Authors

Victoria is a Neuroscience PhD candidate in Dr. Josh Gold’s lab studying decision-making. She is interested in when we flexibly change our decision strategies in response to changes in the environment, and how the brain gets it done. When not working she loves to be outside, preferably near a body of water, and enjoys traveling and nature photography. 

Eve is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at UPenn in the lab of Dr. Natali Chanaday where she studies the role of calcium channels in synaptic plasticity and neurological disease. When she’s not in lab, you can find Eve walking dogs, enjoying a book and matcha at a coffee shop, lounging in Rittenhouse park, or making miscellaneous art/crafts. 

Nita is a Neuroscience PhD student working in both the Betley and Machado labs. She is interested in different types of motivation, and her research examines and compares the brain circuits that drive an animal to run under different conditions (ex: spontaneous vs escape). In her free, Nita enjoys swimming, running, and knitting on the couch while listening to an audiobook.

Anna is a neuroscience PhD student in Dr. Richard Phillips’ lab. Her research project focuses on myeloid cell infiltration and differentiation in glioblastomas. In her free time, Anna enjoys staying active through running and dance, and trying different almond croissants in the city.

Serena is a Neuroscience PhD student at Penn interested in the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease. She is also curious about how neurons can regrow following neurodegeneration or injury. When not in the lab, Serena loves anything that will allow her to explore the outdoors. She also enjoys trying out new recipes in the kitchen and honing in her creative side through painting.

Abby is a Neuroscience PhD student at Penn interested in studying how different regions of our brain are used to perform the same action depending on our internal state (e.g. whether we are hungry, thirsty, sleepy, lonely, happy etc.). When she’s not in lab, you can find Abby doing yoga, cooking new recipes, exploring Philly, or squealing over cute animals.

Omer is a PhD student at Penn with a background in how the brain regulates social behavior and competition. Outside of lab, Omer enjoys gardening, sci-fi, and biking along the Schuylkill river.

Margaret is a neuroscience PhD student interested in using neuroimaging to study the basis of psychiatric disorders. She can often be found in coffee shops, listening to comedy/paranormal podcasts, or doting on her dog, Sasquatch. 

Stephen is a neuroscience PhD student interested in translational neuroscience with a focus on Alzheimer’s, gut-brain communication, and psychedelics.  After obtaining his BA in neuroscience from Hamilton College in 2020, he completed a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.  When not in the lab, Stephen is likely outside engaging in activities like hiking, skiing, and backpacking, or can be found brewing his next beer.

Andrew is a neuroscience PhD student in at Penn. He is broadly interested in circadian rhythms, sleep, the gut-brain axis, innate behaviors, neuroimmunology, and neurodegeneration. Beyond the lab, you can find him in the kitchen cooking, tending to his various plants, rollerblading and longboarding, and hanging out with his dog, Bruno. 

Carly is a Neuroscience PhD student in the lab of Dr. Matthew Kayser at UPenn. For her thesis, she is studying the impact of sleep and neurodevelopmental genes on neurodegeneration and repair. When she isn’t in lab, Carly loves reading, running, singing, and spending time with her adorable pit bull Kiska.

Hayley is a Neuroscience PhD student broadly interested in neuroimmunology. Her work in Dr. Richard Phillips’ lab focuses on uncovering the mechanisms of T cell infiltration in glioblastoma. Outside of the lab, Hayley enjoys reading, running along the Schuylkill river, crocheting, and checking out new restaurants in Philly.

Carris is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. Her work focuses on understanding the cell biology of the KIF1A motor, and how its trafficking affect neuronal pathways. Her hobbies are weight lifting and taking her dog on walks!

Lucas Tittle is a PhD student in the labs of Dr. Guillaume de Lartigue and Dr. Kevin Bolding. His research is at the intersection of the olfactory system and gut-brain axis, and how external signals like odors and internal signals interact to change feeding behavior.

Emma is a Neuroscience PhD student at Penn in the labs of Dave Wolk and Sandy Das. Her work focuses on using neuroimaging to model resilience and vulnerability to normal aging-related brain changes. Outside the lab, Emma can be found cooking and baking up a storm or rewatching 2000’s romcoms.