NIP Trainees

Career Path of a NIP Fellow

Current NIP Trainees

2026-2027 Academic Year

Celine Ertekin

Michaela Fisher

Giorgi Shautidze

Caroline Francescutti: 2026 – Present (Huang Lab, Departments of Neuroscience and Biology)

Caroline Francescutti Headshot

I study disease-associated oligodendrocytes (DAOs) in the context of multiple sclerosis (MS) mouse models. I am using immunofluorescent staining, western blotting, and spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomic analysis to examine DAO formation at different MS model time-points. Further, I am testing immunomodulatory drugs in mouse models of MS to investigate whether immunomodulation alters the number or the activity of DAOs. Through this research, I aim to identify the function of DAOs to determine whether they can be a therapeutic target in neuroinflammatory conditions.

Pauline Wonnenberg: 2026 – Present (Conant Lab, Department of Neuroscience)

Pauline Wonnenberg Headshot

My research investigates how chronic stress remodels the brain extracellular matrix, particularly perineuronal nets, and how these changes alter neuronal circuit function and contribute to depression-like behavior. Using behavioral neuroscience, fiber photometry, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and proteomics, I evaluate whether targeting the extracellular matrix with 4-methylumbelliferone can restore neural plasticity and improve stress-related behavioral outcomes. I have presented this work at national and international scientific meetings, including the Gordon Research Conference on Inhibition in the CNS and the Neurobiology of Stress Conference, and have received competitive travel and research awards to support these efforts. My long-term goal is to establish an independent research program developing extracellular matrix–targeted therapies for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Pauline Wonnenberg with poster
Pauline Wonnenberg presenting poster at poster session

Briana Berstein: Predoctoral Trainee (2025 – 2026) 
Mentor: Rebekah Evans, PhD & Patrick Forcelli, PhD
Thesis Research: Extended basal ganglia circuitry implicated in Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy

Zac Colon: Predoctoral Trainee (2025 – 2026) 
Mentor: Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: The role of inflammation and aging on the dorsal striatum parvalbumin interneurons and perineuronal nets

Matthew Nelson: Predoctoral Trainee (2025 – 2026) 
Mentor: Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: The role of extracellular vesicle communication in regulating glial inflammation

Helena Schuch: Predoctoral Trainee (2025 – 2026)
Mentor: Alexey Ostroumov, PhD
Thesis Research: Synaptic Mechanisms of Stress and Habitual Behavior

Alex Sukharev: Predoctoral Trainee (2025 – 2026)
Mentors: Patrick Forcelli, PhD & Stefano Vicini, PhD
Thesis Research: Forebrain corticothalamic circuitry in relation to epilepsy and seizure suppression. 

Pauline Wonnenberg: Predoctoral Trainee (2025 – 2026)
Mentors: Katherine Conant, MD and Stefano Vicini, PhD
Thesis Research: Regulation of Perineuronal Nets for Enhanced Plasticity in a Depression-like Rodent Model

Katie Hummel: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Kathy Conant, MD
Thesis Research: The role of chemokines in plasticity, mood, and behavior

Lara Stefansson: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dan Pak, PhD
Thesis Research: The changes in CREB localization following long-term potentiation signaling in primary hippocampal neuronal cultures

Joyce Woo: Predoctoral Trainee (NRSA Awarded)
Mentor: Alexey Ostroumov, PhD & Patrick Forcelli, PhD
Thesis Research: Assessing the role of midbrain KCC2-mediated synaptic plasticity in reward learning.

Phil Gross: Thesis defended
Mentor: Jeffrey Huang, PhD
Thesis Research: Elucidating the role of senescent cells in CNS remyelination.

Devin Palmer: Thesis defended
Mentor: Patrick Forcelli, PhD
Thesis Research: Targeting the tectopontine pathway to monitor and control spontaneous seizures.

Neke Nsor: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Casey Brown, PhD
Thesis Research: Using fMRI adaptation to investigate neural dysfunction.

Max Stevenson: Thesis defended
Mentor: Dr. Charbel Moussa
Thesis Research: Investigating the role of c-KIT in the pathogenesis of protein-mediated neurodegenerative disease.

Danna Cunningham: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Bill Rebeck, PhD
Thesis Research: The implications of APOE genotype and amyloid burden on oligodendrocyte metabolism and function in a mouse model of AD.

Ismary Blanco: Thesis defended (NRSA awarded)
Mentor: Katherine Conant, MD
Thesis Research: Stress and depressive-like behaviors in zebrafish: characterizing changes in neuronal plasticity after unpredictable chronic stress.

