Sumana Shrestha is a PhD student at the Institute of Cancer Research, London. She currently studies the childhood brain tumour “Medulloblastoma”, and during her PhD, she hopes to create a more robust and comparable disease model for this cancer type. She is super excited about her project in which she will be using novel stem cells to develop a cerebellar organoid system amongst other in vitro/in vivo systems. Out of work, she loves teaching science to students, and exploring all the amazing restaurants in London! For more about Sumana's research and experience, please visit her full profile.

Gil Torten is currently in his 4th year of his Ph.D. at UCLA. His research is particularly interested in vision, specifically in the maintenance and function of the rod photoreceptor cell in the retina, with a focus on utilizing new technology in microscopy to better understand this complex cell. While Gil spends a bit too much time in the lab, he is also passionate about art and has been working with clay in some capacity for over 15 years - see his work on his Instagram: @tortenceramics. In the future, Gil hopes to utilize his training in science communication to get the newest scientific information to the right people!

Melis Cakar is currently pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at UCLA. She received her BA in Neuroscience, with a minor in French, from Pomona College. Her research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie sensory over-responsivity in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Melis is interested in bridging ASD research in humans and animal models to provide insight into the etiology of the disorder. Outside of research, Melis spends her time singing, trying out new recipes and reading.

Kayla Lim is currently pursuing a PhD in Physiology at UCLA, where her research is focused on investigating the neural circuits underlying affiliative social behaviors. Before discovering her interest in neuroscience, Kayla went to a specialized arts high school training to be a professional dancer. In a turn of events, she went on to receive Bachelors degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology. She believes that art and science are a lot more similar than others let on, and continues to find creativity in both. Outside the lab, Kayla enjoys getting others excited about science and occasionally spends too much time testing out new recipes.

Federica is in her third year of PhD at Imperial College London. Her work focuses on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), the two most common types of dementia in people above 65. Both diseases are characterized by the presence of pathological aggregates that affect neurological functions. Her aim is to understand the mechanism of formation of such aggregates, hopefully aiding in the development of a new drug target! Outside the lab, she loves being involved in science communication projects with younger audiences and drawing science related content for the media.

Sneha Chaturvedi is a MD-PhD student at Washington University School in Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Her research focuses on sex differences in neurodevelopment, including work on autism spectrum condition. Sneha is also a part of the American Medical Women’s Association where she leads a team of volunteers to create content on sex and gender differences in various medical conditions. In her personal time, she enjoys painting murals, watching scary movies with friends, and taking her dogs to the dog park. For more about Sneha’s research and other interests, visit her profile.

Vidya Saravanapandian graduated with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA and an M.S in Biotechnology from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Peyman Golshani at UCLA. Vidya is passionate about studying brain development and exploring ways to understand and treat neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Her research investigates changes in sleep physiology in NDDs and how these changes may contribute to poor cognitive and developmental outcomes, and bridges clinical research and research in animal models to understand NDDs. Outside of research, Vidya serves as a neuroscience outreach coordinator and has been closely working with the LAUSD schools to bring neuroscience education and awareness to K-12 children in low-income/low-opportunity communities around the Los Angeles neighborhoods. In her free time, Vidya loves baking and exploring new hiking trails.

Yang-Sun Hwang started her Neuroscience PhD program at UCSF in 2022. She was first driven into neuroscience by the question, ‘how do collections of cells give rise to unique individuals?’ During her undergraduate studies in microbiology, this question inspired her to start a master’s thesis in systems neuroscience at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. There, she uncovered the role of the neuropeptide somatostatin in visual processing. In her Ph.D. program, she is interested in how environmental factors shape neural circuits, learning, and memory, which will eventually cast light on attenuating neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders. Outside the lab, she is a huge fan of video games, loves trying new places, foods, and outdoor activities, as well as running and drawing.

