Personnel
Rachel Ross, MD, PhD
Principal investigator
B.S. Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University
M.D., Ph.D. Molecular Pharmacology Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Psychiatry Residency MGH/McLean
Post-doc with Dr. Brad Lowell at Harvard Medical School BIDMC Division of Endocrinology
Strange but true: Rachel’s first job was driving an ice cream truck
Alternative dream job: cobbler
Michaela Cooke
Ph.D. Student
Graduate Student in the Biomedical Sciences
B.A. Neuroscience, Dartmouth College
Alternative dream job: fitness trainer
Noelie Cayla, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Biomedical Sciences)
M. Eng, B. Eng Chemical Engineering, CPE Lyon (France) and EPF Lausanne (Switzerland)
Alternative dream job: martial arts instructor
Priyanka Das
MSTP Student
B.S. Bioengineering, Northeastern University
Alternative dream job: marine biologist
Antonin Cornillon
Research trainee
B.S., Biology, Northeastern University, 2024
Nicole Bejany
Postdoctoral Fellow
PGY-4 resident in Psychiatry, Montefiore Medical Center
MD University of Arizona, Tucson
MPH Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
BS Emory University, Anthropology and Human Biology
BA Emory University, Human Health
Alternative dream job: chef
Miledys Guzman
PGY2 Primary Care Social Internal Medicine
MD CUNY School of Medicine
BS Biomedical Science CCNY
Alternative dream job: chef
Manasa Samavedam
Postdoctoral Fellow
PGY-2 resident in Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center
MD Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2023)
BS University of California Davis, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2019)
Alternative dream job: Greeting Card Designer
Menjin (Katie) Kuk
MS4
B.A., Spanish Language & Culture, Princeton University
Alternative dream job: event planner
Desara Zejnati
High school intern
Bronx High School of Science, class of 2025
Alternative dream job: antique book shop owner
Mekhala Mantravadi
Summer undergraduate research student (SURP)
Neuroscience, Smith College (BA in progress, class of 2026)
Alternative dream job: baker
Aleesha Redway
High school student intern—PENS scholar
Pelham lab school
Alternative dream job: teacher
Janna Han
High school student intern
Watchung Hills Regional High School (graduating 2026)
Alternative dream job: bakery owner
Benjamin Babaev
Summer Undergraduate Research Student
Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York (B.E. in progress)
Saachi Goyal
High school student intern
Alternative dream job: neurosurgeon
Future Members of the Lab
Past Members of the Lab
Kate Callahan
Research Trainee
B.S. Cognitive neuroscience, Brown University
Alternative dream job: costume designer
Yatzil Mota Perez
High school student intern, PENS scholar
Pelham Lab School
Genesis Wilson
High school student intern, PENS scholar
Pelham Lab School
Alternative dream job: child psychologist
Elisabeth (Liz) Saraceno
Research Trainee
B.A. Neuroscience, Skidmore College
Alternative dream job: Personal chef
Alejandra Vivas Carbo
PGY-2 resident in Psychiatry, Montefiore Medical Center
B.S. Psychology, Nova Southeastern University
B.A. Interdisciplinary studies and Biology, Florida International University
M.D. Robert Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont
Alternative dream job: Zumba instructor
Aldwin Soumare
Neurology resident at UConn
B.A in Psychology, Rutgers University—Newark
M.S. Master of Medical Science, Morehouse School of Medicine
MSBP, Master of Biomedical Professions, Lincoln Memorial University
D.O. PCOM Georgia
Alternative dream job: Aerospace Engineer for NASA building and flying space shuttles
Stefanie Henry
Graduate Student
B.S. Neurobiology & French, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Alternative dream job: Jewelry Design and Manufacturing
Ariful Islam
Research Assistant C
M.S. Pharmaceutical Science, Rowan University
M.S. Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh
Strange but true: sometimes Arif talks to himself
Siva Subramanian
Research Trainee
B.S. Northeastern University 2017, behavioral neuroscience
Currently a medical student at UT San Antonio
Strange but true: Siva is allergic to avocados and cannot participate in the millennial traditional brunch
Kat Ramos
Co-op student 2019
B.S. Northeastern University, biochemistry, expected 2021
Strange but true: Kat is the only person in her family with really curly hair.
Reesha Patel
Co-op student
B.S. Northeastern University 2019, Behavioral Neuroscience, with minors in marine biology and Spanish
Strange but true: Reesha can sing the alphabet backwards!
Ella Douglas
Co-op student
B.S. Northeastern University 2020
Strange but true: Ella currently has 20 plants and has every intention of collecting more! (And they are LOVING the spring time)
Andy Thompson
Research Assistant
B.S. Vassar College 2018, neuroscience and behavior
Strange but true: Andy messed up playing clarinet solo in front of Meryl Streep
Yong Kee Choi, PhD
Instructor
B.Sc., Microbiology, Department of microbiology, Inje University, S. Korea. 1992–1999
Ph.D., Biochemistry, School of Biotechnology & Biomedical Sciences, Inje University, S. Korea. 2005
Strange but true: Yong Kee prefers weather in Boston to weather in Korea
Justin Le
Summer undergraduate student
Biochemistry B.S. (in-progress), China Studies minor (in-progress), Stonybrook University
Alternative dream job: violin luthier
Nicole Parent
Summer undergraduate student
Biology (in-progress), Bridgewater State University
Alternative dream job: ecology researcher
Julia Dayton
Summer undergraduate student
Biology and Neuroscience major, Biotechnology minor, Santa Clara University
Alternative dream job: Biotech patent attorney