Team

Ken is the PI of the lab. He received his PhD from Stony Brook University under the guidance of Xiang He. After his postdoctoral research in Guillermo Horga’s lab at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute he joined Mount Sinai in 2024. Ken directs the lab which focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia by integrating advanced MRI methods with biophysical models to bridge the translational gap for developing targeted therapeutics.
Fun fact: If Ken could be an animal, he would be a peregrine falcon.

Faculty profile

Monalisa is a senior scientist in Wengler lab. She received her PhD in Applied Mathematics from Iowa State University under the guidance of Dr Alric Rothmayer and Dr Paul Sacks. She did her postdoctoral training under the supervision of Dr Joseph Culver at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis. During her postdoc, she worked on the effects of deep brain stimulation on cortical functional networks and behavior in patients with Parkinson’s disease using high-density diffuse optical tomography. In her current role, Monalisa is using biophysical models along with advanced MRI methods and machine learning techniques to understand the neural mechanisms leading to cognitive and behavioral changes in schizophrenia.
Fun fact: If Mona could be an animal, she would be a horse.

Robert is an Associate Researcher in the lab. He attained his Bachelor’s of Science at MIT studying Computer Science and Neuroscience. After graduating he worked under Dr. April Levin’s lab at Boston Children’s Hospital researching EEG biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder in children. Robert joined the Wengler Lab in 2024 and is excited to learn more about how MRI is used to understand psychiatric disorders.
Fun fact: If Robert could be an animal, he would be a panda.

Dale is the Clinical Research Coordinator in the Wengler Lab. She studied Neuroscience at Connecticut College, and graduated in 2023. She has worked as both a Research Assistant and Behavioral Therapist. She is interested in the cognitive mechanisms that can be studied utilizing MRI techniques.
Fun fact: If Dale could be an animal, she would be a dog!