T32 Trainees

Current T32 Trainees

Past T32 Trainees

Photos Past Trainees
TBA Stephanie Aldrich
sba21@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Stephen Meriney, PhD
Dates of Support: 01/01/2022–10/16/2023
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
Past T32 Trainee - Eric Anderson Eric Anderson, PhD
ena15@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Udai Pandey, PhD
Dates of Support: 02/01/2017–01/31/2019
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Understanding the mechanism of how ALS-associated mutations perturb stress granules (SG) dynamics and how targeting pathological cytoplasmic SG could be a therapeutic target in ALS
TBA Tapas Jaywant Arakeri
tja60@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Aaron Batista, PhD 
Dates of Support: 06/01/2024–05/31/2025
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
Past T32 Trainee - Caitlyn Barrett Caitlyn Barrett, PhD
crb119@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Theresa Hastings, PhD
Dates of Support: 09/01/2015–08/31/2016
Current Position: National Director, Research and Programs, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer
Topic of Research: Determination of GPx4 interacting partners and functional consequences of GPx4 overexpression at baseline and in response to oxidative stress
TBA Gary Blumenthal
gary.blumenthal@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Jennifer Collinger, PhD
Dates of Support: 05/01/2023–04/30/2025
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Neurorehabilitation
Past T32 Trainee - Christopher Bodle Christopher Bodle, PhD
crb119@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: J. Timothy Greenamyre, MD, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2017–06/30/2019
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Elucidating the role of adenosine A2A receptor in cellular stress and toxicity induced by rotenone: implications for Parkinson’s disease
TBA Megan Brady, PhD
Postdoc Mentor: Tija Jacob, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2014–06/10/2016
Current Position: Clinical Research Associate, SCOPE International, Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Role of α5-containing GABAAR synaptic signaling in neuronal maturation
Past T32 Trainee - Joe Brague Joe Brague, PhD
jcb165@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Rebecca Seal, PhD
Dates of Support: 09/01/2017–08/31/2019
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: The Role of VGLUT3 in Parkinson's Disease
TBA Christina Cerkevich, PhD
cerkec@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Peter L. Strick, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2014–06/30/2016
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Finding the neural basis for the control of vocalization
Current T32 Trainee - Raeed Chowdhury Raeed Chowdhury, PhD
raeed.chowdhury@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Aaron Batista, PhD 
Dates of Support: 08/01/2019–Present
Current Position: N/A (Current Trainee)
Topic of Research: Exploring the neural basis of skill learning and expertise
TBA Karin Cox
kmc51@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Robert Turner, PhD
Dates of Support: 05/01/2024–04/30/2025
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
Past T32 Trainee - Alan Degenhart Alan Degenhart, PhD
Postdoc Mentor: Aaron Batista, PhD
Dates of Support: 11/01/2014–10/31/2016
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Carnegie Mellon University
Topic of Research: Uncovering the neural mechanisms of adaptation during brain-controlled and hand-controlled tasks
TBA Cody Drozd
cjd154@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Charleen Chu, MD, PhD
Dates of Support: 11/01/2023–04/30/2025
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
TBA Madeline Edwards
N/A
Postdoc Mentor: Chengcheng Huang, PhD
Dates of Support: 09/01/2021–08/31/2023
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
TBA Krista Fjeld
N/A
Postdoc Mentor: Gelsy Torres-Oviedo, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2022–06/30/2023
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
Current T32 Trainee - Amanda Gleixner Amanda Gleixner, PhD
amg253@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Christopher Donnelly, PhD
Dates of Support: 08/01/2019–Present
Current Position: N/A (Current Trainee)
Topic of Research: Consequences of TDP43 loss of function on nucleoporin-mediated regulation of neuronal maturation state
TBA Sharonda Harris, PhD
Postdoc Mentor: Gonzalo Torres, PhD
Dates of Support: 08/01/2014–08/31/2015
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida at Gainesville
Topic of Research: Examining the interaction between G subunits and the dopamine transporter (DAT) and its role in promoting dopamine efflux as well as its involvement in the actions of amphetamine
Past T32 Trainee - Elizabeth Hirshorn Elizabeth Hirshorn, PhD
hirshore@newpaltz.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Julie Fiez, PhD
Dates of Support: 09/01/2014–08/31/2016
Current Position: Assistant Professor, SUNY New Paltz
Topic of Research: Neurobiological foundations and remediation of reading disorders, computational underpinnings of bilateral fusiform cortex in reading
Past T32 Trainee - Bistra Iordanova Bistra Iordanova, PhD
