Sean O'Toole, B.S., WPI. Understanding how specific cortical cell types adapt to varying network conditions has important implications for diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and autism. I am focused on asking what role the microRNA system plays in this adaptation.

sean.michael.otoole@gmail.com

Jessie St. Martin, B.S., Umass Boston. I'm a member of the Nelson as well as the Paradis lab (directly across the hall). I'm interested in understanding how molecular cues influence synaptic specificity. I also like hiking, listening to music, and cooking.

Michael Rutlin, PhD, John Hopkins University School of Medicine
The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience

rutlin@brandeis.edu

Zhe Meng, Huazhong University of Science & Technology at Hankou, China, B.S., Chemical Engineering, July 1999. I joined the Nelson lab in 2004. I really enjoy working here at Brandeis. The people are enthusiastic about their work and a pleasure to work with.

zhe@brandeis.edu

Yasuyukii Shima, PhD, Kyoto University. I am generating transgenic mice which enable genetic manipulation in very restricted cell types in the nervous system. I am expecting these lines will be strong tools in finer level analysis of neuronal circuits and their functions. 

yasuyuki.shima@gmail.com

Sacha Nelson, B.A., B.S., Brown University; M.D., Ph.D., UCSD; Post-Doc, M.I.T. Look at the research section of the website to view my interests. Aside from that I enjoy Ultimate Frisbee!!

Nelson@brandeis.edu

Yasmin Escobedo-Lozoya, B.S., UNAM (México). Interneurons employ multiple homeostatic control mechanisms to successfully integrate and regulate activity in the developing cortex. I am interested in understanding how disruptions of homeostatic processes in interneurons contribute to trigger severe developmental epileptic disorders such as West Syndrome.

yasmin@brandeis.edu

Jamie Bullis, B.A., University of Minnesota; Ph.D., University of Washington. I am interested in the interactions between ion channel, genes, and the environment.  I am currently attempting to uncover the ion channel(s) responsible for the sAHP current in the neocortex using RNAi knockdown of specific ion channel subunits.

jamesbullis@gmail.com

Jay Gibson, 1996-1997, currently an Assistant Professor at University of Texas, Southwestern.

Chris Hempel, 1997-2004, currently a Research Scientist at Galenea Corp. Cambridge, MA.

Yifeng Zhou,  1998-1999, currently an independent investigator in the Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PRC.

Sooyoung Chung, 1998-2003, currently an Independent Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Neural Science, Korea Institute of Science and Technology.

Kate MacLeod, 1999-2001, currently a Research Professor at University of Maryland, College Park.

Jan-Alexander Heimel, 2001-2003, currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute.

Alfredo Fontanini, 2002 – 2003, currently an Assistant Professor, SUNY Stonybrook.

Alexis Hattox,  2003-2007,  currently a Life Science Consultant at Back Bay Strategies LLC.

Juan Varela, Neuroscience, 1994-1999, currently a Research Assoc. at University of Colorado, Boulder.

Chaelon Myme, Neuroscience, 1998-2004,  currently a professor of neuroscience at Thiel College.

P. Jesper Sjöström, Neuroscience, 1999-2002, currently an Asst. Professor at McGill.

Xiangui Li, visiting scholar, 1999-2001, currently a Research Associate at the University of Southern California.

Steven Van Hooser, Neuroscience, 2000-2005, currently an Assistant Professor at Brandeis University.

Mark Miller,  Neuroscience,  2003-2008, currently a postdoctoral fellow at UCSF.

Vardhan Dani, Neuroscience,  2003-2008, currently a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford.

Ben Okaty,  Neuroscience, 2004-2010, currently a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School.

Wajma Yusufzai. I've always wanted to be apart of something big. Personally, I think that working at the Nelson lab more than fulfills that requirement. I love working with the people in the lab as they ensure that no two days are the same (backhanded compliment).

wajma@brandeis.edu

Praveen Taneja, PhD, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai, India. I am passionate about understanding the mechanisms underlying various brain disorders (eg. Infantile Spasms, Rett Syndrome). Because of my physics background I try to analyze my results more mathematically often with the aid of computer programming. In my free time I like to read, play chess, and be outdoors.

taneja@brandeis.edu

Alex Flyax, B.S., Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. I am interested in the role that DNA methylation plays in the adult brain. My approach is to examine the effect of removing core DNA methylation players in specific cell types to understand better how epigenetics applies to development and maintenance of neurophysiological neuronal phenotypes. I am also interested in dendritic computations in the context of functional circuitry and interaction between parallel memory systems. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing the game of go, archery, classical music, and outdoors.

Ken Sugino , 2004 – 2011, located at Janelia Farms and is currently apart of a collaboration between Adam Hantman, Sean Eddy and the Nelson lab.