Neuroscience

Tyler Alexander (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Mechanism of short-term pre-synaptic plasticity in dorsal root ganglion neurons”
Advisor: Manuel Covarrubias, MD, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3

Rachel Cain (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “”
Advisor: Matthew Dalva, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3

Lara Cheslow (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “”
Advisor: Scott Waldman, MD, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3

Haani Jafri (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Elucidating the Role of Synaptic Nanomodules in Synapse Organization and Function”
Advisor: Mathew Dalva, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4

Gabrielle Spagnuolo

Thesis Title: “Downregulation of the purinergic receptor P2Y1R promotes neuroprotection after ischemic injury in rats via non-cell-autonomous mechanisms”
Advisor: Lorraine Iacovitti, PhD
Current Position: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Dr. Iacovitti's Laboraotry

Joshua Barton (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Regulation of the Gut-Brain Axis by Guanylyl Cyclase C”
Advisor: Scott Waldman, MD, PhD

Current Position: Resident (PGY-1), Duke University

Alison DePew

Thesis Title: “Presynaptic LRP4 directs synapse development and cytoskeletal organization at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction”
Advisor: Timothy Mosca, PhD

Layla Ghaffari

Thesis Title: “Neuronal excitation-driven gene expression in C9orf72-linked ALS/FTD”
Advisor: Aaron Haeusler, PhD

Jordyn Karliner

Thesis Title: “Investigating the molecular mechanisms of neurite loss in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy”
Advisor: Diane Merry PhD

Michael Aimino

Thesis Title: “Synaptic development in different olfactory neuron classes uses distinct temporal and activity-related programs”
Advisor: Timothy Mosca, PhD

Matthew Byrne

Thesis Title: “Interactions between genetics, protein, and inflammation in modeling synucleinopathies”
Advisor: Richard Smeyne, PhD

Bridget Curran

Thesis Title: “Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Guidance of Bifurcating Sensory Axons During Development”
Advisor: Le Ma, PhD

Vibol Heng (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Neurobiological and Behavioral Characterization of Adult Male and Female Mice in Prolonged Social Isolation”
Advisor: Richard Smeyne, PhD

Elana Molotsky

Thesis Title: “THE IMPACT OF ANDROGEN RECEPTOR POLYGLUTAMINE EXPANSION ON THE MOTOR UNIT IN SBMA: NMJ PATHOLOGY, MOTOR UNIT VULNERABILITY, AND NEUROFILAMENT DYSREGULATION”
Advisor: Diane Merry, PhD

Andrew Nelson

Thesis Title: “Altered brain glucose metabolism drives disease in C9orf72-ALS/FTD”
Advisor: Davide Trotti, PhD

Eric Brown

Thesis Title: “Differential activation of pain circuitry neuron populations in spinal cord injury induced neuropathic pain”
Advisor: Angelo Lepore, PhD

Nicolette Heinsinger

Thesis Title: “Modulating EphBs in the dorsal horn attenuates neuropathic pain after cervical spinal cord injury”
Advisor: Angelo Lepore, PhD

Brandie Verdone

Thesis Title: “Understanding the consequences of dipeptide repeat protein formation in C9orf72 ALS/FTD”
Advisor: Piera Pasinelli, PhD
Current Position: PostDoctoral Fellow/ IRACDA Posdoctoral Scholar, Department of Biomedical Engineering/Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Brittany Charsar (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Respiratory axon plasticity drives recovery of diaphragm function after spinal cord injury”
Advisor: Angelo Lepore, PhD
Current Position: PGY-3 Resident, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia                 

Rogan Magee (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Addressing Computational and Experimental Questions on tRNA-Derived Fragments (tRFs) to Define New Roles in Cell Behavior and Human Disease”
Advisor: Isidore Rigoutsos, PhD
Current Position: PGY - 3 Resident, Neurology, University of Pennsylvania

Sean O’Sullivan (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “The Effect of Alcohol and Opioid Withdrawal on Single-Cell Glia and Neuronal Gene Expression in the Visceral Emotional Neuraxis“
Advisor: James Schwaber, PhD

Benjamin Yang (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Investigation of molecular mechanisms mediating MAP7 function in axon branching”
Advisor: Le Ma, PhD
Current Position: PGY-3 Resident, Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson

Jonathan Gorky (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “THE EMERGENCE OF CARDIOPROTECTION FROM THE BRAIN-GUT-HEART NETWORK”
Advisor: James Schwaber, PhD    

Dante Merlino (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Two distinct GUCY2C neuronal pathways in the hypothalamus and midbrain”
Advisor: Scott Waldman, MD, PhD

Tanziyah Muqeem (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: "The role of Kv3.4 channels in the neurotransmission of pain"
Advisor: Manuel Covarrubias, MD, PhD

Nathan Henderson

Thesis Title: "Trans-synaptic coordination of synapse development and plasticity: A focus on ephrin-B3 and PSD-95"
Advisor: Matthew Dalva, PhD    

Lauren Rosenblum (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: "Alternative Pathway of EAAT2-Mediated Toxicity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis"
Advisor: Davide Trotti, PhD

Thomas Westergard

Thesis Title: "Dipeptide Repeat Proteins Associated With C9ORF72 ALS/FTD: Understanding How They Are Made And How They Potentiate Disease"
Advisor: Davide Trotti, PhD

Jason You (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Epigenetic regulation of hippocampal function and cognition in Alzheimer's disease”
Advisor: Jeannie Chin, PhD