the hippocampus academy
was created to build a community of students in the mind and brain sciences who wish to expand and share their learning beyond the classroom.
Mission
The brain sciences is one of the top majors for undergraduates, but what you learn in the classroom is often disconnected from the real world.
Students also don't have access to the same specialized classes across schools and research experience is expected but feels nearly impossible to achieve.
We witness too much gatekeeping.
Community
The Hippocampus Academy is all about anti-gatekeeping.
We are scholars from UC Berkeley, MIT, Harvard and beyond who aim to build an inclusive community of young learners and provide access to elite mind and brain science content minus the elitism, while anchoring the sciences to the real world.
meet our team
These are the brains that power The Hippocampus Academy.
Dr. tsai
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Hi! I'm Dr. Tsai and I'm the lead instructor at THA. I am a proud alum of UC Berkeley, Harvard University, and UC Irvine where I recieved my degrees in cognitive neuroscience and learning sciences. I am passionate about conducting research and teaching in the brain sciences, and am lucky to do both at MIT and Harvard College. My goal is to help make the brain sciences more relevant to you (applied to the real world!) while also increasing accessibility to all students, anywhere in the world. I love this work because I want to help students feel like they too can be neuroscientists!
Fun Fact: I've held some random jobs including a dishwasher in Thailand!
joshua r.
head of career center
Hi! My name is Joshua R. and I am a second-year at Brown University concentrating in Cognitive Neuroscience. My hobbies include rock climbing, learning languages, and eating yummy food. I'm the Head of the Career Center! I currently host the Mind at Work podcast, and my goal is to help students get a better sense of the career possibilities in neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, and other brain-adjacent fields. I love this work because I get to practice graphic design, audio editing, and learn about new careers as I interview guests.
Fun Fact: I lived in Tokyo when I was younger!
ALEXA M.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Hello! My name is Alexa M. and I am a second year at UC Berkeley majoring in psychology! Hobbies I love include photography and videography, writing in my diary, sitting in nature, reading, and exploring. I am the Creative Director of our team! My goal is to create witty and relatable stickers, notebooks, tote bags, and more for psychology-loving students. I love the work that I do because it allows me to combine my creative personality with my passion for psychology!
Fun Fact: I love animals and am really good friends with the campus squirrels.
Sophie t.
Head of Conversations
Hi, my name is Sophie T. and I'm a second-year at UC Berkeley majoring in Psychology with a minor in Public Policy. My hobbies include collaging, photography, hiking and reading. My goal is to create thoughtful and relatable videos about mental health through my project Mind If I Ask, where I ask students candid questions on the street. I love this work because it lets me combine my creative side with my passion for psychology, making conversations about mental health more open, real, and accessible.
Fun Fact: I translate Soviet Archive! I am the Creative Media Intern.