Current Personnel

Guo-li Ming, MD, PhD

Perelman Professor of Neuroscience
 gming@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Hongjun Song, PhD

Perelman Professor of Neuroscience
 shongjun@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Website: Song Lab

Kimberly Christian, PhD

Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
 kchristi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Yijing Su, PhD

Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
 yijingsu@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

My research focuses on understanding epigenetic changes during neuronal activation and its role in neuronal function in both population and single cell levels.

Giana Alepa, BS

Lab Manager
 giana.alepa@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I graduated from the University of Delaware with an Honors Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemistry and Neuroscience. In my free time I enjoy reading and cooking. 

Angelina Angelucci, BS

Research Specialist
 Angelina.Angelucci@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I graduated from Temple University in December 2017 with a degree in Biology with Teaching.  I joined this lab at Penn in 2021, and I provide administrative support as well as study the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs on neurodevelopment.

Dennisse Jimenez-Cyrus, PhD

 jimenden@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Feng Zhang, PhD

 feng.zhang@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I am a new postdoc here, and I am trying to discover something new and interesting in neuroscience.

Qian Yang, PhD

 qian.yang@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I was trained in molecular biology studying translational and transcriptional regulations on gene expression. I am applying my skills to tackle problems in neurological disorders. I am interested in uncovering the underlying mechanisms of mental disorders.

Ricky O'Laughlin, PhD

 richard.olaughlin@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Sang Hoon Kim, PhD

 skim1@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

My current research focus is to investigate the functional role of adult neurogenesis in hippocampus. By combining optogenetics with in vivo extracelluar recording, I have been characterizing spatial selectivity and remapping properties of newborn neurons. I am also interested in understanding how the continuous birth and integration of new cohorts of neurons affect the dynamic properties of local circuitry.

Ting Zhao, PhD

 tzhao5@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I am not only interested in using iPSCs to model neurological disorders, but also interested in employing new techniques for the proteomics study. When I am free, I like watching movies and hiking with my wife. I enjoy life in Philadelphia, where a lot of fancy Chinese restaurants are located.

Valentina Ignatova, PhD

 valentina.ignatova@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Vijay Adusumilli, PhD

 vijayasubbara.adusumilli@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

A biological feature I (quite literally) associate with is cellular quiescence, a state which can broadly be defined as permissive for cell cycle entry, without being in active growth cycle. While quiescence can be studied in a lot of contexts, neural stem cells achieve, regulate their quiescence, and cell cycle entry in truly unique ways. These mechanisms and the reciprocal effect of the macroenvironment on adult neurogenesis are what I am interested in studying. You might find me talking about these paradigms on hikes, at the pub, while gardening and during improv classes too

Xiaoyan Yu, PhD

 xiaoyan.yu.pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I am a postdoctoral researcher joining the lab in 2023. My research focuses on how newborn neurons integrate with different cell types and function in local circuitries using in vivo recording and optogenetics. I am also studying the involvement of neurogenesis in neurological diseases.

Xin Wang, PhD

 xin.wang@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I did my PhD in Penn State, working on the neuronal conversion of cultured human glioblastoma cells and underlying molecules mechanisms. During my postdoc, I will focus on investigating the patient-derived glioblastoma organoids, which provide a powerful system to capture the diversity of glioblastoma and test different therapeutic strategies at the same time. In my spare time, I like hiking, reading, swimming, and tennis.

Xuan Ming, PhD

 xuan.ming@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I joined the lab in the spring of 2022. My projects focus on studying how epigenetic mechanisms regulate neuronal maturation and function. When I am free, I like to chat with my family and friends, and do some sports.

Yachen Shen, PhD

 yachen.shen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Yan Hong, PhD

 yhong31@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I am interested in modeling human neurological disorders using iPSC models to unveil the molecular pathways and mechanisms underlying these disorders. In my spare time, I love watching movies with my husband. I also enjoy cooking, which helps me relax and provides a good way to gather around a table with family and friends.

Zhijian Zhang, PhD

 zhijian.zhang@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Before joining the lab in 2019, I was experienced in revealing neural circuitry basis for naturalistic behaviors and diseases using viral tools and some other techniques, such as opto-/chemo-genetics, calcium dependent optometry, etc. My long-term goal is to understand circuitry mechanisms underlying neural development to identify an etiology of mental disorders. I may focus on investigating the circuit connections of developing neural stem cells or brain organoids to achieve this goal. My favorite sport is swimming. I believe I'll enjoy my life in Philadelphia.

Hiroyoshi Doi, MD, PhD

 Hiroyoshi.Doi@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I joined as a postdoctoral researcher from May 2023.  I’ve been dedicated to investigating the mechanisms of anesthesia-induced neurocognitive impairment by focusing “neural stem cell quiescence” and “adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus”.  Here, I’m challenging more fundamental questions, such as “molecular dynamics during neuronal development in the mammalian brain” using multi-omics single cell analysis.  Now, let's start a new chapter! 

Nadeem Murtaza, PhD

 Nadeem.Murtaza@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I did my PhD studying neurodevelopmental disorders using both mouse and human iPSC models combined with proteomic techniques to understand the shared mechanisms between NDD risk genes. During my time as a postdoc here, I aim to continue studying the molecular mechanisms that underlie neurological disorders by using human brain organoids to partially recapitulate the microenvironment and neural circuitry of the human brain. When not in the lab I like to spend my time cooking new recipes, cycling to new places, camping when possible, and more recently amateur star gazing.

Weifan Dong, PhD

 weifan.dong@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I am interested in cancer neuroscience, but I am open to other fascinating scientific topics, too. Outside of the lab, I like hiking and trekking, cooking, and playing table tennis and video games.

Angela Bongiovanni, BS

PhD Student - Neuroscience Graduate Group
 angela.bongiovanni@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Ronni Kurzion, BA

PhD Student - Neuroscience Graduate Group
 ronni.kurzion@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I am interested in the formation of neural networks in organoids. I would also like to investigate the mechanisms underlying disorders that arise from deviations in network formation. In my free time, I like to read, play piano, and hike.

Yusha Sun, BS

MD/PhD Student - Neuroscience Graduate Group
 yusha.sun@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I am interested in studying the molecular heterogeneity and microenvironment of glioblastoma, combining single-cell genomics and circuit neuroscience. Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, badminton, and playing the piano.

Fangyi Cheng, MS

PhD Student – Bioengineering Graduate Group
 fangyic@seas.upenn.edu

Kristen Park, BS

MD/PhD Student- Neuroscience Graduate Group
 Kristen.park@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor's in Neuroscience. I am interested in studying how glioblastoma cells can hijack neural circuitry and the functional consequences of this interaction. Outside of lab, I enjoy watching films, going to orchestra concerts, and hanging out with my cat, Sprout.