Developmental Biology

Graduate Neuroscience Curriculum Assistant

Nicole is a PhD candidate in the Behavioural Neuroscience program. She completed both her BSc and MA in Psychology at UBC. Nicole’s research focuses on characterizing cortico-striatal and amygdalar circuits that control different aspects of appetitvely motivated behaviours, from simple reward learning to more complex forms of decision-making such as decisions related to reward uncertainty, or risk.

Department: Psychology

Junior Neuroscience Curriculum Assistant

Mehar is a fourth-year student in the Behavioural and Cognitive stream. She has held several roles focused on curriculum, teaching, and student leadership. These include Curriculum Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Peer Tutor, and Co-Chair of the EDI-D Committee. Through these roles, she works to advance accessible, inclusive, and student-informed learning at UBC. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.

Events Co-Director

Heba is a 5th year student in the Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience stream. She has previously served in the UBC Neuroscience Association, helping to run events connecting students, and continues to do so now as an events director. Outside of classes, she can be found working out at the gym, reading a good book, or drawing whatever comes to mind.

Events Co-Director

Asha Hui is a 5th year student in the Behavioral & Cognitive stream of the UPN. She has previously supported the student body through roles she held in the UBC Neuroscience Association. She is currently an events coordinator, connecting students to peers, faculty, and professionals in neuroscience-related fields.

Professor | Co-Founder of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience

Dr. Liisa Galea is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and a member of the Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She is also Health Advisor to VPRI, Lead of the Women’s Health Research Cluster and a Scientific Advisor for the Women’s Health Research Institute. Her research investigates how sex hormones influence brain health and disease in both females and males. The main goal of her research is to improve brain health for women and men by examining the influence of sex and sex hormones on normal and diseased brain states such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

Department: Psychology

Graduate Research Assistant, Curriculum Development

I am driven by the challenge of describing and understanding how the nervous system functions. The brain is one of the least understood organs in the body and also one of the most interesting ones to study. It’s often described as the last frontier of science, so it’s exciting to take part in discovering how our nervous system works.

Department: Graduate Program in Neuroscience

Work Learn Program Assistant, Front-End Web Developer and Graphic Designer

I am interested in the design of smart systems, most particularly, in deceptively simple systems that behave intelligently and robustly. I am driven by my passion for understanding and consolidating the often conflicting intersections between the values and frameworks of technology and society, addressing the types of issues this tension can produce, from unintuitive UX to serious ethical concerns.

Program: Cognitive Systems

Senior Neuroscience Curriculum Assistant

Elena is a graduate of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience. During her time with the program, she helped to design NSCI courses, redeveloped and maintained the UPN website and created instructional resources for students and faculty. Elena is now doing her Master’s degree in neuropharmacology.

Program: Pharmacology

Events Director

Navneet is a graduate of the Neuroscience program, specializing in cellular and molecular neuroscience. She planned and organized multiple events for the undergraduate neuroscience program while working in collaboration with the Undergraduate Neuroscience Association. She also planned the graduation gala for the first graduating cohort of the program!

Program: Public Health