• Hometown:Pleasanton, CA
• Favorite color: Blue
• Favorite disney character: Buzz Lightyear and Mike Wazowski
• Scientific hero(es): Rosalind Franklin, Albert Einstein
• Favorite non-neuro/non-development arena: organic chemistry, marine biology
• Spirit animal: Red Panda
• Lab call sign/nickname: Vince
• Personal motto:
  “Creativity will take you further than calculation.” -Ronaldinho

Research associate, technician extraordinaire, and resident comedian of the Panagiotakos Lab! I’m keenly interested in understanding the developing brain and how dysfunctional calcium signaling pathways contribute to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability. My research makes use of mouse models to study members of the Calcineurin/NFATc pathway in developing astrocytes, mature neurons, and progenitors of the developing cortex. Outside of lab, I enjoy playing soccer (big Barcelona fan!), video games, and exploring NYC!

• Hometown: Albania, Italy
• Favorite color: Aquamarine
• Favorite disney character: Mulan, (non-Disney character: Minions)
• Scientific hero(es):Barbara McClintock
• Favorite non-neuro/non-development arena: Nutrition, women’s health
• Spirit animal: Turtle
• Lab call sign/nickname: Adele
• Personal motto:
  “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” -Napoleon Hill

I was born in Albania but grew up in Italy. I moved from New Jersey to New York to complete a dual degree, a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biological Science at Hunter College. In the lab of Dr. Melendez at Hunter, I worked on oligodendrocyte precursor cells’ differentiation in a mouse model and my thesis project led me to other fascinating glial cells (astrocytes and microglia). I am keen on understanding their developmental mechanisms and how these relate to neurological disease! Outside the lab, I enjoy training for a marathon, exploring NYC, baking, or simply vegetating on the couch.

• Hometown: Virginia and Bangalore, India
• Favorite color: Blue
• Favorite disney character: Toothless from How to Train your Dragon
• Scientific hero(es): Ramanujan, Marie Curie, Galileo Galilei
• Favorite non-neuro/non-development arena: Infectious Disease, Astronomy
• Spirit animal: Cheetah
• Lab call sign/nickname: Shreya
• Personal motto:
  “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” –Albert Einstein

I was born in Virginia, USA but moved to Bangalore, India in middle school. So basically half my life in each country! I graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Neuroscience. During my undergrad, I conducted research with Dr. Chris Deppmann to explore the role of P75 neurotrophin receptors on neurodegeneration. My first real exposure to neuroscience was at the Indian Institute of Science, where I learned about the role of oxidative stress on neurodegeneration. This kindled my interest to dive deeper into understanding the intricate mechanisms of neuroreceptors and hopefully improve treatment options for neurological diseases. I came across Dr. Panagiotakos’ lab website while searching for jobs and her portrayal of the lab and her work on Timothy’s Syndrome stuck out to me. When I am not in the lab, I love to try new outdoor activities, play the piano, and eat at different restaurants in NYC!

• Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
• Favorite color: Red
• Favorite disney character: Hercules
• Scientific hero(es): Gertrude Elion, Alexander Flemming
• Favorite non-neuro/non-development arena: Oncology
• Spirit animal: Highland (fluffy) Cow
• Lab call sign/nickname: Sanj
• Personal motto:
  “Life is a succession of lessons that must be lived to be understood.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I graduated from NYU with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. In the lab of Dr. Hubbard at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, I worked on insulin signaling in the germ line of C. elegans which sparked my interest in germ and stem cells as well as their subsequent differentiation pathways. After graduation, I joined Dr. Vierbuchen’s lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and directed differentiation of mouse epiblast stem cells into cerebral organoids in order to investigate the effect of ARID1A/B haploinsufficiency on manifestation of specific neurodevelopmental disorders. My collective research experiences have furthered my interest in the mechanisms behind neural progenitor cell differentiation and how they contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders, which I am excited to continue investigating in Dr. Panagiotakos’s lab! Outside the lab, I love going for long walks, thrifting, and reading mystery books.

• Hometown: Northern NJ
• Favorite color: Pink
• Favorite disney character: Remy from Ratatouille
• Scientific hero(es):Katherine Johnson, Rachel Carson, Frances Oldham Kelsey
• Favorite non-neuro/non-development arena: Biosecurity & Public Health
• Spirit animal: Squirrel
• Lab call sign/nickname: Alex
• Personal motto:
  “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” –Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I graduated with a BSc in Biology from Brown University where I was first exposed to the world of calcium signaling in the lab of Dr. Elena Oancea. I then stayed in New England to learn more about the biotechnology industry and the fascinating cultural rituals surrounding St. Patty’s day. Gaining exposure to several disease areas at a startup piqued my interest in interrogating biological mechanisms at a deeper level through a graduate education. At Mount Sinai, I am a PhD student in the development, regeneration, and stem cell teaching area excited to study human development using human tissue and stem cell-derived organoids.

• Hometown: California
• Favorite color: Hot pink
• Scientific hero: Whoever offers the most belly rubs
• Spirit animal: Skeptical Hummingbird
• Lab call sign/nickname: Ellie-girl
• Personal motto: “Did you say snackie?”