Alba is a PhD student at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid / Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She researches how salience, such as emotion, influences human episodic memory as well as how gist and detail modulate it. In order to do so, she uses several techniques such as behavioral testing and intracranial electrophysiology and is planning on expanding her work to functional magnetic resonance imaging. Previous to her PhD, Alba obtained her MSc in Neuroscience at King's College London where she investigated the effects of antipsychotics on GABA-A receptors as well as she worked on the characterization of a neuroinflammatory protein in preclinical models of neuroinflammation. When she is not doing science, Alba loves to read books, go for long walks while listening to music and going out with friends. If you're interested in Alba's work, visit her full profile here.

Jenna (she/her) received her BS in Human Biology and Society and a minor in Spanish at UCLA in the Fall of 2022, where she is involved in research surrounding the impacts of stress, depression, and paid family leave on parental and childhood health outcomes in the perinatal period. She enjoys connecting the realms of neuroscience with her Spanish minor, and was a member of the UCLA Brain Research Institute and Knowing Neurons collaboration as a student translator in Spring 2021. In the future, she plans to attend medical school.

Martin Jarzyna is a 2nd-year PhD student in the Neurosciences program at Washington University in St. Louis. He is broadly interested in how environmental pressures shape neural circuits and the behaviors they mediate. In his research, he uses in vivo electrophysiology to investigate seasonal plasticity in the electric communication circuits of West African mormyrid fish. Martin is additionally passionate about making science more accessible and useful to the public, beyond barriers of language and education level. If he's not in the lab, you can find Martin writing and recording music, skateboarding, cooking, or staring at bodies of water.

Brenda Leyva received her Bachelor's Degree in Neuroscience and Chemistry from Smith College. She is currently working as a Research Associate for the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, in the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research. Her research is focused on helping to develop viral vectors to target and manipulate circuits of GABAergic neurons in the cortex. Specifically, she is interested in the potential of these viral vectors to be used in gene therapy, using AAV-driven gene expression to target neuronal populations that are related to diseases such as autism and epilepsy. Her goal is to join an MD/PhD program in the fall of 2024, to join her passions of neuroscience and research with her desire to help diversify the medicine field and advocate for the Hispanic community in the US. When not in the lab, Brenda enjoys reading, drawing, and teaching. See her full profile here (www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-leyva-garcia).

Francesca is pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at University of Parma (Italy), in the lab of Dr. Vera Ferrari. She currently studies the habituation of the attentional interference prompted by emotional distractors. Her dissertation project aims to investigate whether the distractor suppression may be modulated by  learning mechanisms, such as sustained practice, and contextual factors that affect environment predictability. In order to study that, she measures electrophysiological (ERP, alpha-ERD) and behavioral (reaction time) responses while participants are engaged in a main task. Francesca is also interested in studying how picture details and retrieval modulate human memory for natural scenes. Francesca obtained her MSc in Neuroscience from the University of Parma in 2019.

Maia is an undergraduate student at UCLA studying Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of a lab studying clear cell renal cell carcinoma and hopes to one day further her scientific education with a PhD program in cancer biology or related fields. Working with Knowing Neurons in translation and outreach has inspired her to use her Spanish to influence science and continue working to make information more accessible to disadvantaged communities.

Carolin is a PhD student at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research in Tübingen, Germany. During her Master's studies in Heidelberg, Carolin became passionate about neuroscience research. In her master's thesis she got familiar with working on iPSC-derived neurons from bipolar patients. Excited by the fact that one can study pathological mechanisms on patient-specific neurons, she continued the work with iPSCs in her PhD project. In this project, she studies iPSC-derived neurons of patients suffering from genetic epilepsy, mainly using electrophysiological methods. In her free time she enjoys knitting and all kind of sports, like running or skiing.

Julia is an undergraduate student at UCLA studying Cognitive Science with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of a lab studying human memory and aging. After graduating she hopes to travel the world and explore her passions.

