Andrew Riquier, of Chaplin, Connecticut, a student in neuroscience and behavior in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Riquier is testing a drug therapy protocol targeting immune cells of the central nervous system that could lead to future prevention and treatment of developmental neural connectivity disorders such as autism. During early brain development, the immune cells known as microglia are crucial for the pruning and maturation of neural connections. Microglia dysfunction and inadequate pruning have been linked to the development of autism spectrum disorder. Riquier’s research will be conducted with laboratory rats.

His faculty mentor is Dr. Suzanne Sollars.