MEET THE TEAM

I received my PhD in Biochemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, under the mentorship of Dr. Albena Jordanova. During this time, I studied the role of a cytoplasmic tRNA synthetase and its surprising nuclear role in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathology. Now, I pursue my postdoctoral research in the Shepherd lab, where I focus on the role of dArc in memory and learning. I use the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to study such behaviours and the properties of the dArc1 protein in cell signalling. Coming from the flat lands of Belgium, I thoroughly enjoy the outdoors that Utah provides. In the weekend you can find me hiking the many trails looking for waterfalls, wildlife, summits, and flowers (the last one is mainly to convince my partner to come along). Alternatively, I love training for my next long-distance run. Fun fact: after first being introduced to cornhole in the States, I’m still unbeaten.

I received my B.S. in Biological Sciences from Sichuan University, China. During that time, I studied the CRISPR-Cas technique under the mentorship of Prof. Hong Feng. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D in Shepherd Lab focusing on screening capsid-forming proteins and exploring their functions in the brain.

I completed my bachelors degree in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh and worked in several labs in industry and academia. My interest in neuroscience and examining the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory eventually led me to the Ting Lab at MIT (now at Stanford) where I worked on developing molecular tools to study neuron biology, and then to Utah and the Shepherd lab. My PhD work focuses on characterizing Activity Regulated Cytoskeletal (Arc) containing Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and determining how they are released from mammalian cells using in vitro and biochemical approaches. Improved understanding of Arc in this context could lead to a better understanding of synaptic plasticity and mechanisms of memory as well as the development of treatments for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

I received my B.S. in Zoology from University of Delhi, India. I then earned my M.S. in Neuroscience from Jiwaji University, India. During that time, I examined the effect of maternal malnutrition on myelination in rat cerebrum at neonatal and adulthood stages, under the guidance of Dr. Ishan Patro. I worked for several years validating anti aggregation effects of secondary metabolites from medicinal plants in neurodegenerative disorders at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Neuroscience in the Shepherd lab, where I study the role of Arc in intercellular spread of pathological tau during Alzheimer’s disease.