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Two Indian Americans are among the 2024 cohort of Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience, announced by the The New York Academy of Sciences and the Leon Levy Foundation. It was initiated by the Foundation in 2009 that has supported 170 fellows in neuroscience. Deepak Kaji and Adithya Rajagopalan were among the nine scholars who were competitively selected for a three-year term from a broad pool of applications from more than a dozen institutions across New York City that offer postdoctoral positions in neuroscience.
Deepak Kaji, MD, PhD, is recognized for using 3D organoids and assembloids to model abnormal protein accumulations and aggregations in the brain, a characteristic of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Deepak Kaji completed his BA in Economics and Biological Sciences at Cornell University. During his undergraduate years, he completed an honors thesis utilizing bioengineering techniques to study cardiac development. He completed his MD/PhD at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Adithya Rajagopalan is recognized for examining how neurons within the brain’s orbitofrontal cortex, combine input from other brain regions to encode complex properties of the world that guide decision-making. Currently a postdoctoral associate in Dr. Christine Constantinople’s lab at NYU’s Center for Neural Science, Rajagopalan received a PhD in Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus, in the lab of Dr. Glenn C. Turner.
This highly regarded postdoctoral program supports exceptional young researchers across the five boroughs of New York City as they pursue innovative neuroscience research and advance their careers toward becoming independent principal investigators.
Shelby White, founding trustee of the Leon Levy Foundation, said, “For two decades, the Foundation has supported over 170 of the best young neuroscience researchers in their risk-taking research and clinical work. We are proud to partner with The New York Academy of Sciences to continue to encourage these gifted young scientists, helping them not only to advance their careers but also to advance the cause of breakthrough research in the field of neuroscience.”
Nicholas Dirks, the Academy’s President and CEO said “Our distinguished jury selected nine outstanding neuroscientists across the five boroughs of New York City involved with cutting-edge research ranging from the study of neural circuitry of memory and decision-making, to psychedelic-based treatment of alcohol and substance abuse disorders, to the chemical communication of insects, to the use of organoids to study Alzheimer’s, to vocal learning research in mammals. We are excited to be working with the Leon Levy Foundation to welcome this new group of young neuroscientists to the Academy and the Leon Levy Scholar community.”
The Scholars program includes professional development opportunities such as structured mentorship by distinguished senior scientists, and workshops on grant writing, leadership development, communications, and management skills. The program facilitates networking among cohorts and alumni, data sharing, cross-institutional collaboration, and the annual Leon Levy Scholars symposium held in the Spring of 2025.
