2024 Recipient: Joia Capocchi

Joia Capocchi is a 3rd year neurobiology major who conducts interdisciplinary neuroscience research with UCI MIND and UCI Microbiome. Joia’s research targets the body’s dynamic ecosystem of nervous, immune, and microbiome cells to challenge neurodegenerative disease. Her work explores how complex biological systems, including the central nervous system, and their resident cell communities can be manipulated through transplant mechanisms. Joia holds undergraduate researcher appointments in both Neuroscience and Human Microbiology, and works full-time as a research associate with UCI MIND. Outside of the lab, Joia strives to make science education and research opportunities more accessible to K-12 students through outreach and mentorship. Joia leads the development of bioinformatics teaching case studies for high school and college classrooms and mentors K-12 students as a Neuroscience Ambassador.