bei3@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentors: Alberto Vasquez, PhD (Mentor) and Milos Ikonomovic, MD (Senior Mentor)
Dates of Support: 07/01/2016–05/31/2017
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Effects of cerebral amyloid angiopathy on blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the brain
TBA Dika Kuljis, PhD
dkuljis@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Alison Barth, PhD
Dates of Support: 02/01/2017–01/31/2019
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, Carnegie Mellon University
Topic of Research: Using new tools for the fluorescent labeling of synapses in brain tissue to identify interneuron innervation patterns onto cortical pyramidal neurons, determine how novel sensory experiences influence synaptic plasticity at the anatomical level in primary vibrassae sensory cortex, and to screen for aberrant synapse morphology in models of disease
Current T32 Trainee - Tenzin Kunkhyen Tenzin Kunkhyen, PhD
tkun@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Claire Cheetham, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2018–Present
Current Position: N/A (Current Trainee)
Topic of Research: Identify cellular properties of olfactory bulb dopaminergic neurons that survive or die when sensory input is eliminated
TBA Ryan Logan, PhD
rwl16@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Colleen McClung, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2014–03/15/2016
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Topic of Research: Circadian rhythms and psychiatric diseases
Current T32 Trainee - Britney Lizama Britney Lizama, PhD
bnl32@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Charleen Chu, MD, PhD
Dates of Support: 09/01/2018–Present
Current Position: N/A (Current Trainee)
Topic of Research: Neuroprotective Roles of PINK1 In Mitigating Mutant Tau Pathology
TBA Jiayi Lu
ena15@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Charleen Chu, MD, PhD
Dates of Support: 10/01/2022–09/30/2023
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
TBA Kelly Martin
kellymar@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Marlene Behrmann, PhD
Dates of Support: 06/01/2024–01/31/2025
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
Current T32 Trainee - Bruce Nmezi Bruce Nmezi, PhD
bcn6@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Quasar Padiath, PhD
Dates of Support: 08/01/2019–Present
Current Position: N/A (Current Trainee)
Topic of Research: The role of lamin B1 in the maturation and proliferation of oligodendrocyte-lineage cells
TBA Jessia Nuwer
ena15@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Tija Jacobs, PhD
Dates of Support: 06/01/2021–05/31/2023
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
Past T32 Trainee - Emily Oby Emily Oby, PhD
emo22@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Aaron Batista, PhD
Dates of Support: 02/01/2017–01/31/2018
Current Position: Research Instructor, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Using a brain-computer interface paradigm to understand the neural correlates of learning
Past T32 Trainee - Jami Saloman Jami Saloman, PhD
jls354@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Brian Davis, PhD
Dates of Support: 09/01/2014–08/31/2016
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Topic of Research: Role of the nervous system in progression of pancreatic cancer, somatic and visceral pain mediated plasticity of the peripheral and central nervous system
TBA Elaine Robbins
ena15@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Xinyan Tracy Cui, PhD
Dates of Support: 11/01/2020–10/31/2022
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: TBA
Past T32 Trainee - Tayler Sheahan Tayler Sheahan, PhD
tayler.sheahan@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Sarah Ross, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2018–11/31/2018
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Understanding the spinal circuitry of cold
Past T32 Trainee - Eric Swanson Eric Swanson, PhD
Postdoc Mentor: Amantha Thathiah, PhD
Dates of Support: 07/01/2018–06/30/2019
Current Position: Scientist, Abcam, Eugene, Oregon
Topic of Research: The role of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases (GRKs) in pathological tau phosphorylation
Past T32 Trainee - Patricia de la Tremblaye Patricia de la Tremblaye, PhD
prt525@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Anthony E. Kline, PhD
Dates of Support: 02/01/2017–04/30/2018
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Ottawa
Topic of Research: Examining the role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating long-term neurobehavioral consequences of adolescent chronic stress and TBI on cognitive and emotional impairments in male and female rats
Current T32 Trainee - Jacqueline (Starr) Welty Jacqueline Welty, PhD
jaw227@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Amantha Thathiah, PhD
Dates of Support: 08/01/2019–Present
Current Position: N/A (Current Trainee)
Topic of Research: Aβ specificity in DNA damage repair in Alzheimer’s Disease
Past T32 Trainee - Rashid Williams-Garcia Rashid Williams-Garcia, PhD
rwgarcia@pitt.edu
Postdoc Mentor: Nathan N. Urban, PhD
Dates of Support: 08/01/2016–07/31/2018
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
Topic of Research: Investigating the neural basis of sensory deficits in autism spectrum disorders