ASHLEA SEGAL (SHE/HER), CHAIR

Ashlea is a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr Nenad Sestan (Neuroscience, Yale University) and Dr Avram Holmes (Psychiatry, Rutgers University). Her work aims to explore the neurobiological variability and consistency across individuals with common psychiatric illnesses.

Interesting fact: Ashlea likes to be surrounded by trees, swimming in the ocean, or with friends enjoying good food, live sport or music.

Twitter/X/Bsky: @AshleaSegal

HENGDA HE (HE/HIM), SECRETARY

Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University, USA 

Hengda is a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. Yaakov Stern and Dr. Paul Sajda at Columbia University. His research focuses on multimodal neuroimaging with fMRI, EEG, and pupillometry. Hengda is currently working on investigating the effects of TMS on brain network systems. He received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University in 2023, under the supervision of Dr. Paul Sajda. 

Hengda loves traveling, photography, real coffee, and playing with dogs and cats. 

Twitter: @HengdaHe 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hengda-he-9143a913b/ 

IOANA GRIGORAS (SHE/HER), TREASURER

Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Ioana is a postdoctoral researcher working with Prof. Charlotte Stagg at the University of Oxford. Her research uses non-invasive brain stimulation and neuroimaging techniques to study the mechanisms underpinning motor learning in both healthy people and stroke survivors.

Ioana loves gardening and taking care of her house plants – she has a lemon tree called Leonard and can’t wait to pick up the first lemon!

Twitter/x: @IoanaGrigoras4

LinkedIn

NATASHA TAYLOR (SHE/HER), SOCIAL COORDINATOR

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Australia

Natasha completed her PhD under the supervision A/Prof. James Mac. Shine, at The University of Sydney in November of 2023. Her research focuses on the role of the ascending arousal system in facilitating dynamic brain state transitions in both healthy and diseased brains, and how these brain state transitions are critical for normal brain function and cognition. More specifically, she has worked on characterising role of the cholinergic and noradrenergic systems in facilitating global brain state dynamics by applying concepts from statistical physics, multi-modal neuroimaging analyses, neural mass modelling and task-based fMRI studies to interrogate how the brain functions as an interacting complex system. She has now commenced a postdoctoral fellowship under the supervision of Prof. Robert Sanders at The University of Sydney, investigating the role of the ascending arousal system in mediating consciousness, and its potential dysfunction after anaesthesia induced delirium. 

Interesting fact: Natasha cannot resist a cold ocean swim, coffee or getting lost in a moshpit at a gig. 

Twitter: @NatashaL_Taylor

Meg Sheppard (she/her), social media and communications manager

Neuroscience PhD Student at the University of Manchester, UK

Meg is a second-year PhD student who works with Dr. Nils Muhlert and the MISC lab. Using an imaging transcriptomic approach, she is currently investigating noradrenergic alterations throughout the brain associated with early life stress.

In her free time, Meg is an avid reader and dog-lover! 🦮

Twitter: @_megsheppard

LinkedIn: Megan Sheppard

Katie Moran (she/her), Career Development and Mentoring Manager

Cognitive Neuroscience PhD at the University of Manchester, UK.

Katie is a 2nd year PhD student working with Dr. Nils Muhlert alongside other members of the MISC lab. Using techniques such as MRI, her work examines the relationship between poor cerebrovascular health and white matter connectivity and also aims to identify the early cognitive correlates of this relationship.

Fun fact: Katie loves hikes, books, baking, cooking & crochet (and of course dogs!)

Twitter: @98katielmoran

Patcharaporn Srisaikaew (Nok) | (She/her) | Career Development and Mentoring Manager

3rd-year Postdoctoral Researcher at Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

Nok is a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Dr.Mojgan Hodaie. Her research focuses on the impact of chronic pain on limbic subcortical structure alterations and its potential resolution after pain relief in patients with Trigeminal neuralgia.

Fun fact: Nok is a mom of 2 chubby cats. Nok enjoys drinking coffee, playing games, and cooking in her free time.

Twitter: @Srisaikaew
LinkedIn: Patcharaporn Srisakaew

Analia Marzoratti (she/her) - Blog editor

Applied developmental science PhD student at the University of Virigina

Analia is a third-year PhD student working with Dr. Tanya Evans in the Educational Neuroscience lab. Her research focuses on using techniques such as MRI and EEG to investigate how various factors in a child’s early environment, particularly associated with poverty, can affect their neural functioning and specific support needs during the learning process.

