
Hart Lab April 2022

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.

Alex Lin-Moore, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
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Alex is a postdoctoral researcher interested in the cellular pathways that link protein aggregation to neuron death in human neurodegenerative diseases. His current work in the Hart lab focuses on the conservation of degenerative mechanisms between neuron types, as well as the identification & characterization of suppressors of neurodegeneration. Alex hopes to bring this work into the broader fields of the cell biology of neuronal longevity, health, repair and disease. Alex did his PhD in post-injury axon regeneration at Yale University, and outside the lab enjoys cooking, skiing and birdwatching.

Adam Friedberg
NSGP MD/PhD Candidate​
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Diana Wall
MCBGP PhD Student​
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Diana is an MCB PhD Student. She received her B.A. in biology from The College of the Holy Cross in 2022. In the Hart Lab, she studies mutations in the ATP1A3 gene that cause rare neurological disorders. Outside of the lab, Diana enjoys painting, working out, and spending time with her cat.
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Jeremy Lins
Senior Research Assistant
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Mika Gallati
Research Assistant and ScM Student in Biotechnology
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Mika received her B.S. in Biology and minor in Neuroscience from the University of Maine. She is currently working on finding candidate suppressor genes for the sod-1 project. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, hiking & rock climbing.

Jacqueline Cho
Undergraduate Research Assistant
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Jackie is in the class of 2024 and is concentrating in Neuroscience. She is interested in studying the underlying mechanisms of fatigue in the context of neurodegeneration. Outside of the lab, Jackie enjoys editing for the Triple Helix, volunteering as a Connect for Health advocate, and making niche Spotify playlists.

Ashley Guo
Undergraduate Research Assistant
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Ashley is an undergrad student concentrating in neuroscience. Her interests lie in studying the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases. Ashley also enjoys writing for The Brown Daily Herald, volunteering at the RI Free Clinic, playing the piano, and baking chocolate chip banana bread.

Nicole Dennis-Talley
Undergraduate Research Assistant
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Nicole is in the class of 2025 and is from Tucson, Arizona. Currently, she is planning on concentrating in Neuroscience. Nicole joined the Hart lab as a freshman and is interested in researching alternative methods for identifying neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She is also involved in aiding in efforts to explore candidate suppressor genes in the SOD-1 model for ALS.
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Manuel Lamela Gomez
Undergraduate Research Assistant
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Manuel is concentrating in Applied Mathematics-Biology and Educational Studies. He is also very passionate about neuroscience and in particular, sleep. In his free time, he likes to play Ultimate Frisbee and go to the cinema.

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.

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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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
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)
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
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.)
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)
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
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