Claire is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Labor Studies, a new interdisciplinary concentration in the Social Sciences, with minors in Spanish and Food Studies. She feels very lucky to take such diverse and overlapping globally-minded classes, from Urban Agriculture to Community Organizing. The Spanish translation initiative of Knowing Neurons, to help equalize access to funds of scientific knowledge, aligns with her post-graduation goal of working with community organizations to alleviate economic disparities and social inequalities on a local and national scale. She is passionate about writing, both academic and creative, and considers it a powerful tool for social change. She hopes for her Spanish translations of Knowing Neurons articles to help do just that!

Zoë Dobler is a 2nd-year Neuroscience PhD student at UCLA. Before beginning her doctoral studies, she completed a Fulbright scholarship in Vienna, Austria, investigating the genetic mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. As a PhD student, she applies in vivo 2-photon imaging techniques to study the neural circuits involved in processing sensory stimuli. Outside of research, she loves learning languages, reading, and exploring new places.

Caitlin earned her Bachelor’s degree at The Ohio State University before joining the Neuroscience Interdepartmental PhD Program at UCLA. In the lab of Dr. Laura DeNardo, she studies how early life stress alters prefrontal circuitry involved in avoidance behavior during adolescence. She is passionate about understanding how early experiences can lead to the development of aberrant behaviors and is motivated to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness. Outside the lab you can catch her on a hike, reading a good book or baking.

Rebeka is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. Her current research explores molecular mechanisms driving Parkinson’s disease using the fruit fly as a model organism. She received her MSc in Neuroscience from King’s College London, specialising in neurodegeneration research. Outside the lab, she enjoys bouldering and listening to music. For more about Rebeka’s research and experience, please visit her full profile.

Chris is a doctoral candidate in neuroscience at UCLA and previously received a BS in Human Biology and a BA in Psychology from North Carolina State University. He is interested in understanding prefrontal control of defensive behaviors and links to fear- and anxiety-related disease. Chris combines UCLA Miniscopes and advanced computational techniques to link neural activity directly to behavior. Outside the lab, Chris enjoys camping, rock climbing, playing music, and traveling as often as possible.

Talia Oughourlian is pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at UCLA under the mentorship of Dr. Benjamin Ellingson. Her dissertation research uses neuroimaging to characterize structural and functional alterations within the brains of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) during disease progression and following surgical intervention. Furthermore, her research aims to evaluate the relationship between degree of spinal cord compression and upstream supraspinal alterations, as well as sex-dependent microstructural and functional brain reorganization in DCM patients. In addition, Talia has studied brain tumor metabolism and the prognostic value of tumor acidity and hypoxia imaging biomarkers. Talia received a BS with honors in Computational Neuroscience from USC in 2018. In her spare time, Talia enjoys painting, baking, and hiking with her puppy Mila.

James Cole is a Ph.D. student working in the lab of Dr. Xiaorong Liu at the University of Virginia, where he studies retinal development and the disruptive effects of aniridia, a panocular eye disorder. In 2018 he graduated from The College of William and Mary, where he pursued neuroscience and medieval-renaissance studies. He is chiefly interested in areas where neuroscience intersects with the humanities, particularly in the processing and appreciation of art, literature, and culture. In addition to his scientific pursuits, James is a poet, author, filmmaker, and lover of all things historical. He teaches composition and literary criticism at WriterHouse, hosts Poetry Live! at Live Arts Theater, and serves on the Board of Governors for the Virginia Writers Club.

Vincent is a Cognitive and Brain Sciences PhD student at Louisiana State University. His research interests are in sound, space, and time perception. He previously earned an Aging Sciences B.S. from the University of South Florida, then an Experimental Psychology M.S. with a focus in cognitive neuroscience from Seton Hall University. He has also been an intern for both the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory at NASA Stennis Space Center and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

Justin McMahon earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan, where his fascination for two things really began to grow: neuroscience and Swahili. Having spent time in multiple research settings throughout his undergraduate career, he studied Alzheimer’s Disease, epilepsy, memory, and ultimately composed his thesis on neurophysiological aspects of psychiatric disorders. Justin went on to work at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard where he developed viral tools for targeting different neuronal cell types. He is currently working as the senior research coordinator for the Neuropsychiatric Genetics in African Populations (NeuroGAP)–Psychosis Study, where he is able to combine his interests in both neuroscience and Swahili. Interested primarily in genetics and translational neuroscience, Justin is applying to begin a Neuroscience PhD program in Fall 2023. Outside the lab, you can find Justin enjoying music/podcasts, practicing photography, boxing, or appreciating a good coffee bean.

