Defense Info — Yasmine Bassil

After 6 years of research, I am excited to invite you to my Neuroscience PhD Defense! I would love to celebrate this milestone with all who have been in community with me so far — friends, family, co-workers, study participants, community members, and anyone interested in the research being presented. See below for details.

— Yasmine

About the Research

How do we find our way around, and what changes as we get older? One of the earliest signs of aging-related cognitive decline is a shift in how people navigate their daily environments. With age, we tend to rely on memorized routes and body-based cues — such as “turn left at the stop sign” — rather than forming flexible, map-like mental representations of their environment. Understanding this shift could help identify early markers of cognitive decline, and that’s what this research is all about.

Yasmine will be presenting her work on understanding the aging navigational system, using virtual reality, neuroimaging, and other multimodal neuroscience techniques. She welcomes you to join her as she shares what she’s learned about how we find our way over time.

What to Expect: The Defense

This is a public, community-facing lecture — no neuroscience background needed. Friends, family, neighbors, and anyone curious are warmly welcome.

The defense will begin with an introduction from Yasmine’s advisor, Dr. Michael Borich. Yasmine will then present her dissertation research (~45 minutes), followed by audience Q&A. The full public session lasts about an hour.

After the Q&A (~1:00 PM), the audience will be asked to step out as the private defense commences between Yasmine and her committee. Meanwhile, guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments in the lobby (see Reception details below).

HSRB-I Auditorium

No dress code Non-flash photography & video permitted Phones on silent Family friendly

Joining Virtually?

Zoom Link

Join the defense remotely via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting →

Time Zone

The defense begins at 12:00 PM in Atlanta (EDT / UTC-4).

7:00 PM in Beirut (EEST / UTC+3)
8:00 PM in Dubai (GST / UTC+4)

What to Know

Please keep your mic muted during the presentation. Questions will be opened up after the talk — feel free to use the chat anytime.

What to Expect: The Reception

HSRB-I Café (just outside the auditorium)

Light refreshments & cake Non-alcoholic drinks Champagne Family friendly

Following the defense Q&A (~1:00 PM), guests are invited to the reception in the HSRB-I café, located right outside the auditorium. Light refreshments will be available throughout.

From 1:00–2:00 PM, Yasmine will be in her private defense with her committee. Please enjoy the food and mingle during this time — no need to wait quietly!

Around 2:00 PM, Yasmine will join the reception to celebrate with everyone. The reception runs through 4:00 PM. Stay as long as you’d like!

Getting There

Health Sciences Research Building I (HSRB-I) Auditorium

Emory University

1760 Haygood Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30322

Brumley Bridge crosswalk entrance to HSRB-I

HSRB-I entrance at the Brumley Bridge crosswalk

Finding the HSRB-I Building

The defense will take place in the Health Sciences Research Building I (HSRB-I), located at 1760 Haygood Dr NE, in the Auditorium. The entrance for the auditorium is in between the two large HSRB buildings, near the Brumley Bridge, at the crosswalk (pictured to the left).

Take this path upwards and take the staircase or ramp (pictured to the right, circled) to arrive to the proper entrance. We will have signs along the way to show you the direction to the auditorium.

Please try to arrive at least 15 minutes early, as the building doors require keycard access to be let in. There will only be someone to let guests in until 12:00PM sharp. If you arrive later than that, text 805-469-0624 to notify someone to let you in.

HSRB-I staircase / ramp to entrance

Transportation

Parking

If you are driving yourself to Emory’s campus, there are two convenient visitor parking decks near the venue (~11 min walk). Please see below for parking deck names, addresses, parking fees, and walking directions from each parking deck to the venue.

Option 1 Michael Street Parking Deck

Heads up: The deck has multiple entrances. Make sure to use the entrance labeled Visitor Parking on Rollins Way — that’s the visitor lot.

Michael Street Parking Deck location map

Parking Rates

Fees apply Monday–Friday, 7am–5pm · Lost ticket fee: $25

0–15 minutesFree

15 minutes – 1 hour$7

1–2 hours$9

2–3 hours$11

3–4 hours$13

4–24 hours$15

Walking Directions: Michael’s Street to Venue (~11 min walk) ▾

Walking directions from Michael Street Deck to HSRB-I

If you parked in the Michael Street Parking Deck, you will exit the deck and turn left (head east) down Michael’s Street until you reach Clifton Rd NE. Then, you will turn right (walk south) down Clifton Rd NE. Very soon after, turn left to walk down Haygood Dr NE. You will walk down the road until you see the Emory Brumley Bridge (pictured above). Take the staircase on the left before the bridge, which will lead you to the proper entrance doors.

Option 2 Lowergate East Parking Deck

Lowergate East Parking Deck location map

Hospital / Clinic Parking Rates

Lost ticket fee: $25

0–30 minutesFree

30 minutes – 1 hour$7

1–3 hours$9

3–4 hours$11

4–7 hours$13

7–24 hours$15

Walking Directions: Lowergate East to Venue (~11 min walk) ▾

If you parked in the Lowergate East Parking Deck, exit the deck area and walk back to the main road, turning right (heading north) on Clifton Rd NE. After some walking, you’ll reach Haygood Dr NE and turn right. Then, you’ll head down Haygood Dr NE until you see the Emory Brumley Bridge (see “Getting There”). Take the staircase on the left before the bridge, which will lead you to the proper entrance doors.

Walking directions from Lowergate East Deck to HSRB-I

Public Transit

If you are taking public transit to Emory’s campus, please see below for the nearest bus stops and shuttles.

$2.50 one-way MARTA trip

Bus Stop

Clifton Rd NE & Haygood Dr NE · servicing MARTA Buses #11 and #15

~5 min walk to HSRB-I

Free parking + shuttle service

Emory South DeKalb Commuter Shuttle

South DeKalb Mall · 2801 Candler Rd, Decatur, GA 30034

Commuter transit service between the South DeKalb Mall free parking lot and Emory’s Atlanta Campus, with limited stops in between. Parking at the South DeKalb Mall is near the Firestone tire store. Drop off on Emory campus at the Emory Woodruff Memorial Research Building (~8 min walk from venue).

More info & stop times →

Rideshare

Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare dropoff is at the main address for the venue: 1760 Haygood Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Rideshare options often drop passengers off at the building entrance on Andrews Circle, which is NOT the entrance that we will be standing at to let you into the building. Since building entrances require an Emory ID to enter, please make sure that you walk around the building to the entrance indicated above (see “Getting There”).

The correct entrance for the building for the defense is on Haygood Dr NE. There will be signage outside showing you to this entrance.

Dissertation Committee

Michael Borich, PT, DPT, PhD

Advisor

Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University

Thackery Brown, PhD

Committee Member

School of Psychology,
Georgia Tech

Shella Keilholz, PhD

Committee Member

Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech & Emory University

Annabelle Singer, PhD

Committee Member

Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech & Emory University

Joe Nocera, PhD

Committee Member

Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University

RSVP

If you plan to attend, please RSVP so we can plan refreshments and seating accordingly. You’ll be able to indicate whether you’ll join in person or virtually, and whether you’ll stay for the reception.

RSVP for the Defense →