STEM Perspectives

The K-12 STEM Center follows all University guidelines for protecting students, families, teachers, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and USC reopening attempts. Learn More.

STEM Perspectives will no longer be offered and future updates will be posted on the page.

STEM Perspectives is a USC student-led 6-8 week program that provides high school students with the opportunity to explore different “perspectives” in STEM not usually taught in their classrooms. Outside of the subject taught, the program features guest speakers who expose students to other STEM-related fields and careers. The leadership, team work, communication, and research skills taught in this program help students apply these skills to formulate a better plan for their future goals and careers.

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Program Design

Discontinued until further notice.

The program provides students with an introduction to basic neuroscience including the
anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous system and explores common
neurological disorders
The latter half of the program will introduce students to scientific research in the field of
neuroscience
The program terminates with teams of students presenting a research article in order to
complete and obtain certification from the program
There will be a session with a guest lecturer from a USC professor conducting
neuroscientific research
Click here for the program flyer and registration
Program dates: June 21st-July 26th (Wednesdays 4-5pm)

The program provides students with an introduction to basic neuroscience including the
anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous system and explores common
neurological disorders
The latter half of the program will introduce students to scientific research in the field of
neuroscience
The program terminates with teams of students presenting a research article in order to
complete and obtain certification from the program
There will be a session with a guest lecturer from a USC professor conducting
neuroscientific research
Click here for the program flyer and registration
Program dates: February 15th-March 30th (Thursdays 5-6pm)

The 2nd Session of Fall 22 Program will provide high school students with the opportunity to understand public health and research in the field.
The focus of this course will be on studying the determinants of health on micro and macro level and research methods in the field of public health.
Other related topics will include the role of the pandemic, social influence, environmental factors, and lawmaking in regards to public health.
Participants will receive certificates upon completion of the program.

The Fall 22 Program will provide high school students with the opportunity to understand human brain function and
research in the neuroscientific field.
The program will start on September 15th and will last 6 weeks. Students will meet weekly on Zoom and will present literature review projects at the end of the program with an emphasis on scientific research and collaboration.

The Summer 2022 program led by USC STEM students, we will be providing high school students with opportunities geared towards understanding public health.
The focus of this course will be on studying the determinants of health on micro and macro level and research methods in the field of public health.

Other related topics will include the role of the pandemic, social influence, environmental factors, and lawmaking in regards to public health.
Participants will receive certificates upon completion of the program.

The summer 2021 program will start the first week of June consisting of weekly 1-1.5 hr meetings. The exact weekly meeting day is TBD and the program will last 8 weeks.
The summer program will focus on providing the students with the opportunity to learn about the nervous system and explore published research papers in the neuroscientific field.
The students will also gain access to various guest speaker events as well as resources provided by the K-12 STEM Center and make valuable connections with USC student mentors and faculty.

The program this semester has focused on teaching around 80 students about neuroscience with a deeper understanding of research methods. Students have created their own presentations ranging from “addictive gambling” to “glioblastoma multiforme”.
The program has also had several guest speakers. Dr. Stephen from USC Gerontology and Janelle Wellons from NASA JPL have shared their experiences working in the STEM field.

The fall program focused on Neuroscience and neuroscientific research.
Over 25 students from high schools across LAUSD gained an understanding of the nervous system, and applied this knowledge to learning about neurological disorders.
At the end of the program, they all created presentations on published peer-reviewed research papers.
Presentations had a broad focus on neuroscience and the brain, ranging from artificial intelligence to social neuroscience.

The program was piloted in the Fall of 2020 and encourages participants from any high school through a fully virtual environment by using Zoom as the main platform for
communication.

Students attend weekly sessions and complete projects that teach them skills in scientific research and public speaking.

This program provides the unique opportunity for close mentorship among USC Neuroscience student instructors and collaboration among students.

Students gain access to various guest speaker presentations with different backgrounds in STEM related fields.

“My favorite part about the program was exploring careers in STEM, having a better
understanding of neuroscience, and learning information I didn't know about the brain
before”
“I liked that it was made to feel like a little family and it really opened my eyes to a possible career in the future that I had never even thought of.”

Founder and Previous Director

^{Program Creator and Director}

^{Hi I’m Rojan,

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Piano Performance. I created STEM Perspectives to provide students the opportunity to explore topics not normally accessible in a classroom setting, and to collaborate with professionals in the STEM field. I encourage students to learn about research methodology since it is an important aspect of any career. My current research is focused on Alzheimer’s Disease at Gerontology Pike Lab to identify risk factors in relation to sex differences and genotypes. In my free time, I enjoy performing in piano festivals, reading, and painting.}
Rojan Javaheri

Our Staff

^{Program Coordinator (naksi@usc.edu)}

^{Hi I’m Sumiya,
I’m a junior majoring in Neuroscience. I’m involved in Trojan Event Services, Trojan Adventuring Party, and STEM Perspectives on campus. Fun fact, I used to be a student in the STEM Perspectives Neuroscience program when I was in high school. I was a TA for this program last year and enjoyed teaching what I have learned and got promoted to Coordinator.}
Sumiya Naksi

Past Volunteers

^{hnmurray@usc.edu}

^{“Hi I'm Haylie! I am a freshman at USC majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in German. I am passionate about research and aim to get my PhD in the future. Developmental disorders are particularly interesting to me and I have experience working in the lab researching fetal hydrocephalus. In my free time, I enjoy painting, going for picnics, and cooking/baking. ”}
Haylie Murray

^{ireed@usc.edu}

^{“Isabel is from Portland and hopes to become a doctor. She is a senior at USC studying neuroscience with a minor in forensics and criminality. Her research studies motor development and examines early intervention for infants with or at risk for developmental delays. She loves reading, trying out new recipes, and searching for the best cafe in Los Angeles.”}
Isabel Reed

^{avdejesu@usc.edu}

^{Hi I’m Alethea de Jesus,

I’m a senior majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in The Dynamics of Early Childhood. I
joined the STEM Perspectives program because it grants me the opportunity to serve others
through my two passions–science and teaching! My current research focuses on air pollution
effects on adolescent brain development with the Herting Lab at USC}
ALETHEA DE JESUS

STEM Perspectives