Featured Scholar
Jonathan Alevy
Jonathan Alevy, PhD Candidate 2024 Toffler Scholar | Neuroscience PhD Candidate at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine FIND ME ON BIOGRAPHY Jonathan Alevy didn’t grow up in one place-or follow a single path. Born in Venezuela, raised in the Caribbean, educated in France, and now conducting research in the United States, his journey has…
Read MoreDevon Graham
Devon Graham, PhD 2024 Toffler Scholar | Assistant Professor, Florida State University FIND ME ON BIOGRAPHY Born and raised in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Dr. Graham grew up as the eldest of four siblings in a conservative, deeply religious household. While her environment didn’t explicitly encourage scientific exploration, her natural curiosity and love of reading hinted…
Read MoreElizabeth Rose Mayeda
Elizabeth Rose Mayeda, PhD, MPH 2024 and 2019 Toffler Scholar | Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, UCLA FIND ME ON Biography Elizabeth Rose Mayeda does not begin with the brain. She begins with people—where they grow up, the opportunities they receive, and the structures that shape their lives long before disease appears. Her work sits at…
Read MorePaul Chung
Paul Chung, DO 2024 Toffler Scholar | Physician–Scientist in Sleep Medicine, Northwestern University FIND ME ON Biography Paul Chung did not follow a straight line into medicine. His path unfolded through curiosity, detours, and a steady pull toward understanding people in context. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, Chung grew up immersed in community,…
Read MoreNdubisi (Mark) Chikwem
Ndubisi (Mark) Chikwem, MD, PhD 2024 Toffler Scholar | Clinical Fellow in Cognitive Neurology, Columbia University FIND ME ON Biography Dr. Chikwem’s path into neurology was shaped early by family influences and lived experience, inspiring admiration and respect for his dedication. Raised in a household where education mattered deeply, he grew up watching his father,…
Read MoreRachel Bennett
Rachel Bennett, PHD 2025 and 2024 Toffler Scholar | Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital FIND ME ON A Spark in the Desert Dr. Rachel Bennet’s scientific path began far from the bustling research labs of Harvard or the icy winters of Boston. She grew up under the clear desert skies…
Read MoreKimberly Paul
Kimberly Paul, PhD 2024 Toffler Scholar | Assistant Professor, University of California, Los Angeles FIND ME ON Biography Kimberly Paul grew up in Southern California, where an early fascination with biology and human health began to take shape. A Los Angeles County native, she spent her childhood observing the rhythms of everyday life in a…
Read MoreLaurie Bayet
Laurie Bayet, PhD 2024 Toffler Scholar | Assistant Professor of Psychology, American University FIND ME ON Biography Laurie Bayet’s scientific curiosity took shape early and expansively. As a child growing up in southwestern France, she felt drawn to understanding the natural world in all its forms. Her interests shifted constantly. When she learned about ancient…
Read MoreMicaelly Alves
Micaelly Alves, PhD Candidate 2025 Toffler Scholar | Neuroscience, Temple University FIND ME ON Biography Micaelly Alves grew up between two worlds. Born in Philadelphia to a Brazilian family, she spent much of her childhood moving between the United States and Brazil, shifting languages, schools, and cultures as her parents searched for connection and belonging.…
Read MoreKatherine Turk
Katherine Turk, MD, PhD 2025 Toffler Scholar | Assistant Professor of Neurology, Boston University FIND ME ON Biography Katherine Turk traces her scientific identity to a single afternoon in college. As an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, she enrolled in a required science course taught by a practicing neurologist. One day, the professor brought…
Read More