Amy Than is a Neuroscience PhD student at UCLA in the lab of Dr. Shulamite Green, using neuroimaging to study the neural mechanisms underlying sensory over-responsivity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is fascinated with how the brain perceives and interacts with the world. Prior to UCLA, she was involved in tobacco cessation research at the California Smokers' Helpline and drug addiction research at the Scripps Research Institute. Her passion for neuroscience is paired with a dedication to supporting underrepresented scholars through equity-minded mentorship and educational access efforts. In her free time, Amy enjoys making travel vlogs, matcha lattes, and quality time with her family.

Ebrahim Feghhi is PhD student in Neuroscience in the lab of Jonathan Kao at UCLA. He is interested in reverse engineering deep learning systems and comparing them to the human brain, specifically in the domain of language. His goal is to build machines with human like intelligence, as well as use this knowledge to better understand psychiatric disorders. Outside of lab, Ebrahim enjoys wrestling and jiu-jitsu.

Shiri Spitz Siddiqi is a PhD student at the University of California, Irvine, working with Dr. Pete Ditto and Dr. Pia Dietze. Her research focuses on "culture war" issues (for example, cultural appropriation, diversity, and free speech), both in terms of how people make judgments about them and in terms of their consequences for democracy. An avid collaborator, Shiri is also an affiliate with the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, listening to podcasts, playing the cello, and hanging out with her cat, Scout. Shiri received her BS in Psychology and BA in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018. Before beginning her PhD program, she managed the EEG Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Colgate University. You can view her full profile here.

Mariella is a postdoctoral researcher at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, where she studies the effects of prolonged stress and traumatic brain injury on the stress response. Writing about science is one of her passions. To hone her writing skills, she enrolled in a Specialized Certificate in Science Communication at the University of California, San Diego, in 2021. Since then, she has published articles on Knowing Neurons and Massive Science. She also contributes as a content creator to the Brazilian science communication project Nunca Vi Um Cientista. When she is not in the lab or writing, Mariella enjoys riding her bike around town and finding new places to try new foods. She also loves binge-watching suspense and horror movies/series and playing with her cats. Mariella received her bachelor's degree in Biomedicine, and a Master's and Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), in Brazil.

Mary Cooper is a Graduate Student in the Departments of Neurology and Psychology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She uses a range of techniques including mRNA hybridization, EEG, and behavioral machine learning programs to study circadian influences on Alzheimer’s Disease. Mary’s scientific pursuits outside the lab are to make useful connections between classical arts and academic sciences. She is a contributor and volunteer at the Brain Awareness Week celebrations in Birmingham, Alabama. In her spare time, Mary is a pianist, gardener, and painter.

John is a first-year PhD student at UCLA working on computational and theoretical neuroscience. He received his BS in computer science from Columbia University, where he worked on spike sorting, behavioral video analysis, and motor decoding. He is broadly interested in using machine learning and causal inference to model learning and computation in the brain, including applications for brain-computer interfaces and NeuroAI. When not coding, he enjoys cooking, playing soccer, and skiing.

Julia is a PhD student in the Neuroscience and Behavior program at UMass Amherst. Her research involves using florescent imaging paired with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to investigate the neural centers responsible for sensory processing and motor control in invertebrate mollusks. In addition to her research, she is also active in the science policy and science communication fields. Outside of work, Julia enjoys going for hikes with her dogs, reading sci-fi, and trying new recipes. For more information, please visit her profile. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-lavalley/)

Gabrielle Sarlo is a postdoctoral research fellow at Children's National Hospital in Washington DC, where she is currently learning about neuropsychology and neuroimaging in pediatric epilepsy. She received her PhD in Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience from American University. Her research interests include nutritional neuroscience, epilepsy and its co-occurring conditions, and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Aside from her work, Gabrielle loves enjoying nature and spontaneous road trips.

