Brain Seminar for Teens and Opportunities for Research Mentorship (BrainSTORM)
Program Overview
BrainSTORM Components
The BrainSTORM Program introduces high school students to the study of the brain through both clinical and research perspectives, including fields such as neurology, neuropsychology, and neuroscience. It is composed of two programs: a monthly seminar open to all students and an application-based research mentorship program.
For more information, please contact us by email: brainstorm@cumc.columbia.edu.
More Information on the Lecture Program
More Information on the Mentorship Program
Stephanie Cosentino, PhD
Program Director
Dr. Cosentino is a Professor of Neuropsychology in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, and Department of Neurology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Cosentino’s laboratory focuses on the cognitive, behavioral, and metacognitive profiles of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD). Her ongoing work examines the predictive utility of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) for AD and the utility of cognitive screening among women across the spectrum of peri-menopause through post-menopause. Dr. Cosentino is deeply committed to mentoring trainees of all levels. In addition to directing the BrainSTORM program, she directs the ADRC Research Education Component (REC) training program for early career scientists.
Sandra Rizer, MA
Program Coordinator
Sandra is the Coordinator for the BrainSTORM Program, as well as the Lab Manager for Dr. Stephanie Cosentino's lab. Sandra attended the University of New Haven, where she received a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Criminal Justice. She attended Montclair State University, where she received an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. Sandra oversees multiple research studies spanning multiple areas of research on aging, including longevity, women's health, screening, essential tremor, Alzheimer's Disease, and more. Her expertise is in cognitive assessment, and she often travels to train and certify researchers at many collaborating institutions.
Jagger Kaye
BrainSTORM Student Representative
Jagger is a senior at The Weber School in Atlanta, Georgia, and a recent BrainSTORM student. Since completing the program in 2025, she has remained closely involved with BrainSTORM, helping organize its annual student symposium and contributing to the planning, coordination, and continued growth of the program. In her current role, Jagger helps shape the student experience, organize program initiatives, and connect current and prospective students with BrainSTORM opportunities and resources. She also serves as a student point of contact for BrainSTORM and welcomes questions about the program, research opportunities, and getting involved.
Jagger is particularly interested in the prevention and early detection of neurodegenerative disease, with a focus on preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. She will present findings from her BrainSTORM project, investigating whether subjective cognitive concerns can help identify cognitive decline before it becomes clinically apparent, at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. She is also preparing a manuscript for publication in a scientific journal. Through both her research and her work with BrainSTORM, Jagger hopes to make neuroscience research more accessible to students and encourage them to explore the field firsthand.
BrainSTORM is funded by the Groff Foundation. The program is based at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), as part of the Department of Neurology and the Taub Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain. BrainSTORM is also affiliated with Columbia University’s Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.