Published: April 15, 2024

Lydia Rader is a graduate student in the behavioral, psychiatric, and statistical genetics program. Lydia has shown tremendous leadership both within and outside of the program. Locally, Lydia has been a research award reviewer for the Institute of Cognitive Science as well as recently selected as a Co-Senator between the graduate and professional student government and the CU Boulder student government. Outside of our program, for multiple years Lydia has been working with an award-winning creative education and outreach organization called Knowing Neurons. This organization involves scientists across multiple countries to make learning Neuroscience and Psychology accessible. As part of Knowing Neurons, she has organized local outreach events for low socioeconomic status high school and undergraduate students. Lydia also works with Project Short, which offers pro-bono pre-grad mentoring to graduate students who face barriers to PhD applications. Further, Lydia works with the National Science Policy Network leadership committee for Science Diplomacy and helps facilitate networking events in the aim of bringing communities of early-career scientists together to apply their expertise to international policy. The committee found her contributions to the home and larger communities outstanding. Congratulations, Lydia!