Anastasiia Gryshyna is a doctoral student in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Psychology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She received her master’s degree in nanotechnology at University of Central Florida and became fascinated with neuroscience and techniques that can be used to study our brain. Her current interests are in basic science and pelvic pain. Anastasiia uses electrophysiology and optogenetics to examine how pain signals travel to the central nervous system and how we can address issues associated with urologic conditions using optogenetics. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, training Jiu jitsu, and spending time with her family.

Liza Chartampila is a second-year PhD student in the Neuroscience program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her current research focuses on understanding the role of sleep in development and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Before beginning her doctoral studies at UNC, Liza completed her B.S. in neuroscience at Washington and Lee University and worked as a research assistant at New York University. Outside of research, she enjoys painting, hiking, reading, listening to podcasts, and playing sports (especially volleyball).

I am a first-year master's student at the University of Potsdam in Germany studying Cognitive Science. I received my BS in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After graduation, I worked as a research assistant at UAB researching emotional processing in epilepsy patients using sEEG, and also did some work on somatosensory mapping using fMRI. Now, I am doing DTI, resting-state fMRI connectivity, and DBS connectivity research in Parkinson's patients trying to build predictive models of DBS surgery outcomes. In my free time, I like exercising, playing video games, cooking, traveling and exploring new cultures (mostly through food).

Ayushe Sharma is a PhD candidate in the Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She uses brain imaging to map brain temperature and study neuroinflammation in patients with seizure disorders. Ayushe’s scientific pursuits outside the lab strive to make science more accessible to the lay public. She leads UAB’s Brain Core journal club, and also organizes the Brain Awareness Week celebrations in Birmingham, Alabama. In her spare time, Ayushe is a mixology enthusiast, vegetable gardener, and hobby artist. For more about Ayushe’s research and experience, please visit her full profile. 

Andrew Bontemps recently received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Alabama and is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His current line of research focuses on motivations for use of cannabis, opioids, and nicotine as well as other substances. His previous work has focused on understanding how psychopathic traits develop in youth as well as the neurological correlates of psychopathy. When he’s out of the lab, you can find Andrew hiking or running the trails of Alabama, teaching his cats Butternut and Zucchini how to do tricks, or baking in the kitchen with his wife, Alena.

Chris is in his second year at UVA on a pre-med track and hoping to major in neuroscience. His curiosity in neuroscience is primarily in behavioral psychology, neurodegenerative conditions, and regenerative medicine. Chris is also considering osteopathic medicine due to his belief in holistic healing and as it relates to the nervous system. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys hiking the Shenandoah, volunteering in the community, and playing lacrosse.

Shriya Varada is a first year undergraduate student at the University of Virginia hoping to major in neuroscience. She plans to pursue either a Ph.D. degree in neuroscience or go to medical school after graduation. Shriya is specifically interested in behavioral neuroscience, neurodegenerative disease, and the study of behavioral disorders and mental illness. Apart from neuroscience, Shriya loves to spend her time reading, listening to music, volunteering at the UVA hospital, and exploring Charlottesville with her friends.

Peyton is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Virginia pursuing a degree in neuroscience. After graduation, she plans to earn her PhD in neuroscience. Peyton's specific interest in neuroscience focuses on the relationship between developmental processes and behavioral neuroscience. She currently works in the Condron lab focusing on neural signaling for larvae cooperation. Outside of science, she enjoys crocheting, painting, and traveling.

Sarah Wade is pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience in the lab of Dr. Anna Molofsky at UCSF. Her research focuses on neuron-microglia interactions in health and disease. Sarah graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019 with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Neuroscience. Outside of science, Sarah enjoys doing triathlons, loving her plants to death, and brewing kombucha.