Dan Chapman: Thesis defended (NRSA awarded)
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD & Stefano Vicini, PhD
Thesis Research: Interrogating synaptic mechanisms underlying contextual fear conditioning amnesia in a rodent model of highly repetitive mild traumatic brain injury.

Tahiyana Khan: Thesis defended
Mentor: Patrick Forcelli, PhD
Thesis Research: The contribution of cellular senescence in epileptogenesis.

Holly Korthas: Thesis defended
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD
Thesis Research: The effects of high-frequency head impacts on circadian rhythms and sleep architecture.

Kelly Martin: Thesis defended
Mentor: Elissa Newport, PhD & Peter Turkeltaub, MD, PhD
Thesis Research: Characterizing the organization of core language and emotional prosody processing in right frontotemporal regions after left hemisphere perinatal stroke.

Mondona McCann: Thesis defended
Mentor: Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: Polychlorinated biphenyls and synuclein as a ‘dual hit’ model of astrocytic dysfunction. 

Andrew Speidell: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Italo Mocchetti, PhD
Thesis Research: The role of p75NTR-coupled signaling in HIV-1 gp120-mediated synaptic injury.

Lorenzo Bozzelli: Thesis defended
Mentor: Katherine Conant, MD
Thesis Research: The role of MMPs and PNNs in HAND.

Deran Erdengiz: Thesis defended
Mentor: Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: Synuclein directly regulates L-type VGCC activity and function in dopaminergic neurons.

Cameron McKay: Thesis defended
Mentor: Guinevere Eden, DPhil
Thesis Research: Developmental dyslexia and hippocampal volume.

Laya Rajan: Thesis defended
Mentor: Chandan Vaidya, PhD
Thesis Research: Neuroplasticity due to obesity in the developing brain. 

Hannah Waguespack: Thesis defended
Mentor: Ludise Malkova, PhD & Patrick Forcelli, PhD
Thesis Research: Midbrain contributions to defensive behavior in macaques.

Stephanie Sloley: Thesis defended
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD
Thesis Research: Identifying changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury.

Kaela Singleton: Thesis defended; Predoctoral Trainee  (NIH F99 Awarded)
Mentor: Elena Silva, PhD
Thesis Research: Mechanisms of regulation and function of Sox 11 in frog and mouse. 

Erin Wenzel: Thesis defended; Predoctoral Trainee (NRSA Awarded)
Mentor: Italo Mocchetti, PhD
Thesis Research: Intracellular mechanisms of HIV-1 envelope protein neurotoxicity.

Brittany Aguilar: Thesis defended
Mentors: Patrick Forcelli, PhD and Ludise Malkova, PhD
Thesis Research: Investigating contributions of intermediate and deep layers of the superior colliculus to defensive and emotional behaviors.

Carrie Leonard: Thesis defended
Mentor: Maria Donoghue, PhD
Thesis Research: EphA7 regulates dendritic morphology and postnatal synapse formation in the cerebral cortex. 

Lanier Heyburn: Thesis defended
Mentors: Brent Harris, MD, PhD and Charbel Moussa, MBBS, PhD
Thesis Research: Effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on TDP-43 localization.

Ted Turesky: Thesis defended
Mentor: Guinevere Eden, D.Phil.
Thesis Research: Neural development and degeneration: An fMRI study on the motor system in children, young adults, and old adults. 

Megan Allen: Thesis defended
Mentors: Katherine Conant, MD and Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD
Thesis Research: MMP-1 Mediated PAR-1 Signaling and Fragile X Syndrome. 

Kelly Chamberlain: Thesis defended
Mentor: Jeffrey Huang, PhD
Thesis Research: Oligodendrocyte Regulation of Neuronal Energy Metabolism and  ATP Buffering.

Amanda DiBattista: Thesis defended; Predoctoral trainee: F31 NRSA
Mentor: Bill Rebeck, PhD
Thesis Research: Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Gene APOE Predicts Molecular Differences in the Absence of Disease. 

Summer Kathol: Thesis defended; Predoctoral trainee: F31 NRSA
Mentor: Italo  Mocchetti, PhD
Thesis Research:  Investigating Mitochondrial Dynamic Impairment by HIV Viral  Protein Tat and the Protective Capacity of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP).

