Student Seminars and Defenses

Jessica Fiser; Sabrina Mai - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: David Dodell-Feder & Coraline Rinn Iordan

Student Moderator: Leah Sheppard

 Apr 20, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Emma Susi; Jessia Ogu - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Souvarish Sarkar & Michael Telias

Student Seminars: Stacey Pedraza

 Apr 06, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Catrin Zharry; Johnathan Williams - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez & Doug Portman

Student Moderator: Nicole Popp

 Mar 30, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Jiwon Choi; Tanmai Dhanireddy - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Chris Holt & Jennetta Hammond

Student Moderator: Niki Lam

 Mar 23, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Aa Guo; Pavel Rjabtsenko - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: John Olschowka & Angela Hewitt

Student Moderator: Aaron Huynh

 Mar 16, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Laura Duvall, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Science, Columbia University

 Mar 11, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6804)

Host: Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Seminar Speaker Series

Alesandra Martin; Wen Li - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Julie Fudge & Harris Gelbard

Student Moderator: AJ (Aishwarya) Jayan

 Mar 02, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Jean Setenet; Yunshan Cai - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Gail Johnson & Juliette McGreger

Student Moderator: Amelia Hines

 Feb 23, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Emma Bryson; Emma Strawderman - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Paul Kammermeier & Deborah Cory-Slechta

Student Moderator: Erica Squire

 Feb 16, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Ivan Tkac, PhD - Assistant Professor of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota

Localized proton (¹H) MR spectroscopy (MRS) has made notable progress over the last 25 years by increasing the range of detectable brain metabolites in living organisms and by improving the precision and reliability of their quantification. The major advantage of MRS is the in vivo nature, which allows to monitor the progression of neurological diseases, as well as the response to treatments. In the beginning of my talk, I will outline the basic principles of the MRS technique, explain the benefits of ultra-high magnetic fields for in vivo neurochemical quantification and discuss the possibilities and challenges in wider research and clinical applications. In the second part, I will show examples of in vivo MRS applications in animal models (brain development, neurodegenerative diseases) and in humans (neurodegeneration, brain activation)

 Feb 11, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | 2-7520

Host: Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Seminar Speaker Series

Alex Solorzano; Joanne Chiu - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Krystel Huxlin & Greg DeAngelis

Student Moderator: Sid Chittaranjan

 Feb 09, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Caleb Mahlen; Skylar DeWitt - PhD Candidate

Faculty Evaluators: Marissa Sobolewski & Ania Majewska

Student Moderator: Staci Rocco

 Feb 02, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)

Adam Roszczyk; Tracey Preko - PhD Candidate

Titles: Preko - "Chemogenetic Manipulation of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC)"
          Roszczyk - "Astrocytes Sense and Respond to Acute Insulin Resistance"

Faculty Evaluators: Jean Bidlack & Paul Geha

Student Moderator: Tom Scudder

 Jan 26, 2026 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K307 (3-6408)