Bar Yosef is a PhD student in Neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego where she studied Human Biology and Cognitive Science. She has done cognitive neuroscience research on social predictive learning, face processing, and developmental prosopagnosia. In her free time, Bar enjoys spending time in nature.

Tori is a PhD student in Behavioral Neuroscience at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She works in the lab of Dr. Nina Kraguljac studying pathophysiological biomarkers of first-episode psychosis patients. She uses MRI to map myelin content and neurite density in order to assess neurodevelopmental abnormalities in people with schizophrenia compared to healthy people. Tori received her BS in Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Spanish from The University of Alabama in 2020. In her free time, Tori loves doing yoga, going to coffee shops, and hanging out with her dogs, Peter and Banks.

Chaoqun is currently a PhD student in systems neuroscience at UCLA. His research focuses on perceptual decision making and multisensory integration. Generally speaking, his research deals with how the information is encoded/decoded/transferred between different brain regions, and how the decisions emerge from these processes. When he is not in the lab, Chaoqun is an enthusiastic novel reader and book review writer. Prior to neuroscience, he spent some time developing a book review-based podcast with a friend.

Elizabeth Burnette is pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at UCLA, in the lab of Dr. Lara Ray. Her research uses neuroimaging and psychoneuroimmunology methods to study the neurobiology of addiction in clinical populations. Her dissertation project explores the role of neuroinflammation in alcohol use disorder. She received her BS in Neuroscience from Duke University in 2018. For more about Elizabeth's research and experience, please visit her full profile and website.

Carolyn Amir is a Neuroscience PhD student at UCLA in Dr. Carrie Bearden's lab. Her current research focuses on using neuroimaging and genetics approaches to study the human brain and behavior in psychiatric and developmental disorders. Before coming to UCLA, Carolyn worked at the National Institutes of Health where she studied human pain, medication use and expectancy. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Boston University in Psychological and Brain Sciences, where she used EEG and brain stimulation to examine the effects of neuromodulation in both healthy and patient populations. When she's not in the lab, Carolyn enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time at the beach. To read more about Carolyn's research and contact visit her website.

Lupita Valencia received her BS in Neuroscience and BA in Chicano/a Studies from UCLA. As an undergraduate, her research focused on behavioral neuroscience, specifically how corticolimbic circuits facilitate the decision making process. After completing a PREP Post-Baccalaureate Program at Tufts University, she plans to pivot her career into science communication. Lupita is invested in making science more accessible by overcoming language barriers, especially in the Spanish-speaking community. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking up tasty dishes and curating equally fire playlists.

Megan Hall completed her Bachelor's degree at Arizona State University, where she studied Psychology and Anthropology. She currently works as an Associate Bioinformatician at the Translational Genomics Research Institute. Her research is broadly focused on studying transcriptomics to characterize and find potential biomarkers for neurological disorders. Prior to this, she became interested in psychology research and joined the Culture and Decision Science Network Lab where she completed her undergraduate thesis, and remains involved in psychology research outside of her work in bioinformatics.

Alex completed his Bachelor's in Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin. There, he taught lab techniques as a lab mentor and took journalism classes to fulfill a minor in Science Communication. After graduating and discovering his interest in sharing science with others, Alex worked at the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center where he enriched K-12 students' science curriculum with environmental field experience. He now works as a chemistry teacher at Morton Ranch High School. In his free time, he likes to take circus aerial classes.

Marisa is an undergraduate student in her second year at the University of Virginia and is hoping to major in neuroscience. She is particularly interested in neurodegeneration, the central nervous system, as well as behavioral processes and the relation to anthropology. She plans on combining the study of neuroscience with related studies of computer science and artificial intelligence. Soon, Marisa is currently conducting research as a member of iGEM, exploring the creation of an earlier detection method for atherosclerosis through antibody engineering. Outside of these fields, she enjoys playing volleyball, making art, going to new food spots, and finding all the dogs on campus.