Lab members
Helen N. Schwerdt, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Helen is building a research program committed to learning more about brain function and dysfunction,
and to develop and integrate the tools to examine and manipulate neural circuits needed to improve treatment for neurological diseases.
Research interests: Dopamine dysregulation and neural circuit abberations in Parkinson's disease and mood disorders,
role of dopamine and striatal activity in skill learning, emotionally regulated learning, micro-invasive systems to probe electrical and chemical neural activity.
Research interests: Dopamine dysregulation and neural circuit abberations in Parkinson's disease and mood disorders, role of dopamine and striatal activity in skill learning, emotionally regulated learning, micro-invasive systems to probe electrical and chemical neural activity.
C.V. | Google Scholar | LinkedIn
Usamma Amjad, M.S.
Graduate Student
Research interests: Building and validating high density arrays of implantable neural probes for monitoring multi-modal (i.e. chemical and electrical) neural activity over chronic timescales. Aims are to elucidate underlying mechanisms of various neural learning and motor phenomena. Applications to artificial intelligence (AI), and curative and palliative medical technology.
Other interests: I enjoy games, manga/anime/webtoons, physical activity, traveling, eating, sleeping, and hanging out with my wife.
Other interests: I enjoy games, manga/anime/webtoons, physical activity, traveling, eating, sleeping, and hanging out with my wife.
C.V. | LinkedIn
Jiwon Choi
Graduate Student
Research interests: I'm interested in learning about the relationship between dopamine and emotionally regulated learning of skills, as well as its association to different neural disorders.
Other interests: Outside of the lab, I enjoy watching movies, reading books, and traveling!
Other interests: Outside of the lab, I enjoy watching movies, reading books, and traveling!
C.V. | LinkedIn
Mrunal Zambre
Graduate Student (co-advised with Dr. Aaron Batista)
Research interests: I’m interested in understanding the reward-dependent mechanisms that drive motor behavior by looking at interactions between motor cortex and striatum.
Other interests: Outside of lab, I enjoy cooking Indian food, baking sourdough bread, hiking, and swing dancing!
Other interests: Outside of lab, I enjoy cooking Indian food, baking sourdough bread, hiking, and swing dancing!
C.V. | LinkedIn
Shreya Mahajan
Graduate Student
Research interests: Development of multimodal neural interface devices to study dopamine signaling and reinforcement learning in the brain, and how these are affected in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Other interests: Outside work I like to read, paint, swim and travel.
Other interests: Outside work I like to read, paint, swim and travel.
C.V. | LinkedIn
Colum Murphy
Research Engineer
I am a Research Engineer, developing hardware and software to measure and analyze Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) signals. I previously worked at Queen's University of Belfast in the United Kingdom developing next generation tidal and wave renewable energy devices. In 2013, I relocated to the U.S. where I worked at MIT Kavli Institute on the NASA NICER project, developing an X-ray instrument which is currently orbiting earth collecting data on neutron stars. In my spare time I enjoy running, hiking and climbing, and have reached the summits of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc.
C.V.
Rebecca "Becca" Marflak
Lab Manager & Research Technician
Research Interests: My position focuses heavily on training and caring for the non-human primates in the lab. As an animal person, this job fulfills my wish to work closely with non-human primates, learning the unique personalities and building a close relationship with each monkey. Working with primates is an ongoing learning experience, as every day is different and behavioral changes can be monitored in different situations making this job very compelling. I plan to continue to work with non-human primates throughout my career.
Other interests: Outside of the lab, I enjoy being outdoors, trying new restaurants/activities, spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with my pets at home.
Other interests: Outside of the lab, I enjoy being outdoors, trying new restaurants/activities, spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with my pets at home.
Raymond Murray
Undergraduate Researcher
Research Interests: Constructing active and passive electrical circuits for chronic neurological electrochemical recording. I also work to better understand how dopamine release can modulate non-neurological internal state variables and hope to relate this to dopamine's hypothesized roles in reinforcement, learning, motivation, etc.
Other Interests: I love listening to and playing music, bowling, and exploring new cities in the US!
Other Interests: I love listening to and playing music, bowling, and exploring new cities in the US!
C.V. | LinkedIn
Ritesh Shrivastav
Undergraduate Researcher
I am a Junior undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing a bioengineering major as well as computer science and neuroscience minors. I am working on developing a high-throughput method for parylene-C patterning of carbon fibers on micro-invasive probes, which involves different nanofabrication and characterization techniques. Outside of academia, I enjoy going on runs, playing chess and exploring new places.
C.V. | LinkedIn
Collaborators
Associate Professor, Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University
Researcher, Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University
Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Assistant Professor, Brain Computation Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso
Institute Professor, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tokushima
Chief Executive Officer, Beauty Life Corporation
Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chief Technology Officer, Beauty Life Corporation
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine