Josie Wong, a standout neuroscience student in the Macaulay Honors College at CSI, has been named one of the 2025 recipients of the Jonas E. Salk Scholarship, one of CUNY’s most prestigious academic honors recognizing exceptional students entering careers in medicine and biomedical research.
Wong joins a distinguished cohort of just eight students across the CUNY system selected for the award, which honors the legacy of Jonas E. Salk, the City College alumnus who developed the first polio vaccine in 1955. Awardees are chosen for their original research contributions and their promise as future leaders in medical science. They were honored at an awards ceremony yesterday at John Jay College, featuring guest speaker Dr. Ashwin Vasan, former NYC Health Commissioner
Under the mentorship of CSI Professor Probal Banerjee, Wong conducted pioneering research on sex-specific differences in anxiety reversal linked to serotonin receptor signaling in mice, a study that illuminates the critical nuances of brain chemistry and mental health. Her research paper, titled “Neonatal Role of Hippocampal Serotonin 1A Receptor Signaling: Unraveling Sex-Specific Differences Upon Activation of PKCϵ as a Means of Signaling Recovery,” was central to her selection.
Beyond the lab, Wong’s academic journey has been enriched through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), a program that supports underrepresented students in STEM. She now prepares to take the next step in her medical journey at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, carrying with her a passion for both patient care and scientific discovery.
Wong joins fellow 2025 Salk Scholars from Hunter College, City College, and other campuses, whose research spans fields from autoimmune disorders to neurodegeneration, and whose future destinations include Harvard Medical School, SUNY Downstate, and—for the first time—CUNY’s own School of Medicine, now an independent degree-granting institution.
Each Salk Scholar will receive $8,000 over four years to help offset medical or graduate school expenses. The recipients were officially approved by the CUNY Board of Trustees on May 19.
Wong will begin her medical training at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she plans to continue combining her interests in patient care and neuroscience research. Building on her work studying sex-specific differences in anxiety signaling pathways, she is committed to advancing research that can improve lives while supporting patients during their most vulnerable moments.
