LAB HEADS
LAURA DENARDO, PHD
Dr. DeNardo received a dual BA in Molecular and Cell Biology and Art Practice from UC Berkeley. She went on to complete a PhD in Neurosciences at UCSD. She carried out her thesis work with Dr. Anirvan Ghosh, using a combination of slice physiology and confocal imaging to study mechanisms of hippocampal synaptogenesis. As a postdoc, Laura worked with Dr. Liqun Luo at Stanford University. Using new genetic tools for viral tracing and activity-dependent labeling, she mapped the organization and function of mPFC circuits underlying fearful memories. She joined the Physiology department as an Assistant Professor in January, 2019.
Scott wilke, mD, PHD
Dr. Wilke received his BS in Neurobiology from the University of Washington. He went on to earn his MD and PhD in neuroscience in the MSTP at UCSD. He completed his thesis work with Dr. Anirvan Ghosh studying activity-dependent mechanisms that regulate hippocampal connectivity. Scott completed a residency in Adult Psychiatry and did his postdoctoral research at UCSF. He worked with Dr. Vikaas Sohal, studying how neural activity in mPFC microcircuits underlies behavior relevant to depression. His clinical expertise are in interventional approaches for treatment resistant depression. He joined the Psychiatry department as an Assistant Clinical Professor in March, 2019.
CV
POSTDOCS and staff
ZACHARY ZEIDLER, PHD
Postdoctoral fellow
Dr. Zeidler received a BA in Neuroscience from The Colorado College. He went on to complete a PhD in Neuroscience with a minor in Neuroengineering at the University of Minnesota. He carried out his thesis work with Dr. Esther Krook-Magnuson, using a combination of behavior, optogenetics, in vivo electrophysiology, and calcium imaging to study the cerebellum's ability to modulate the hippocampus. As a postdoc, Zach is investigating the evolution of fear memory ensembles in the mPFC and across the cortex. He joined the DeNardo lab in September 2020.
TANYA GUPTA, PHD POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Dr. Gupta received a BA in Psychology and Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2017. She subsequently completed a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience at Arizona State University in the lab of Dr. Federico Sanabria, where she used computational modeling to understanding generative neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying a wide range of motivated behaviors, including interval timing, response-inhibition, and stimulus-response learning. Her dissertation investigated contributions of hippocampal function to the temporal organization of behavior. Tanya joined the Wilke lab in June 2022, where she is studying mechanisms of anterior cingulate cortex control over effort- and cost-based decision-making. She also enjoys getting involved in her community, and is an Executive Board member of the UCLA Postdoctoral Association.
Asai Sanchez-Fuentes, Phd postdoctoral fellow
Asai received a BA in Psychology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he carried out behavioral protocols to investigate motivation and food intake circuits. He then pursued a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the Cellular Physiology Institute, UNAM, where he studied the contribution of motor and premotor cortico-striatal circuits in the initiation and execution of action sequences using electrophysiological and optogenetic techniques in Dr. Fatuel Tecuapetla's lab. Asai joined Dr. Wilke's lab in October 2023, where he is conducting cutting-edge experiments to study cell types and circuits in the medial prefrontal cortex, as well as brainwide networks involved in effort-based decision-making.
chris gabriel,
PhD
Chris is a recent graduate from the NSIDP. He received a BS in Human Biology and a BA in Psychology from North Carolina State University. He is interested in studying circuit mechanisms relevant to fear and anxiety behaviors in mPFC and is combining 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.
benita jin,
phd
Benita is a recent graduate from the MCIP PhD program. She graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in neuroscience and a M.S. in physiological science. In the lab of Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton, she studied the use of epidural stimulation, serotonergic drugs, and physical rehabilitation for forelimb recovery after spinal cord injury. Benita joined the DeNardo lab to study the neural circuits and mechanisms mediating mPFC development. Outside of lab, she enjoys traveling, musicals, and coffee.
Meelan Shari, Research Technician
Meelan graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a BS in physiological science. He is interested the effects of prefrontal dopamine and chronic stress on avoidance behavior, and the ability of transcranial magnetic stimulation to address behavioral abnormalities. Outside of the lab, he likes to read, play frisbee, and cook.
