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Neuroscience (NEUS) Students

Drexel neuroscience program students.

Meet a Student

Arron Hall, PhD student, talks about his experience in the Neuroscience program at Drexel. View interview on YouTube.

Nishell Savory, PhD student, talks about her experience in the Neuroscience program at Drexel. View interview on YouTube.

1st Year

James Araiza

James Araiza

PhD Student
ja3447@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine (UCI), MS in Biology , California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA)

Natasha Bukreska, MD

Natasha Bukreska, MD

MS Student
nb3323@drexel.edu

Education: Medical Faculty Skopje, University Ss Cyril and Methodius Skopje

Arthur Burns

Arthur Burns

MS Student
akb342@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience and Psychology, Ursinus College

Bernadette Chaney

Bernadette Chaney

She/Her
MS Student
bc994@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Furman University

Austin Chuang

Austin Chuang

PhD Student
ac4578@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Emory University

Alice Letran

Alice Letran

PhD Student
al3747@drexel.edu

Education: BS Biology, Health Science Concentration, Tennessee Technological University (TNTech)

Kieran Morrisey

Kieran Morrisey

He/Him
MS Student
km4355@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Hofstra University

Christina Nelson

Christina Nelson

She/Her
PhD Student
cn555@drexel.edu

Education: BS Neuroscience, University of Delaware

Gabriel Paschall

Gabriel Paschall

MS Student
gvp24@drexel.edu

Education: BA Psychology and Linguistics, Salisbury University

Madison (Maddie) Smith

Madison (Maddie) Smith

PhD Student
ms5698@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, University of Mary Washington; MS in Biomedical Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University

Liza Valovatsky

Liza Valovatsky

MS Student
lv425@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Temple University

Kylie Volksdorf

Kylie Volksdorf

MS Student
kv463@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biopsychology at Loyola University Maryland

Omika Wadhwa

Omika Wadhwa

She/Her
PhD Student
osw25@drexel.edu

Education: BS-MS Dual Degree, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune

2nd Year

Miguel Emiliano Ablaza

Miguel Emiliano Ablaza

He/Him
MS Student
ma374@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, University of California Riverside

Sierra Coleman

Sierra Coleman

PhD Student
sc4262@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biopsychology, Cognition & Neuroscience, University of Michigan

Wenqiang Huang

Wenqiang Huang

PhD Student
wh395@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Applied Psychology, Anhui University; MS in Physiological Psychology, Capital Normal University

Jenna Hunt

Jenna Hunt

PhD Student
jnh96@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Saint Joseph’s University

Maurice Lindner-Jackson

Maurice Lindner-Jackson

PhD Student
mkl99@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biochemistry, Rowan University; MS in Histopathology, Rowan University

Corinne Marble

Corinne Marble

PhD Student
cm3965@drexel.edu

Education: BA in Neuroscience and Psychology, Oberlin College

Joseph Mazzerina

Joseph Mazzerina

MS Student
jm5267@drexel.edu

Education: BA in Psychology, Montclair State University

Destinee Monasterio

Destinee Monasterio

MS Student
dlm398@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Susquehanna University

Jacob Nelson

Jacob Nelson

MS Student
jkn33@drexel.edu

Education: BA in Neuroscience, Franklin & Marshall College

Dayani Pillai

Dayani Pillai

PhD Student
dp3284@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Temple University

Laura Schoenhals

Laura Schoenhals

PhD Student
las578@drexel.edu

Education: BA in Psychology and Dance, Eastern University

Akshaya Sridharan

Akshaya Sridharan

She/Her
PhD Student
as5875@drexel.edu>

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Rutgers University

Mason Weinstock

Mason Weinstock

MS Student
mcw383@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, Villanova University

3rd Year

Alison Bashford

Alison Bashford

She/Her
PhD Student
arb442@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience and Dance, Muhlenberg College

Research interests:
Alison is investigating how local regulation of dopamine neurotransmission impacts substance use in a rodent model.

Alexander Benson

Alexander Benson

He/Him
MS Student
ab4728@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, Pennsylvania State University

Research interests:
Alex is investigating local release dynamics of dopamine into the prefrontal cortex and how it influences socially competitive behaviors.

Leigh (Taylor) Flynn

Taylor Flynn

She/Her
MD/PhD Student
ltf28@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Biology, and Psychology, Virginia Tech

Research interests:
Taylor is investigating the neuronal, electrophysiological, and epigenetic changes associated with psychedelics.

