Principal Investigator
![Photo of Dr. Kareem Zaghloul](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-03/zaghloul_2013_7f12d7af-d3e5-4a5f-9bb5-705799243ea3.png?itok=Pij9X54l)
Current Members
![Headshot of Julio Chapeton, Ph.D.](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-chapeton-250x250.jpg?itok=iPQJA-EY)
Julio Chapeton, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
julio.chapeton@nih.gov
Julio received bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of South Florida and earned his physics Ph.D. from Northeastern University in Boston. He joined the lab as a postdoc in October 2014 and his current work is focused on analyzing functional and effective connectivity using intracranial EEG and micro-array recordings. The main focus of his research at the NIH is to gain a better understanding of the architecture of human brain networks and the propagation of information through these networks. Other projects involve developing quantitative measures of epileptiform activity which may be useful for seizure detection, prediction, and localization.
![Photo of Weizhen Xie, Ph.D.](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-xie-250x250.jpg?itok=LXK8M6e5)
Weizhen Xie, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
weizhen.xie@nih.gov
I completed my doctoral training in Cognitive Psychology at Universtiy of California, Riverside in 2018. Previously, I received undergraduate training at Renmin University of China (Beijing), Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing), and Universtiy of California, Davis. I study human brain and behavior to understand representations and processes of memory and cognition, including questions regarding the quantity and quality of memories, interaction across different states of memory representations, and compromised memory functions in neurological and psychiatric disorders, etc.
![Sundby](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-03/profile-sundby.jpg?itok=VdplCrxQ)
Kelsey Sundby, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
kelsey.sundby@nih.gov
I received my PhD in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience from the University of California San Diego in 2021. I am interested in understanding how top-down control processes affect memory representations and how memory helps guide behavior. In one line of research, I seek to better understand the role of frontal-basal ganglia networks in memory-guided decisions. Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, hiking, and exploring new restaurants.
![Mohan](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-03/profile-mohan_0.jpg?itok=hs_EHEqv)
Uma Mohan, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
uma.mohan@nih.gov
Uma received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and Applied Math & Statistics from Johns Hopkins University followed by a M.Eng. in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University. After briefly working as a software engineer, she completed her PhD at Columbia University in Dr. Joshua Jacobs’ Electrophysiology, Memory, and Spatial Navigation Lab. She explored the electrophysiological effects of direct electrical brain stimulation in humans and spatiotemporal patterns of brain oscillations during memory. She joined the lab in 2022 and is investigating in more detail the neural signals related to memory and the effects of brain stimulation on those signals. Outside the lab, she enjoys dancing, running, and traveling.
Ian Bright
Postdoctoral Fellow
ian.bright@nih.gov
Ian grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA and received a B.S. in mathematics and a B.A. in psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2016. He joined the lab in 2023 after completing a psychology Ph.D. at Boston University. His research aims to better understand the neural processes that enable episodic memory storage and retrieval, focusing on the role of time and context. Outside of the lab, he enjoys watching movies, hiking, and having the Philadelphia 76ers break his heart.
![Ryan Kirkpatrick](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2024-03/profile-kirkpatrick.jpg?itok=W6YTaCMZ)
Ryan Kirkpatrick
Postdoctoral Fellow
ryan.kirkpatrick@nih.gov
Ryan received his B.S. in Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016, and his PhD in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Virginia. He studies the intersection between episodic memory and decision-making, and the neural substrates underlying these processes. Outside of the lab, he enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling around the world.
![Diamond](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2023-02/profile-diamond.png?itok=MY_UJL06)
Joshua Diamond, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, National Institutes of Health
joshua.diamond@nih.gov
I graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S in neuroscience, a long-time and continued passion of mine. In my spare time, I enjoy being with friends and family, playing tennis, and playing and programming chess.
