2009 Pew Scholar Wins Young Investigator Award from Society for Neuroscience

The Society for Neuroscience will present 2009 Pew biomedical scholar Diana Bautista with its Young Investigator Award for 2014 at its annual meeting Nov. 15 to 19 in Washington.

As an assistant professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California, Berkeley, Bautista focuses on how neurons allow us to experience sensations such as pain and taste. She has used innovative models—such as the reaction to spicy food or investigations of the star-nosed mole—to explore the field of sensory neuroscience.

The Young Investigator Award recognizes noteworthy contributions by independent young researchers studying the brain’s mechanisms. The Society for Neuroscience will also present the award to Feng Zhang, an investigator at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Drs. Zhang and Bautista are two young neuroscientists who have demonstrated remarkable dedication to their work,” said Carol Mason, president of the Society for Neuroscience. “Their creative research is advancing their respective fields, and their commitment to helping other scientists succeed is an inspiration to us all.”

Learn more about Pew’s biomedical programs.