Neuroscience at Saint Louis University

05/28/2026

Hello! My name is Kelsey (Fraley) Pfeiffer. I am a SLU Alum, Class of ‘22 with a B.S in Neuroscience.

Since graduating, I moved home to Wisconsin and have worked for the past 4 years in the field of neuropsychology as a psychometrist. Basically, I work under a doctor of neuropsychology as their technician. The doctor does the interviewing, diagnosing, and report writing. I administer paper and pencil based tests to patients, testing areas such as IQ, cognition, memory, executive function, attention, and impulsivity, all while taking behavior observations.

My first job after graduating SLU was testing adults 18+ for things like ADHD, learning disabilities, and neurological injuries; but the majority of the testing I did was for elderly patients with dementia. I also went to a prison to administer a neuropsych evaluation on an inmate. For the past two years, I have been testing kids ages 5-23 for things like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and mood disorders.

Truthfully, this was not the career path I intended. I went to SLU to become a neurologist. I realized during my time at undergrad that medical school was not in the cards for me. It was hard to come to terms with, but instead I found a field that I am so incredibly proud to be a part of and passionate about that I didn’t even really know existed until I started job hunting my senior year. I am so grateful to my job and the purpose it gives me. I truly feel like I’m making a difference in people’s lives, trying to set them up for successful futures.

My advice for current students would be to keep your mind open to all the possibilities the world has to offer. There are so many different kinds of career paths you could pick. Yes, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it is NOT a failure to change your mind. Because you never know what’s waiting on the other side of the door.

05/27/2026

Calling all SLU Neuroscience Alumni! Where are they now? Is a spotlight series we run to share the accomplishments of our alumni. If you would like to participate, please send your story to [email protected] along with a current photo.

05/20/2026

The Biology/Neuro Awards Ceremony was held on Friday, May 16. During that event, Pranavi Athota received the Dr. William S. Stark Undergraduate Research Award. The Dr. William S. Stark Undergraduate Research Award was established in 2019 to recognize Emeritus Professor Stark's exemplary contributions the Neuroscience program. The award honors a graduating neuroscience student who has demonstrated excellence in research. Dr. Baker-Nigh also recognized the Spring 2026 Nu Rho Psi graduates. Congratulations to everyone!

05/19/2026

Meet our Graduates! Nathan Sewell, Class of 2026

"Hello everyone! My name is Nathan Sewell and I’ll be graduating with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor is Chinese. After graduation, I will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with a focus on Cognitive Neuroscience here at SLU. I am super excited to be sticking around SLU for a few more years!"

"My biggest piece of advice would be to do more of what makes you happy. I quickly learned my sophomore year that going into medicine was not the path for me and would not make me satisfied in the long term. Therefore, I pivoted and found that research was much more gratifying for me! So, do not fear the things that you are interested in or the things that make you happy just because they may not be what the majority of people are doing. Focus on what makes you smile now and happiness it may bring you in the future. Those who enjoy what they do, never work a day in their life!"

05/19/2026

Graduate Riya Aradhyula gave the student address during commencement on May 16, 2026.
“SLU has become the place I had never known I needed, and that's because of all of you,” she said. “When I think about these past four years and what has made me so proud to be a Billiken, I find that it all stems from how our mission runs through the veins of everything we are and everything we create.”

Aradhyula, who majored in neuroscience, spent time at SLU as a member of Oriflamme and the SLU 101 First-Year Experience team. She said that during meetings with incoming students, the No. 1 question she was asked was what makes SLU special.

“This community, this family, is what makes me proud to be a Billiken,” she said.

Aradhyula said she learned a lot at SLU, both in and out of the classroom. She said all the lessons learned at SLU have prepared the class of 2026 to succeed.

“Coming here, I thought I knew what the world expected of me, and that determined my next steps,” she said. “SLU has surrounded me with passionate people who are ignited because they firmly believe in the work they are doing and find joy in it.”

Photo by Sarah Conroy. https://www.slu.edu/news/2026/may/spring-2026-commencement-james-gunn.php

05/18/2026

Meet our Graduates! Pranavi Athota, Class of 2026
"Hello! My name is Pranavi Athota, and I’ll be graduating with a B.S. in Neuroscience and B.A. in Bioethics & Health Studies this spring. I’ve greatly enjoyed my time at SLU and hope other students can make the most of their college experience as well. After graduation, I’ll be pursuing a medical degree at Harvard Medical School.

My advice to current students is to focus on building and maintaining strong relationships with faculty, staff, and upperclassmen. I'm extremely grateful to my mentors who have supported me during my time at SLU and guided both my personal and professional growth. You never know what opportunities may open up simply from asking questions or reaching out for advice!"

05/15/2026

Meet our Graduates! Devnanda Manjunadh , Class of 2026
“Hi everyone! After graduation, I’ll be working as a medical assistant and preparing to attend the SLU School of Medicine in 2027. SLU gave me so many opportunities academically and professionally, but some of my favorites are honestly the simpler ones like going to random campus events with friends, making pottery, or picnicking. My advice for students is to prioritize balance. Work hard and challenge yourself, but also make time for the people and activities that genuinely make you happy.”

05/15/2026

Congratulations to Gabby McCarthy and the rest of the 2026 Neuroscience graduates. Enjoy your day, you earned it!

05/12/2026

Meet our Graduates! Damara Stevens, Class of 2026
“I am starting at SLU School of Medicine in July! I am sad to see my time at SLU come to an end, but I am excited for the next journey. My biggest piece of advice is to not compare your journey to others. There is no perfect route to any goal in life and everyone’s journey will look different. Keep your head up and just keep moving forward!”

05/11/2026

05/07/2026

Meet our Graduates! Richa Nakrani, Class of 2026

"Hi everyone! My name is Richa Nakrani, and this spring, I will be graduating with a Neuroscience, B.S. Degree. After graduation, I will be attending SLU School of Medicine. I am so grateful for all the experiences this place has given me and excited to continue my education at SLU for the next 4 years! My favorite memories have been meeting some of my closest friends here and getting the chance to study abroad and travel the world with them!

To those who have not graduated yet, my advice is to take advantage of opportunities when they come up, even if you are not fully sure about them. You never really know what you will end up liking or becoming passionate about until you actually give things a try, and sometimes the most unexpected opportunities turn out to be the most rewarding!"