![Photo of Samantha Jackson](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-jackson-250x250.jpg?itok=dV5ujlBe)
Samantha Jackson
Data Engineer
samantha.jackson@nih.gov
Samantha grew up in Silver Spring, MD and graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Biological Engineering. After graduation, she spent a year as a post-bac at NIH focused on image processing and deep learning for MRI in acute stroke research. Her current area of work is advancing the intracranial EEG data processing pipeline and codebase. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going to concerts, playing soccer, and traveling
![Fruchet](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-03/profile-fruchet_0.jpg?itok=662VoVXX)
Oceane Fruchet
Lab Manager
oceane.fruchet@nih.gov
Oceane grew up in France and became a licensed Physical Therapist. She then earned her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology and a master's degree in Computer and Information Technology from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining the lab in 2022, she spent 2.5 years at Penn studying traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and her dog.
![Photo of Jiali Zhang](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-zhang-250x250.jpg?itok=S_y5gGkv)
Jiali Zhang
PhD Student, NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program
jiali.zhang@nih.gov
Originally from China, I grew up in Seattle, Washington and studied Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins. During my undergrad, I explored a wide range of neuroscience research before finding my niche in computational cognitive neuroscience. I am currently pursing my PhD through the NIH-OxCam program and plan to attend medical school thereafter. I love hiking, skiing, and exploring new places, and enjoy cooking up a good meal with friends.
![Steinberg](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-06/profile-steinberg.jpg?itok=egorlGy-)
Noah Steinberg
PhD Student, Georgetown University
njs90@georgetown.edu
I grew up in New Jersey and attended Lafayette College where I got a BS degree in Neuroscience. After completing a post-bac in the NIMH studying human visual processing, I matriculated to Georgetown’s MD/PhD program in 2019. I am now in the “PhD phase” of my program, where I am co-mentored by Dr. Kareem Zaghloul at NIH and Dr. Maximillian Riesenhuber at Georgetown University and will be investigating semantic memory (ie how the brain understands that ‘d’ + ‘o’ + ‘g’ and fluffy, cuddly animals are the same thing). I'm also a huge soccer fan, love cooking with friends, and going on hikes.
![David Zarrin](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2024-03/David_square.jpg?itok=stfpLrEn)
David Zarrin
Medical Research Scholars Program
david.zarrin@nih.gov
I grew up in California near San Jose. After completing my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at University of California, Berkeley in 2017, I decided to switch to a career in medicine. I completed a pre-medical post-baccalaureate and master’s in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University and am now a rising fourth year medical student at UCLA. I am generally interested in linking engineering with medicine to develop medical devices and technology for neurosurgical patients. In my spare time, you might find me running, backpacking, rock climbing, or spending time with family and friends.
![Ujwal Boddeti](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2024-03/Ujwal_square.jpg?itok=Mhv8fQUm)
Ujwal Boddeti
Medical Research Scholars Program
ujwal.boddeti@nih.gov
Hey, I’m Ujwal! I grew up in New Orleans, LA and graduated from the George Washington University in DC with a BS in Chemistry and minors in Biology and Public Health. I am interested in exploring epileptogenesis using computational approaches. Specifically, I hope to use intracranial recordings to explore what happens during seizures, and how this can inform future therapeutic interventions. In my spare time, you can find me reading, playing the piano, or spending time with family and friends.
![Valerie Wang](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2023-08/profile-wang.jpg?itok=WtJzoD0U)
Valerie Wang
NIH Post-bac IRTA
valerie.wang@nih.gov
Hi, I’m Valerie! I recently graduated with an M.S. in Applied Physics from Stanford University and a B.A. in Physics from Pomona College. In my overall research journey, I switched from astrophysics into neuroscience, and it has been so fun! I will be doing a Fulbright next year and hope to become a physician-scientist in the future.
