Current Trainees

Desi C. S. Alexander, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

Title: Investigating the role of ACSS2 in neuronal resilience to Tau pathology

Project description: Desi's projects revolve around a metabolic protein, ACSS2, and its role in multiple aspects of brain function, including learning and memory, and protection against aspects of neurodegenerative pathology. Within the brain, ACSS2 is localized to the nucleus of neurons and glia, and encourages the transcription of learning- and health-related genes through local production of acetyl-CoA, the substrate for histone acetylation. 

Fun facts: She has a bachelor's degree in viola performance, plays with the Penn Med Symphony Orchestra, and is (technically) still a professional musician (thanks to 2-3 paying gigs a year).  She also has a longstanding feud with one of her cats.

Neha Nataraj, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

Title: Parkin-dependent mitophagy and NF-κB signaling in human dopaminergic neurons and microglia

Fun Facts: Neha is an avid birder, a passionate vegan, and a performer of Indian music and classical dance.

Micaela O'Reilly, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

Micaela's project focuses on developing a microglia-targeted replacement and gene-editing strategy to define the causal role of microglia in monogenic neurodegenerative diseases and to evaluate microglia replacement as an effective therapeutic approach. She is under the mentorship of Dr. Mariko Bennett.

Fun Facts: Micaela loves documentaries on astrophysics and is a huge fan of the video game Subnautica and the board game Clue.

Courtney Smith, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

Courtney's group recently discovered that Annexin A11 co-aggregates with TDP-43 in a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. She is investigating the relationship between these two proteins and how they become corrupted in neurodegeneration.

Fun Facts: Courtney loves volcanoes and snails-- She even has a flying snail tattoo.

Adama Berndt

Predoctoral Graduate Student

Adama is in the Chen-Plotkin lab working on characterizing how MIA, a biomarker of cognitive decline that associates with amyloid-beta in the human brain, influences the formation and distribution of pathology in the 5XFAD mouse model. Additionally, he is using iPSC-derived microglia to characterize transcriptomic and functional responses to treatment with this protein of interest.

Fun Fact: In snooping the internet for a photo, it was discovered that Adama has released a rap album!!

Sai Chaluvadi

Predoctoral Graduate Student

Sai works under the mentorship of F. Chris Bennett. Sai studies how lipid accumulation contributes to macrophage dysfunction in lysosomal storage diseases.

Fun Facts: There is a Facebook page filled with pictures of him sleeping everywhere on campus at NYU.  He watched all of Game of Thrones in two weeks.

Sydney Mason

Predoctoral Graduate Student

Sydney is in the lab of Dr. Michael Haney working to better understand the role of microglia in Alzheimer’s disease. She is interested in using microglia replacement to perform in vivo CRISPR knock-out screens as well as specific gene knock outs to investigate the role of lipid droplet accumulating microglia in AD progression.

Fun Fact: Sydney is an avid movie lover (especially horror movies), and each year chooses a single movie to watch every day for the month of January.

Cooper Penner

Predoctoral Graduate Student

Cooper is under the mentorship of Alice Chen-Plotkin. 

Fun Facts: Cooper loves being in nature, reading, and hanging out with his cat (Blue).