John Gibbons

John Gibbons

He/Him
MS Student
jg3877@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Bucknell University

Research interests:
John is interested in the mechanisms underlying incubation of cocaine craving and cue-evoked dopamine responses during cocaine seeking in a rat model.

Grace Giddings

Grace Giddings

She/Her
PhD Student
gag52@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, Texas A&M University

Research interests:
Grace is interested in spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, and the potential of neuroimmune modulation to ameliorate chronic pain after SCI.

Tyler Gray

Tyler Gray

She/Her
PhD Student
tg846@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Villanova University

Research interests:
Tyler is investigating combining transcutaneous stimulation and locomotor training for treatment of spasticity in a rodent model of spinal cord injury.

Volodar Migovich

Volodar Migovich

PhD Student
vmm74@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Molecular Biology, Rutgers University; MS in Medical Science, Drexel University

Research interests:
Volodar is investigating the role of prefrontal microcircuit in controlling social behavior using patch-clamp electrophysiology and rodent behavioral models.

Victor Ogbolu

Victor Ogbolu

He/Him/His
MS Student
vco28@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Anatomy, Babcock University

Research interests:
Victor is studying bioengineered spinal cord organoids as a novel approach for cell therapy in spinal cord injuries.

Phuong Tran

Phuong Tran

He/Him
PhD Student
ptt35@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University; MS in Data Science, Johns Hopkins University; MS in Computer Science, Columbus State University

Research interests:
Phuong is using computational modeling to study the neurocircuitry underlying quadrupedal locomotion with a focus on the spinal circuits and interneuron populations that control locomotor steering.

4th Year

Jacob Clarin

Jacob Clarin

He/Him
PhD Student
jc4532@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh

Research interests:
Jake is investigating the role of IgSF9b, a cell adhesion molecule implicated in psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia, in inhibitory synaptic development in the prefrontal cortex.

Sophie Cohen

Sophie Cohen

She/Her
PhD Student
src346@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience and Spanish, Binghamton University; MS in Neuroscience, Drexel University

Research interests:
Sophie is interested in the sleep disturbances that accompany cocaine use.

Bridie Eckel

Bridie Eckel

She/Her
PhD Student
be355@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University

Research interests:
Bridie is investigating cellular mechanisms involved in SPG4 Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia.

Cydney Martin

Cydney Martin

She/Her
PhD Student
crm377@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, University of New Orleans

Research interests:
Cydney is investigating sex differences in motivated behavior and limbic system neuropeptide expression after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury during adolescence.

Anthony Moreno Sanchez

Anthony Moreno Sanchez

PhD Student
am4945@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Salle University

Research interests:
Anthony is investigating general dendritic integration mechanisms and how they impact neuronal activity in the looming detection circuits of the fruit fly using computational models.

Shanna Samels

Shanna Samels

She/Her
PhD Student
ss5422@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neurobiology and Physiology and Psychology, University of Connecticut

Research interests:
Shanna is investigating the role of hypocretins in the modulation of dopamine and motivation for cocaine.

Nishell Savory

Nishell Savory

PhD Student
nts47@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Psychology, Morgan State University

Research interests:
Nishell is studying how modulating microglia in the chronic phase following pediatric traumatic brain injury improves functional and behavioral outcomes.

Julie Schaub

Julie Schaub

She/Her
PhD Student
js5228@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, Gettysburg College; MS in Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University

Research interests:
Julie is investigating the role of oMAP4 in the dendritic microtubule array.

Jana Smuts

Jana Smuts

PhD Student
js3943@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Engineering, Drexel University

Research interests:
Jana investigates developmental spontaneous neural activity in visual projection neurons and astrocytes of Drosophila Melanogaster and the role of this activity in neural circuit development.

Christopher West

Christopher West

PhD Student
cw3299@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, The College of New Jersey

Research interests:
Chris investigates how descending brainstem commands and locomotor circuits provide modulatory control of a population of spinal inhibitory interneurons which filter sensory information during locomotion.

Jason Wheeler, MS

Jason Wheeler, MS

PhD Student
jw3775@drexel.edu

Education: BA in Psychology, Alfred University; MS in Neuroscience, Drexel University

Research interests:
Jason is interested in the therapeutic potential of small extracellular vesicles for SCI-induced neuropathic pain.

Nichole Yakas

Nichole Yakas

She/Her
PhD Student
nay33@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh; MS in Neuroscience, Drexel University

Research interests:
Nichole is evaluating the impact of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation on spasticity after spinal cord injury.