ALEX QI,
Research Technician
Alex is a recent graduate from UCLA, where he majored in Neuroscience. He is interested in exploring the different connections between brain regions, and the neurological effects of different psychiatric disorders. In his free time he likes to play volleyball, watch TV shows, read detective books, and hike.
Dana Nasereldin, Research Technician
Dana is a recent UCLA graduate, who majored in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. She is interested in exploring dopaminergic pathway development and the impacts of different diseases and their corresponding clinical interventions on prefrontal neural activity. In her free time, she loves to cook, bake, travel, watch psychological thrillers/mystery TV shows, draw, paint, and spend time with family and friends.
Karun Mokha, research technician
Karun graduated from UC San Diego in 2024 with a B.S. in Cognitive Science with specialization in Machine Learning & Neural Computation, and a Minor in Computer Science. At UCSD Karun spent 2 years on the Animal-Neuro Cognition Team at NEATLabs (Neural Engineering And Translations Lab) under Dr. Dhakshin Ramanathan and Dr. Miranda Francoeur. At NEATLabs Karun assisted in neural engineering studies of animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders, specifically running electrophysiology experiments with impact of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Long Evans Rats using house made single-unit and LFP implants. Karun joined the Wilke lab September 2024, and plans to use his computational background to pursue neural engineering and neuroscience PHD programs following his tenure at UCLA.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Caitlin Goodpaster,
NSF Graduate Fellow
Caitlin is a NSIDP graduate student. She received her Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from The Ohio State University in 2017, where she conducted research in the lab of Dr. Benedetta Leuner investigating the role of mPFC GABAergic signaling in postpartum anxiety. She joined the DeNardo lab to study how early life stress impacts mPFC circuitry in avoidance behavior throughout development. Outside the lab she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.
MICHAEL GONGWER,
UCLA MSTP
Michael is an MD/PhD student in the lab studying excitatory cell types in prefrontal cortex and their role in the antidepressant effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2019, where he worked in Matthew Kreitzer’s lab studying mechanisms of pH regulation in the retina. Outside of lab, he spends his time playing spikeball and volleyball or learning new songs on the marimba.
Sara blagburn blanco, UCLA MSTP
Sara is an MSTP student completing her PhD in the DeNardo lab. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Brown University, where she conducted research in Dr. Alexander Jaworski's laboratory. During her time there, Sara studied embryonic motor neuron development and axon guidance in the mouse spinal cord. She joined the DeNardo lab to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing mPFC circuit formation, and how those developmental programs are affected by adverse early life experiences. When she’s not in lab, you’ll most likely find her climbing, trail running, or salsa dancing.
Abigail Yu,
ARCS fellow
Abigail is an NSIDP graduate student. She received a B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut where she worked with Dr. John Salamone investigating the role of dopamine in motivational deficits. In 2021, Abbie became the first lab member in Dr. Alfred Kaye’s lab at Yale University. There, she was involved in projects studying the effects of norepinephrine on threat processing and led a study on the mechanisms of MDMA and related drugs. Once at UCLA, Abbie joined the DeNardo Lab to study how cortical ensembles are involved in memory storage and retrieval across development. In her free time, Abbie is traveling, exploring coffee shops, reading, and visiting museums!
Brian Kearney
Brian is a PhD student in MCIP. He graduated from CU Boulder with a BA in Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, as well as Molecular Cellular Biology. At UCLA he received a MS in the lab of Stephanie White where he studied the development of the zebra finch song system, as well as the potassium channel hERG using electrophysiological techniques. Brian joined the DeNardo lab to study the role of mPFC dopamine in aversive learning. Outside of lab, Brian enjoys hiking, playing music, writing, and painting.
undergraduate students
Katherine Li
Katherine is an undergraduate at UCLA majoring in Computational and Systems Biology. She is interested in learning more about the intersection of technology and biology, such as the applications of machine learning to neuroscience research. In her free time, she enjoys reading fantasy books, baking, and badminton.
Angela Yang
Angela is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in neuroscience with an intended minor in gerontology. She is interested in learning about the neural circuitry that underlies decision-making and its role in neuropsychiatric disorders. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating, snowboarding, and experimenting with new coffee recipes.