![Rachael Volkman](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2024-03/Rachael_square.jpg?itok=uUiFc02i)
Rachael Volkman
NIH Post-bac IRTA
rachael.volkman@nih.gov
I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa (Go Hawks) where I received a B.S. in neuroscience. In my time there, I conducted research in the Narayanan lab where I explored the behavioral and cognitive symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s Disease. Outside of lab, I enjoy reading, hiking, painting, and spending time with my cat, Mika.
![Maxwell Lichtenfeld](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2024-03/Max_square.jpg?itok=TgWOVEY4)
Maxwell Lichtenfeld
NIH Post-bac IRTA
maxwell.lichtenfeld@nih.gov
I grew up outside of Atlanta, GA, and I recently graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Cognitive Studies, Public Health, and Neuroscience. At Vanderbilt, I worked with intracranial recordings in macaque to investigate the role of distinct layers of cortex, neuronal cell types, and synchronous brain rhythms in generating predictions and integrating those predictions with external stimuli. Now, I am excited to analyze neural networks responsible for memory and prediction in my current research. Outside of the lab, I enjoy going to trivia nights, playing any pickup sport (especially football), and getting out in nature.
![Sabrina Nusraty](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2024-03/Sabrina_square.jpg?itok=3JtlT1IY)
Sabrina Nusraty
NIH Post-bac IRTA
sabrina.nusraty@nih.gov
I grew up in Potomac, Maryland and graduated from the University of Maryland Honors College with a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Government and Politics. At Maryland, I investigated whether a protein speculated to be involved in seizure development was associated with the mTOR neurodevelopmental pathway. My current research explores the metabolic and inflammatory changes correlated with epilepsy and seeks to identify the signaling capabilities of cilia in the context of glioma tumorigenesis. In my free time, I love to run, hike, and spend time with friends and family!
Lab Alumni
![Headshot of John H Wittig Jr Ph.D.](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-wittig-250x250.jpg?itok=Yp9RCBrL)
John H Wittig, Jr PhD
VP Data Science, iBoss
john.wittig@gmail.com
![Headshot of Vishnu Sreekumar, Ph.D.](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-sreekumar-250x250.jpg?itok=oke2DFke)
Vishnu Sreekumar, PhD
Assistant Professor, IIIT Hyderabad
vishnu.sreekumar85@gmail.com
![Photo of Alex Vaz](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-vaz-250x250.jpg?itok=uvTUZYNr)
Alex Vaz, MD, PhD
Neurosurgery Resident, University of Pennsylvania
vazio92@gmail.com
![Photo of Baltazar Zavala, Ph.D.](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-zavala-250x250.jpg?itok=3F_kPpkV)
Baltazar Zavala, MD, PhD
Neurosurgery Resident, Barrow Neurological Institute
zarzavala@gmail.com
![Photo of Robert Yaffe, Ph.D.](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-yaffe-250x250.jpg?itok=mj1Dag3R)
Robert Yaffe, PhD
Software Engineer, Google
robertbyaffe@gmail.com
![Photo of Tora Bonnevie, M.D., Ph.D.](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-bonnevie-250x250.jpg?itok=3Qx0ZW3p)
Tora Bonnevie, MD, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
tora.bonnevie@ntnu.no
![Photo of Rafi Haque](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-haque-250x250_0.jpg?itok=ngSAJIc4)
Rafi Haque, MD, PhD
Neurology Resident, Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham & Women's Hospital
rafihaque90@gmail.com
![Dani McAuliffe](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2023-08/profile-mcauliffe.jpg?itok=omtmWlYs)
Danielle McAuliffe
Medical Student, Temple University
danielle.mcauliffe12@gmail.com
![Photo of Armin Mortazavi](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-mortazavi-250x250.jpg?itok=AvlpK_v9)
Armin Mortazavi, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, University of Michigan
am3591@georgetown.edu