5th Year

Kendra Case

Kendra Case

She/Her
PhD Student
klc356@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biological Sciences, Drexel University

Research interests:
Kendra is investigating Gulf War Illness with a focus on tau driving memory impairments.

Christina Curran-Alfaro

Christina Curran-Alfaro

PhD Student
cc3862@drexel.edu

Education: MS in Biology (Neurobiology concentration), Rutgers University-Camden

Research interests:
Christina is currently using a rodent model to investigate the effects of chronic low-dose ethanol exposure on value-guided decision-making, glutamate receptor subunit expression, and neural correlates which may contribute to aberrant reward seeking.

Adam Hall, BS

Adam Hall

PhD Student
aah347@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience and Psychology, Regis University

Research interests:
Adam is interested in the factors that contribute to regeneration and functional recovery in the spinal cord after injury.

Arron Hall

Arron Hall

He/Him
PhD Student
arron.hall@drexel.edu

Education: BA in Psychology, Temple University

Research interests:
Arron is investigating how cortical regions, such as the anterior cingulate cortex, communicate with the hippocampus during sleep to facilitate memory consolidation.

Andrew Lockhart

Andrew Lockhardt

He/Him/His
PhD Student
abl73@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; BS in Applied Physics, Berry College

Research interests:
Andrew investigates locomotor circuits through robotics.

Jenna McGrath, BS

Jenna McGrath

She/Her/Hers
PhD Student
jrm472@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Behavioral Neuroscience, Lehigh University

Research interests:
Jenna is studying spinal glycinergic interneurons that inhibit locomotor circuits.

Brody Carpenter

Brody Carpenter

He/Him
PhD Student
bac367@drexel.edu

Education: BA in Neuroscience, Transylvania University

Research interests:
Brody studies receptor variant-based changes in the role of the neuropeptide PACAP in the nucleus accumbens during the transition to ethanol dependence.

Mariah Wulf, BS

Mariah Wulf

She/Her
PhD Student
mjw458@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Research interests:
Mariah is interested in examining the regenerative capabilities in the brain and spinal cord motor systems to produce motor behaviors after injury.

6th Year+

Marissa Cusimano

Marissa Cusimano

PhD Student
mac682@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Moravian College

Research interests:
Marissa examines the effects of exercise and fetal serotonergic transplants in reversing aberrant cardiovascular function following spinal cord injury.

Shrobona Guha, MS

Shrobona Guha, MS

PhD Student
sg3536@drexel.edu

Education: MS in Biotechnology, St. Xavier’s College

Research interests:
Shrobona is studying the role of mitotic motor proteins in the regulation of the dynamic behavior of the microtubule cytoskeleton.

Ashraful Islam

Ashraful Islam

He/Him/His
PhD Student
ai384@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, St. John’s University

Research interests:
Ash investigates the mechanism behind axon regeneration after DREADD activation of DRG neurons.

Ashley Opalka, BS

Ashley Opalka

She/Her
PhD Student
ano43@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience & Biology, University of Scranton

Research interests:
Ashley studies retrosplenial cortical subpopulation interactions in memory formation.

Jennifer Pastorino

Jennifer Pastorino

She/Her
PhD Student
jdp375@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience and in Psychology, Ursinus College

Research interests:
Jen is testing AAV optogenetic and growth-inducing therapies in coordination with and independent of treadmill training to regenerate the nervous system and recover hindlimb function after spinal cord injury.

Shayna Singh

Shayna Singh

PhD Student
sps84@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biological Sciences, Drexel University

Research interests:
Shayna studies the postnatal development of and supraspinal projections to spinal Shox2 interneurons.

Trevor Smith, BS

Trevor Smith, BS

PhD Student
tss72@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Biology, Northwest Nazarene University

Research interests:
Trevor studies the spinal cord’s intrinsic capacity to structure and pattern movement using a frog model.

Xiaohaun (Beanie) Sun

Xiaohaun (Beanie) Sun

PhD Student
xs77@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Pharmaceutical Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology; MS in Biology, Nantong University

Research interests:
Beanie studies the treatment implications of biphasic microtubule defects in tauopathy.

Sam Wechsler

Sam Wechsler

PhD Student
spw43@drexel.edu

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Muhlenberg College

Research interests:
Sam is examining the sensorimotor transformation within DM1 glomerulus in Drosophila melanogaster and its effect on behavior.

Alumni