Over the past 40 years, Nicholas Spitzer has repeatedly broken new ground in neuroscience. He has revolutionized our understanding of neuronal plasticity—the way the brain changes in response to changes in the environment in order to generate appropriate behaviors—which has led to insights into the origins of neurological and psychiatric disorders. He currently serves as Director of the Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind at UC San Diego, and works to support and enhance the field of neuroscience on campus and in the community.