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Hart Lab July 2025

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Anne Hart, Ph.D.

Professor & Chair, Department of Neuroscience

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Dr. Anne Hart obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at UCLA with Dr. S.L. Zipursky working on cell fate specification in the Drosophila eye. She undertook her post-doctoral training in C. elegans genetics with Dr. Josh Kaplan in the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Hart joined the Center for Cancer Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School Department of Pathology as an assistant professor and taught numerous classes in genetics and neuroscience. She moved to the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University in the fall of 2009. Currently, she is the Speaker for the MBL Society. Dr. Hart is a trainer in both the Neuroscience Graduate Program and the Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program.

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Adam Friedberg

NSGP MD/PhD Candidate​

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Adam is an MD-PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School. He investigates G-protein signal transduction, developmental sleep, and stress induced sleep in C. elegans. Focusing on the genetic components of human insomnia and sleep disorders, Adam builds on his medical training by identifying conserved mechanisms regulating sleep, and he aims to continue investigating neurogenetic mechanisms underlying brain health as a physician scientist. Appointed through the Providence city council, Adam serves as chair of a juvenile justice program which diverts youth from traditional paths while opting for restorative justice practices. Adam has played on the Club Baseball team at Brown University since 2015 and collects as well as restores vintage fountain pens.

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Diana Wall

MCBGP PhD Student​

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Diana is a PhD candidate in the MCB Department. She received her B.A. in biology from The College of the Holy Cross in 2022. In the Hart Lab, she investigates how mutations in ATP1A3 impair cellular function and lead to a rare neurological disease called Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood. Outside of the lab, Diana likes to do anything crafty, listen to Taylor Swift, lift weights, and spend time with her cat.

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Lexi-Amber Hassell

NSGP PhD Student

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Lexi is an NSGP PhD student. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry from the Western New England College. She is currently working on genes that suppress neurodegeneration in ALS models for sod-1 and related diseases. Outside of the lab, Lexi likes to start (and occasionally finish) crochet projects, cook for her family, and practice yoga.

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Jasmine Xi

Undergraduate Research Assistant

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Jasmine is in the class of 2026 and plans to double concentrate in Biology and Economics. She joined the Hart Lab her freshman year and is interested in exploring the underlying mechanisms affecting neurodegeneration. Currently, Jasmine is focused on identifying candidate suppressor genes in the SOD-1 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) model. Through looking at these candidate suppressor genes, she hopes to gain a greater understanding of the pathways and molecular interactions in ALS. 

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Selam Asfaw

Undergraduate Research Assistant

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Selam, a student in the class of 2026, is currently pursuing a concentration in Neuroscience. As part of her research in the Hart lab, she is focusing on studying the G4C2 expansion in the C9orf72 gene and its impact on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By exploring this topic, Selam aims to gain a deeper understanding of the disease pathways involved in both frontotemporal dementia and ALS (c9FTD/ALS). Her aim is also to address neurodegeneration linked to "c9FTD/ALS" by identifying potential suppressor genes.

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Monica Thoma

Undergraduate Research Assistant

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Siddharth Bhagwat

Undergraduate Research Assistant

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Srishti Sankaran

Undergraduate Research Assistant

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Srishti is in the class of 2027 and is planning to concentrate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She joined the Hart Lab as a freshman and is currently focused on studying mutations in the ATP1A3 gene and alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC). In her free time, she enjoys collecting stationery, baking, and playing board games!

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LAB ALUMNI

Post-Doctoral Fellows

1998-2001

1999-2003 

2000-2001 

2001-2004 

2003-2006  

2000-2003 

2003-2006  

2006-2009 

2007-2009

2008-2014 

2009-2014 

2011-2014 

2011-2017

2019-2021

2021-2025

Hidetoshi Komatsu, Ph.D.

Pieter Faber, Ph.D. (with Dr. Marcy MacDonald)

Jamie White, Ph.D.

Michael Chao, Ph.D.,

Denise Ferkey, Ph.D.

Cindy Voisine, Ph.D.

Gal Haspel, Ph.D.

Amy Walker, Ph.D. (with Dr. Anders Naar)

Veerle Rottiers, Ph.D. (with Dr. Anders Naar)

Maria Dimitriadi, Ph.D.

Komudi Singh, Ph.D.

Jill Yersak, Ph.D.

Winnie Huang, Ph.D.

Mathieu Bartoletti, Ph.D. (with Dr. Kristi Wharton)

Alex Lin-Moore, Ph.D.

