By Serena Lin ‘25
When I joined Pomona College, I didn’t imagine that my academic journey would intertwine neuroscience and design thinking, leading to a project like Uplift Notes. Yet, it’s this liberal arts approach—one that encourages mixing disciplines and reimagining boundaries—that enabled me to innovate and pursue a deeply meaningful (& fun!) path.
I chose the neuroscience major because of how people-oriented it is. Yes, we study neurons, cells, and synapses, but we also grapple with the emotions, challenges, and social dynamics that influence human health. I was especially drawn to how neuroscience interfaces with education and emotional well-being—something I saw firsthand in my family’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease, which has affected my late great-grandfather and great-aunt. It’s staggering to learn that 5.8 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s, including nearly 50% of Americans over the age of 85, yet current treatments largely focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing its root causes. This realization sparked a desire to think beyond clinical approaches and explore social tools for connection and engagement.
When I took my first Human-Centered Design (HCD) course at The Hive, led by Fred Leichter, I found the perfect synergy between neuroscience and design thinking. It was a hands-on, iterative process that encouraged me to identify real-world problems with empathy and develop innovative solutions. These principles provided additional skills for me to create Uplift Notes, a conversation-starter toolkit aimed at bridging generational gaps and fostering connection, particularly for individuals with cognitive challenges like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Over the past six years, and more than 1,000 hours of testing and refinement, I’ve worked alongside professors, alumni, and elders to bring my vision to life.
Pomona’s network of incredible faculty made this process possible. My thesis advisor, Professor Jonathan King, along with Professors Karen Parfitt, Shannon Burns, Elizabeth Glater, Richard Lewis and Lise Abrams—all leaders in neuroscience and cognitive science—provided valuable insights on neurodegenerative diseases and the human aspect of memory. I also learned about the entrepreneurial process from Professor Jane Liu in the Chemistry Department, and took inspiration from alumni like Daniel Gibbs ’73, a neurologist with deeply personal experiences battling Alzheimer’s himself. Sharing Uplift Notes with communities like Pilgrim Place, a local retirement center, and even during Pomona’s Alumni Weekend further enriched the project.
I was amazed at how many alumni across fields supported my work. From filmmakers to museum curators to MBAs, spanning classes from 1951 to 2024, this project benefited from the broad interdisciplinary strength of Pomona’s network. That spirit of collaboration is quintessentially Pomona—where students are encouraged to explore across disciplines and lean into opportunities for learning outside their major.
In addition, this project would not have been the same without the support of my fellow peers. From testing Uplift Notes to attending my thesis workshop (on the day that thesis was due for many of them!), hearing the laughter & encouragement, along with being inspired by their own projects, helped me to keep going. I also got the opportunity to guest lecture at the Hive, and this environment of collaborative learning strengthened my wisdom while adding enjoyment.
Looking back, I’ve come to appreciate how my winding academic journey—experimenting with majors like public policy analysis and science, technology, and society before landing in neuroscience—helped me approach challenges with creativity and flexibility. Through this process, I learned that science itself has limitations, but combining it with empathy, design thinking, and human connection can create tools with real-world impact.
This taught me to embrace iteration, as every experiment shaped the final result. For those considering a liberal arts education, don’t underestimate the power of multidisciplinary learning to spark innovation you never thought possible.
You can find more coverage about this ongoing initiative in this Pomona Website Article, the Hive Newsletter or in the Spring 2025 “Creativity” Edition of the Pomona College Magazine.