The Grass Foundation Trustees have selected the recipients of the 2025 Henry Grass Rising Stars in Neuroscience Award: Christian Cazares, Ph.D., and Eddy Albarran, Ph.D.
Cazares is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego, working in the lab of Professor Bradley Voytek, Chair of the Department of Cognitive Science. Cazares investigates cognition through the lens of neurodevelopmental disorders, and aims to identify biomarkers that can inform the diagnosis, prediction, and management of cognitive disability in those disorders. In addition to this research, Cazares works tirelessly to support underrepresented students and engage local communities in neuroscience. As a first-year graduate student he founded Colors of the Brain, a mentorship initiative that improves access to STEM graduate education. He went on to establish BrainBorders with funding from The American Society for Cell Biology, offering bilingual neuroscience education in Calexico. Building on those successes, he co-founded Community and Science Advancements in Spanish to promote science dissemination to the San Diego/Baja California community through monthly Spanish language research seminars.
Albarran is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University, working with Professor Rui Costa, Professor of Neuroscience and Neurology at Columbia University and President and the CEO of Allen Institute; and Professor Darcy Peterka, Director of Team Science and Scientific Director of Cellular Imaging at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute. Albarran investigates how synaptic-level changes translate into complex behaviors and has developed a novel optical brain-machine interface that directly controls dopamine release while monitoring neuronal and synaptic activity. As a first-generation scientist, Albarran has a deep commitment to mentorship, as he has experienced the importance of representation and the transformative impact of role models. As a graduate student at Stanford University he served as a member of the Neurosciences Graduate Program’s Diversity Committee and co-led community-building initiatives aimed at fostering a sense of belonging among prospective underrepresented students. He also mentored first-generation students through the ADVANCE Summer Institute and the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program, which welcomes high school students to perform basic research with Stanford faculty. Now at Columbia University, Albarran mentors high school students in the BRAINYAC program, which provides underserved youth across New York City with hands-on research experiences.
“Drs. Cazares and Albarran exemplify the purpose of the Henry Grass Rising Stars Award in Neuroscience,” said Matthew McFarlane, Ph.D., President of The Grass Foundation. “Their outstanding scientific achievements are matched by their deep commitment to mentoring the next generation and advancing equity in the field. By recognizing their work, we celebrate not only their individual accomplishments, but also their positive and lasting impact on the broader neuroscience community.”
The Henry Grass Rising Stars Award in Neuroscience focuses on retention and promotion to encourage diverse scientists at postgraduate levels to persevere in academic research. Awardees receive a cash award in addition to mentorship and professional support from the Foundation’s network of alumni.