DJ Brasier

DJ Brasier is an Associate Teaching Professor and Assistant Department Head for Graduate Affairs in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University’s Mellon College of Science. He specializes in Systems Neuroscience and neuroscience education. Brasier holds a B.A. in Biology & Philosophy from Rice University, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. in Neurosciences from UC San Diego. His postdoctoral training includes roles at the University of California, San Francisco and the Salk Institute.

His research emphasizes integrating neuroscience education with undergraduate research, as seen in his co-authored publications on pedagogical strategies and neuroscience literature guides. Brasier advises student organizations including the Sciences Teaching Club, NeuroSAC, and Nu Rho Psi Honor Society. He also serves as CMU’s faculty advisor for IMPULSE: The Premier Undergraduate Neuroscience Journal, mentoring students in peer-reviewed publication processes.

Brasier contributes to academic programs such as the M.S. in Computational Biology as Assistant Director. His work bridges scientific rigor with educational innovation, focusing on how students engage with experimental design, data interpretation, and communication of scientific findings.