Summer Springboard
Psychology & Neuroscience
ON THE CAMPUS OF UC SAN DIEGO
EXPLORE THE HUMAN MIND AND BRAIN THROUGH PSYCHOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE
Psychology & Neuroscience
- Discover how psychologists and neuroscientists study human behavior and the brain.
- Conduct a mock clinical diagnosis based on case studies.
- Visit the Neuroscience Institute at UC San Diego.
- Explore current topics in abnormal and cognitive psychology.
- Engage in discussions about real-world mental health challenges.
- Learn from professionals in psychology and neuroscience fields.
Summer Springboard
Psychology & Neuroscience
About This Course
The adult human brain weighs approximately 3 pounds making up less than roughly 2% of a person’s body weight, yet it defines our humanity and makes us the individuals that we are – and yet no two are the same.
The brain is responsible for the generation of language, thought, attention, consciousness, memory, imagination, and more. But how? And what makes certain people in society behave one way, and others another? Nothing is more fascinating and mysterious than the inner workings of the brain and human psychology.
In Summer Springboard’s Psychology & Neuroscience course on the campus of UCSD, students will explore these fundamental questions and more. Our course will explore the anatomy of the human brain, how it functions, and how that correlates and influences human behavior.
Students will learn about how the brain works, how that affects behavior such as social dynamics, emotions, personality, mental illness, and how psychologists study them. Students will get to construct their own miniature psychology theory, design/run an experiment to test it, and present findings to the class.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students apply psychological and neuroscientific concepts through engaging activities like case study analysis, group projects, and a mock clinical diagnosis.
Career Exploration
Students gain insight into potential career paths by meeting professionals in the fields of psychology and neuroscience and touring research facilities.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“I had a great time! I was able to get a lot of freedom as a rising sophomore in high school. I was able to meet people from all over the world, network and cultivate long lasting friendships. Showed a lot of interesting things about myself and future career and college plans. Thanks SSB @ UCSD!”
– Remy K. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Psychology & Neuroscience
Meet Your Instructor
Session 1
Dafna is a fourth-year clinical psychology student in the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.
Her research examines the intersection of substance use, HIV prevention/treatment, and stigma, with a particular focus on racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities. She has co-authored numerous publications and presented her findings at both national and international conferences.
Prior to her doctoral studies, she managed a SAMHSA-funded addiction fellowship at Yale University, where she advocated for reform in addiction treatment, especially for racial and ethnic minorities.
Clinically, Dafna specializes in treating substance use, trauma, and relationship challenges. Outside of academia, she co-directs a San Diego-based harm reduction and syringe service nonprofit for unhoused individuals, where she educates stakeholders on evidence-based harm reduction strategies.
DAFNA PALTIN
“Overall this is one of the best camp experiences I have had! I’ve learned so much from this 2 week course (at UC San Diego) and made so many new connections with many different people!!”
– Naveen N. | Alumni Student
Meet Your Instructor
Session 2
Dr. Seraphina Solders (she/her) is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Neurosciences Department at UC San Diego (UCSD).
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Biology with the Honors Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies from San Diego State University (SDSU), and her Ph.D. in Neurosciences from UCSD. Her current research focuses on the role of the blood-brain barrier in aging and its contributions to Alzheimer’s disease risk.
Broadly, she is interested in the brain changes that occur with aging and risk factors that promote neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, and her overarching goal is to improve our understanding of modifiable lifestyle factors that contribute to pathological aging so we can help our communities live long, healthy lives.
Dr. Solders has also been tutoring or teaching for as long as she has been working in research, and has experience working with high school, college, and graduate students. Currently, she teaches Foundations of Neuroimaging for psychology students at SDSU.
SERAPHINA SOLDERS
Meet Your Instructor
Session 3
Heidi Kraft earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the UC San Diego/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology.
She joined the Navy during her internship at Duke University Medical Center and went on to serve as both a flight and clinical psychologist. Dr. Kraft left active duty in 2005, after nine years in the Navy. She is board certified in clinical psychology, and currently works as a lecturer at San Diego State University, where she teaches Psychopathology, Stress, Trauma and the Psychological Experience of Combat, Health Psychology, and Field Placement.
Dr. Solders has also been tutoring or teaching for as long as she has been working in research, and has experience working with high school, college, and graduate students. Currently, she teaches Foundations of Neuroimaging for psychology students at SDSU.
DR. HEIDI KRAFT
Summer Springboard
Psychology & Neuroscience
Dates & Tuition
| 2025 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 29 – July 11, 2025 |
| Session 2: July 13 – July 25, 2025 |
| Session 3: July 27 – August 8, 2025 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,698 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: San Diego |
| State: California |
| Campus: UC San Diego |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.