![Rock](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-03/profile-rock_1.jpg?itok=GxXdUqWM)
Mitchell Rock, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, University of North Carolina
mbr64@georgetown.edu
![Photo of Anas Khan](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-khan-250x250.jpg?itok=MZMz01JN)
Anas Khan
MD/PhD Student, University of Alabama - Birmingham
anaskhan@uab.edu
![Photo of Marcelle Altshuler](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-altshuler-250x250.jpg?itok=j-Js_Z8O)
Marcelle Altshuler, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, Brigham and Women's Hospital
msa121@georgetown.edu
![Photo of Andrew Il Yang](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-yang-250x250.jpg?itok=jJ-wX7oT)
![Photo of Jason Hsieh](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-hsieh-250x250.jpg?itok=wBqUY9JH)
Jason Hsieh, MD
Neurosurgery Resident, Cleveland Clinic
jason.k.hsieh@gmail.com
![Photo of Ai Phuong Tong](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-tong-250x250.jpg?itok=FRJAaTqE)
![Baumhauer](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-03/profile-baumhauer_0.jpg?itok=_zooxrxK)
![Phan](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-03/profile-phan_0.jpg?itok=Vn6YJvG8)
![Carney](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2022-03/profile-carney_0.jpg?itok=RK7tNe2n)
![Photo of Nichols Faturos](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-faturos-250x250_0.jpg?itok=5jtpt7ij)
![Photo of Kohleman Swift](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-swift-250x250_0.jpg?itok=-aS_hKLY)
![Photo of Srijan Bhasin](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-bhasin-250x250_0.jpg?itok=-R33fjBP)
Srijan Bhasin
MD Student, Duke University
sbhasin@email.wm.edu
![Photo of Courtney Battles](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-battles-250x250.jpg?itok=I_C1MSTd)
Courtney Battles
Clinical Specialist, Medtronic Inc.
courtneybgrad@gmail.com
![Photo of Jemima Olu-Owatade](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-olu-owatade-250x250.jpg?itok=Bdczz14Q)
Jemima Olu-Owatade
Research assistant, University of Maryland
owatadejemima@gmail.com
![Photo of Erin Schaeffer](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-schaeffer-250x250.jpg?itok=rAyRvAnn)
Erin Schaeffer
MD/PhD Student, University of Wisconsin
erin_schaeffer@alumni.brown.edu
![Photo of David Youssef](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-youssef-250x250.jpg?itok=-oBGF0VR)
David Youssef
MD Student, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai
youssef.19@buckeyemail.osu.edu
![Photo of Mostafa El-Kalliny](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-el-kalliny-250x250.jpg?itok=vDV8ZRds)
Mostafa El-Kalliny
MD/PhD Student, University of Colorado
mostafa.elkalliny@gmail.com
![Photo of Christopher Zawora](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-zawora-250x250.jpg?itok=cOGrnbSn)
Christopher Zawora
Software Developer, FairVote
christopher.zawora@gmail.com
![Photo of Michael Trotta](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-trotta-250x250.jpg?itok=Zt2Ih8Cw)
Michael Trotta
Software Engineer, Protenus
michaelstrotta@gmail.com
![Photo of Anthony Jang](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-jang-250x250.jpg?itok=7Ypr1zvg)
Anthony Jang, MD
Psychiatry Resident, University of California, Los Angeles
aijang01@gmail.com
![Photo of Timothy Sheehen](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-sheehan-250x250.jpg?itok=v6NJb1QV)
![Photo of John Cocjin](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-cocjin-250x250.jpg?itok=k44ppElq)
John Cocjin
Data Scientist, C3 AI
jbcocjin@gmail.com
![Photo of Srikanth Damera](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-damera-250x250.jpg?itok=PetJoK6P)
Srikanth Damera, MD, PhD
Pediatrics Resident, Children's National Medical Center
damera90@gmail.com
![Photo of Jian Dong](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_small/public/images/2021-05/profile-dong-250x250.jpg?itok=uQ9UYgGe)
Jian Dong, MD
Radiologist, York Hospital, Maine
jianwdong@gmail.com