Russell Ahmed
Russell is an undergraduate Neuroscience Major at UCLA. He is interested in understanding the connection between brain activity and different behaviors. Also, he is interested in the various brain surgeries that allow us to conduct the lab’s core experiments. In his free time, Russell loves to play competitive golf, lift weights, and write.
Rio Hundley
Rio is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Psychobiology and minoring in English. She is interested in the biological manifestations of trauma and anxiety, specifically the ways neural circuits are altered by traumatic memory. Outside of the lab, she can also be found onstage with her Asian American theater company, in the library with her favorite book or play, or seeing a new movie in theaters with friends.
Naomi Khosalim
Naomi Khosalim is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in neuroscience and minoring in Biomedical Research. She is interested in learning about how neuropsychiatric disorders and treatments affect brain activity and circuitry. In her free time, she enjoys writing, painting, and watching movies.
Sophia Colavin
Sophia is a third year undergraduate Computational and Systems Biology major at UCLA. She is on a pre-dental track and finds the neuroscience research’s application to medicine and psychiatric disorders very interesting. In her free time she like to stay active at the gym, read, spend time with her friends, and be outside as much as possible.
Lucy Holden-Wingate
Lucy is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Physiological Science with a minor in Education Studies. Her research interests lie in the neurobiology of fear-based memory persistence across development. When she is not in lab, she enjoys reading, photography, and rock climbing.
ANDY LIU
Andy Liu is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychobiology at UCLA, and is interested in learning about brain functions and their implications for neurodegenerative disorders. He is interested in exploring approaches for treating and managing these disorders. In his spare time, Andy likes to write comedy sketches, play basketball, and ski (snow and water).
Luke Gonzales
Luke is an undergraduate Neuroscience major with a minor in English and Biomedical Research. He is interested in studying the neural mechanisms that drive behavior and cognition, along with their correlations to psychiatric conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. In his spare time he enjoys reading books, writing, solving puzzles, playing games, and learning about mythology.
sophia Rueda
Sophia is an undergraduate Neuroscience major and Global Health minor at UCLA. She is interested in the large scale neural circuitry underpinning psychiatric disorder and hopes to use her research to inform and improve different treatments protocols. Outside of lab, she enjoys teaching yoga, reading, and exploring new coffee shops!
Gabriella Stout
Gabriella Stout is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Psychobiology. She is interested in further exploring behavioral neuroscience as well as learning more about how the lab’s experimental results can provide a deeper understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders. In her free time she enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, and reading a good book.
Easha Ashraf
Easha is an undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience at UCLA. She is interested in learning about psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders through behavioral neuroscience. In her free time, Easha enjoys writing music, visiting coffee shops, and baking.
Maryam Alturki
Acharya Ranawat
Amerie Samuels
OWen Williams
Aliza Hacking
Kenan Cackovic
Chloe Christensen
ALUMNI
Marta Fernandez Gomez, PhD
Cassandra Klune, PhD - University of Alberta School of Medicine, MD program
Mateo Umaguing - Boston University, PhD program in Neurosceince
Christabelle Junaidi - UCSF School of Medicine, MD program
Faith Veenker - NIH Postbach Research Fellow, Nora Volkow lab
Alex Enos - UCSF graduate program in Neuroscience, Vikaas Sohal lab
Adrienne Kashay - MIT graduate program in Neuroscience, Linlin Fan lab
Christina Lei - USC Masters in Applied Psychology
Kyle Fang - Data scientist, Amgen
Morgan Neuwirth - Technical analyst, Kite Pharmaceuticals
Jovian Cheung - Princeton University graduate program in Neuroscience, Pena/Falkner lab
Michael Navarro - Northwestern School of Medicine, MD program
Molly Delaney - Research technician, Michael Teitell Lab UCLA
Jack Riley - Columbia University School of Medicine, MD program
Rahil Vaknalli - Senior research associate, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Rita Chen
Nico Jones
Rakasa Pattanaik
Vincent Xu
Morgan Neuwirth
Anna Wu
Wilke Lab
NIH-funded Postdoctoral Fellow
Graduate Students
Research Technician
Open positions
DeNardo Lab
Postdoctoral fellow
Graduate students
Undergraduates