Graduate Students

1997-2000
1998-2004
1999-2006
2000-2008
2006-2009
2010-2016
2010-2017
2010-2017 
2010-2016 
2013-2019
2015-2020
2016-2021 
2017-2019
2017-2022

2023-2025

2022-2025

Arif Nathoo (Harvard University, Master's Degree)

Hana (Sugimoto) Fukuto (Harvard University, Ph.D.)

Emily Bates (Harvard University, Ph.D.)

Rhonda Hyde (Harvard University, Ph.D.)

Juan Carmona (Harvard University, Ph.D.)

Melissa (Hoh) Walsh (MCB Ph.D.)

Heather Bennett (MCB Ph.D.)

Altar Sorkac (NSGP Ph.D.)

Patrick O’Hern (NSGP Ph.D.)

Saba Baskoylu (NSGP Ph.D.)

Veronica Ryan (NSGP Ph.D, co-mentor Dr. Nicholas Fawzi)

Katherine Yanagi (NSGP Ph.D.)

Belinda Mahama (ScM NSGP)

Kelsey Schuch (MCB Ph.D.)

Tanya Sinha (ScM)

Mika Gallati (ScM)​

Undergraduate Students

Vinh Chung (Harvard University)

Kenneth LeCointe (Harvard University)

Helen Sharpe (University of Bath, England; B.A. 2005)

Nicola Walker (University of Bath, England; B.A. 2006)

Tom Barsby (University of Bath, England; B.A. 2008)

James Sleigh (University of Bath, England; B.A. 2009)

Michael DiIorio (B.S. Neuroscience) Senior thesis awarded for Richard E. Whalen Award

Mara Smith (B.S. Neuroscience)

Jennifer Ju, Brown University (B.S. Neuroscience, 2012)

Jason Jia-Cheng Li (B.S. Neuroscience 2014)

Emily Wingrove (B.S. Biology 2014)

Bryn Bliska (B.S. Neuroscience 2014)

Hannah Graham (B.S. Neuroscience 2014)

Dustin Hayden (B.S. Neuroscience 2015)

Ivan Alcantara (B.S. Neuroscience 2016, Fulbright Scholar)

Yulia Khoruzhik (B.S. Neuroscience 2016)

Jonah Simon (B.S. Neuroscience 2017) Senior thesis awarded for Donoghue Prize

Lukas Skuja  (B.S. Neuroscience 2017) Senior thesis awarded for Donoghue Prize

Natalie Chapkis (B.S. Neuroscience 2018, Fulbright Scholar)

Animesh Mahapatra (B.S. Biology 2018)

Sarah Kim (B.S. Biology 2019)

Ibithal Elfaki (B.S. Neuroscience 2019, Fulbright Scholar)

Jane Kruskop (B.S. Biology 2020)

Jennifer Osbourne (B.S. Biology 2020)

Camillo Sauerassig (B.S. Biology 2020)

Jason Tsai (2021)

John Maragakis (B.S. Neuroscience 2023) James T. McIlwain Award for Excellence

Muneet Gill (B.S. Neuroscience 2023) James T. McIlwain Award for Excellence

Stephanie Moy (PREP Post-Bac)

Marie Domina (PREP Post-Bac)

Jacqueline Cho (B.S. Neuroscience)

Ashley Guo (B.S. Neuroscience)

Manuel Lamela Gomez (B.S. Neuroscience)

Roza Khalifa (PREP Post-Bac)

Nicole Dennis-Talley (B.S. Neuroscience)

1997-1999

1997-1999

2003-2004

2004-2005

2006-2007

2007-2008

2009-2012        

2009-2011         

2010-2012         

2010-2014 

2011-2014 

2011-2014  

2011-2014  

2012-2015   

2013-2016  

2014-2016   

2014-2017  

2014-2017

2015-2018 

2015-2018 

2016-2019 

2016-2019 

2017-2020

2017-2020  

2017-2020  

2018-2021 

2020-2023

2020-2023

2021-2022

2022-2023

2020-2024

2021-2024

2022-2024

2024-2025

2022-2025   

Research Assistants & Trainees

Daphne King

Heather Dionne

Jonah Larkins-Ford

Jonathan Shapiro

Rachael Moeller

Tim Tucey

Ed Anderson

Geetika Kalloo

Gerard Somers

Jevede Harris

Leon Candara

Loraina Stinson

Mark Corkins

Neil Dach

Sade Parsons

Jeremy Lins

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