Gustavo Rodriguez: Thesis defended; Predoctoral trainee: F31 NRSA
Mentor: Bill Rebeck, PhD
Thesis Research: Effect of APOE Genotype on Glial Activation in a Mouse Model of Amyloid Deposition.

Carissa Winland Berger: Thesis defended; Predoctoral trainee: F31 NRSA
Mentors:  Kathy Maguire-Zeiss, PhD and Stefano Vicini, PhD
Thesis Research:  The Effect of Inflammation on Striatal Circuitry. 

Teal Connor: Thesis defended
Mentor: Bill Rebeck, PhD
Thesis Research: The Intracellular Domains Required for ApoER2’s Effect on  Dendritic Spine Density. 

Michael Smirnov: Thesis defended
Mentors: Jeffrey Urbach, PhD and  Herb Geller, PhD
Thesis Research: Structural and Mechanical Influence on Growth Cone Guidance and Axonal Regeneration. 

Patricia Washington: Thesis defended
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD
Thesis Research: The Role of Amyloid-Beta After Traumatic Brain Injury: Injury Mediator or Marker? 

Charisse Winston: Thesis defended
Mentor: Mark Burns, PhD
Thesis Research: The Effect of APOE Genotype on Neuronal Remodeling Caused by Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Mary O. Adedoyin, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Dr. Neale and Dr. Stefano Vicini
Thesis Research: The Role of N-acetylaspartylglutamate in the Amygdala.

Liza Q. Bundesen, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded December 2003)
Mentors: Dr. Barbara Bregman and Dr. Larry Kromer
Thesis Research: Â Ephrins and Eph Receptors Participate in Spinal Cord Development and Adult Injury Responses.

Kimberly R. Byrnes, PhD: Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Alan Faden
Thesis Research: Role of Microglial Related Inflammation in the Spinal Cord Response to Injury.

Gregory S. Emch, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Dr. Jean Wrathall and Dr. Stefano Vicini
Postdoctoral Research:Â Synaptic function after SCI.

Craig Dietrich, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Martin Morad
Thesis Research: Protons as Transmitters in Synaptic Signaling.

Andrew E. Emery, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. J. Wroblewski
Thesis Research: Neuroprotective mechanisms of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1

Ivy V. Estabrooke, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded November 2005)
Mentors: Dr. Paul Aisen and Dr. Michael Ullman
Thesis Research: Neuropharmacological Approaches to the Recovery of Language after Neural Insult.

Jae K. Lee, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded October 2005)
Mentor: Dr. Jean Wrathall
Thesis Research: Alterations in the Hoffman-Reflex After Spinal Cord Injury.

Judith M. Lytle, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded May 2007)
Mentors: Dr. Jean Wrathall and Dr. Vittorio Gallo
Thesis Research: Electrophysiological Characterization and Transcriptional Control of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells in the Acutely Injured Spinal Cord.

John G. Partridge, PhD: Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Stefano Vicini
Postdoctoral Research: Excitatory Neurotransmission in Mouse Striatum: The role of NMDA and trkB receptors.

Esther Magnuson, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Dr. Huntsman and Dr. Stefano Vicini
Thesis Research: Inhibitory control of cortical interneurons in mouse somatosensory cortex

Sakura S. Minami, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Dr. Bill Rebeck and Dr. Matsuoka
Thesis Research: The role of Fyn in the pathogenic processes of Alzheimer’s disease

Ahdeah Pajoohesh-Gangi, PhD: Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Alan Faden
Thesis Research: Cell Cycle Regulation after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice mouse model of contusive SCI.

Bridget N. Queenan, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Dr. Daniel Pak and Dr. Stefano Vicini
Thesis Research: Synapse- and Cell-specific Plasticity in the Hippocampus

William J. Rosoff, PhD: Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Geoffrey Goodhill
Postdoctoral Research: Mechanisms of Axonal Gradient Detection.

Lauren E. Ullrich, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentors: Dr. Friedman and Dr. Turner
Thesis Research: Neural structures underlying recognition memory in mild cognitive impairment

Jill Turner, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee (PhD awarded June 2006)
Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Kellar
Thesis Research: Nicotinic Receptors in the Rat Cerebellum

Matthew T. Whittaker, PhD: Postdoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Jean Wrathall
Thesis Research: The role of NG2 cells in recovery from spinal cord injury in a mouse model of contusive SCI.

Brian S. Wolff, PhD: Predoctoral Trainee
Mentor: Dr. Jian-young Wu
Thesis Research: Activation and plasticity of neocortical neuronal populations induced by alternating electrical fields