Fun fact: Analia has a hairless cat named Harvey Dent who edits her manuscripts!

Twitter: @marz_analia

LinkedIn: Analia Marzoratti

Erynn Christensen (SHE/HER), CHAIR-elect

Postdoctoral Researcher, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, NY, USA

Erynn Christensen, PhD is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the the Brain-Based Predictive Modeling (BPM) lab lead by Assistant Professor Elvisha Dhamala based at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. She investigates the influence of sex hormones on neurocognitive functions. Erynn is particularly interested in relationships between fluctuations in female sex hormones, neurocognition, and mental health, both across the menstrual cycle and during key life transitional periods such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Erynn earned her Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (with Honours) in 2017 and completed her PhD in 2024 at Monash University, Australia. 

Fun fact: Erynn was a real theatre nerd back in high school, and almost chose acting over neuroscience. 

Twitter/X: @ErynnChristens1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erynn-christensen-7aa3b31a5 

Trang Ngoc Cao, Secretary-ELECT

Trang Ngoc Cao is a Research Fellow, working with Prof Alex Fornito, at the School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University.

Her research currently focuses on using MRI to understand brain anatomy and function in both health and disease.

In her spare time, she just loves walking in the Aussie bush.

She once dreamed of climbing Everest but that doesn’t seem like a challenge anymore after having her child.

Abdoljalil (Jalil) Addeh (HE/HIM), Treasurer-ELECT 

Jalil is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary, working under the supervision of Dr. M. Ethan MacDonald and Dr. G. Bruce Pike. His research focuses on reconstructing physiological waveforms directly from fMRI data, with applications in understanding brain dynamics and functional connectivity. His interdisciplinary work spans machine learning, neuroimaging, and physiological signal analysis.

Jalil enjoys travelling, photography, and reading history. He especially values time with his family, particularly his newborn daughter, Melek.

Davide momi, SOCIAL COORDINATOR-elect

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Stanford University, USA

Davide is a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University, where he applies whole-brain modelling to optimize brain stimulation treatments, particularly for mental health disorders. His work bridges computational neuroscience and multimodal neuroimaging, integrating techniques like EEG, MEG, and TMS to explore brain function and improve clinical outcomes.

Davide is a former basketball player. Outside lab, he is a calisthenics athlete and a passionate

cook, with a particular expertise in crafting risotto. He loves staying in contact with nature.

Priscila Thalenberg Levi, career development and mentoring manager - elect

Priscila is a second year PhD candidate at Monash University with Prof. Alex Fornito.

She's interested in how individual differences in brain organisation and the role of the sub-cortex in modulating cortical function change through development. She is currently using functional imaging and geometric eigenmodes to help her answer these questions. 

Priscila is an international student from Brazil, who loves chatting, travelling, going for a swim, snowboarding and playing board games. 

Timothy jordan,career development and mentoring manager - elect

Tim is a postdoctoral researcher currently at Emory University. His work focuses on exploring how MR imaging and analyses can be used for diagnostic and treatment monitoring in clinical populations. Specifically, his current research focuses on chronic pain populations with TMD or Fibromyalgia with the hope to expand to migraine and opioid addiction.

In his free time, Tim enjoys training in mixed martial arts, photography, hiking, and trading card games.

Personal Website: https://timjordanphd.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-jordan-72536bb8/

Josh tan - social media and communications manager-elect

PhD Candidate, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, AUS

Josh is a 3rd year PhD student working with A/Prof Mac Shine, interested in cortico-cerebellar interactions in human fMRI data. His research focuses on the contribution of these interactions to learning and expertise, and the generalisation of the cerebellum’s role across both motor and non-motor actions.

Interesting fact: Josh is a tennis coach on the side and is always looking for anyone up for a game of tennis.

Twitter/X: @JoshTan19

Lea stith - blog editor-elect

PhD Candidate, Boston University, USA

Lea is a third-year PhD student in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience at Boston University. Her research investigates how chronic stress–including stress stemming from experiences of racism–affects brain health in emerging adults, and explores the role of exercise as a potential buffer against these stressors. In her free time, Lea enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring the outdoors and the city, reading, and figure skating.

X: @StithLea

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leastith