Neuroscience

Debotri Chatterjee (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: "Induction of parkinsonian pathology by different strains of SARS-CoV-2 in mice"
Advisor: Richard Smeyne, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3

Samantha Thomas (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: ""
Advisor: Angelo Lepore, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3

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 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4

Rachel Cain (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “”
Advisor: Matthew Dalva, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4

Lara Cheslow (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “”
Advisor: Scott Waldman, MD, PhD
Current Position: MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4

Victoria Baccini

Thesis Title: “A Novel Cis Interaction Between Postsynaptic EphB2 and ephrinB3 Regulates Cortical Neuron Development During Synaptic Target Selection”
Advisor: Matthew Dalva, PhD

Haani Jafri (MD/PhD)

Thesis Title: “Elucidating the Role of Synaptic Nanomodules in Synapse Organization and Function”
Advisor: Mathew Dalva, PhD
Current Position: Resident (PGY-1), UMPC, Anesthiology

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

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-2), 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 Postdoctoral 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-4 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 - 4 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: Instructor/Phyisican, University of Pennsylvania