EPILEPSY AND COGNITION LAB
LAB MEMBERS
JENNIFER GELINAS, MD PHD
Assistant Professor
Jennifer obtained her MD/PhD at University of Alberta, with research focused on cellular correlates of learning and memory. She completed residency in pediatric neurology at University of British Columbia, and an epilepsy fellowship at NYU Langone Medical Center (NYULMC). Her postdoctoral research fellowship at NYULMC investigated physiologic and epileptic neural networks using in vivo electrophysiology.
She is interested in understanding the neurobiology of higher cognitive function, especially as it relates to neuropsychiatric disease.
SOLEDAD DOMINGUEZ, PHD
Research Associate
Soledad obtained her PhD in Neuroscience at Autónoma de Madrid University, working at the Cajal Institute in the cellular electrophysiology group of Prof. Washington Buño. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Paris Descartes University in the Brain Physiology laboratory as part of Dr. Vivien Chevaleyre’s team. She is also interested in optogenetics tools, and worked in the Neurophotonics Lab of Prof. Valentina Emiliani. Currently, her research is focused on understanding the maturation of physiologic and epileptic neural networks over the course of development.
NAUREEN GHANI, BSC
Research Technician
Naureen currently works on studying neural networks of epilepsy. She received her BSc in biomedical engineering at Columbia University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and painting.
JOSE FERRERO LOPEZ, PHD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jose obtained his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Complutense University with research focused on metabotropic receptors role in synaptic plasticity. His postdoctoral research, supported by the pharmaceutical company Takeda, investigated the function of these receptors in brain diseases. He currently studies the use of neurostimulation to investigate memory consolidation and treat cognitive impairments associated to epilepsy.
Talia Boyers is an undergraduate at Barnard College majoring in Biology with a concentration in cell and molecular. Her prior research involved developing rapid methods for detecting and treating UTIs. In her free time, Talia enjoys reading and hiking.
TALIA BOYERS
Undergraduate Student
LAB MEMBERS
JOSE FERRERO LOPEZ, PHD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Jose obtained his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Complutense University with research focused on metabotropic receptors role in synaptic plasticity. His postdoctoral research, supported by the pharmaceutical company Takeda, investigated the function of these receptors in brain diseases. He currently studies the use of neurostimulation to investigate memory consolidation and treat cognitive impairments associated to epilepsy.
AHNAF RASHIK HASSAN
Graduate Student
Ahnaf Rashik Hassan is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. Ahnaf completed his MASc in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 2018 and his BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2015. Ahnaf's prior research focused on applying biomedical signal analysis and machine learning for pathological state identification and computerized diagnosis. His current research focuses on neural signal processing to study the neural mechanisms of memory and spatial navigation.
LIANG MA
Graduate Student
Liang is a graduate student working towards a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Liang received a BSc in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Tel Aviv University in 2018 and an MSc in Electrical Engineering from Columbia. At Epilepsy & Cognition Lab, Liang investigates postnatal development of both physiological and pathological neural networks, as well as help develop novel neural interface devices.
SHAN SHAO, PHD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Shan received her Bachelor of Science in Experimental Medicine and Psychology from Peking University, China. She then obtained her PhD supervised by Dr. You Wan and Dr. Ming Yi in Neuroscience at the Neuroscience Research Institute of Peking University. She also completed a visiting studentship in Dr. Kay Tye’s lab at MIT/Salk Institute.
Her current research is focusing on investigating the underlying mechanism of memory impairment associated to the temporal lobe epilepsy.
ONNI RAUHALA
Graduate Student
Onni is a graduate student in Columbia University's Electrical Engineering working towards his PhD. Originally from Finland, Onni is a graduate from the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities where he got his B.Sc. in neuroscience with a minor in anthropology. His past research experience includes behavioral studies in rodents utilizing optogenetics and electrophysiological methods as well as materials projects for improved histological procedures in neuroscience. Currently, Onni's research work is split between investigating learning and memory in spatial navigation and object recognition using rodent models, and developing biocompatible implants for neural recordings.
ZELIN YU
Graduate Student
Zelin received her B.S. in Electronics Engineering from Wuhan University in 2021 and her M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University in 2022. In the Epilepsy and Cognition lab, Zelin’s work focuses on electrophysiological signal analysis under Dr. Jose Ferrero Lopez’s instruction.
BRANDON SCHUMACHER
Research Technician
Brandon graduated from Cornell and is currently working on a second bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at The Grove School of Engineering. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs.
LAB ALUMNI
Soledad Dominguez: Post-Doc
Kimberly Hernandez: Graduate Student
Han Yu: Graduate Student
Naureen Ghani: Research Technician
Talia Boyers: Undergraduate Student
JENNIFER GELINAS, MD PHD
Assistant Professor
Jennifer obtained her MD/PhD at University of Alberta, with research focused on cellular correlates of learning and memory. She completed residency in pediatric neurology at University of British Columbia, and an epilepsy fellowship at NYU Langone Medical Center (NYULMC). Her postdoctoral research fellowship at NYULMC investigated physiologic and epileptic neural networks using in vivo electrophysiology.
She is interested in understanding the neurobiology of higher cognitive function, especially as it relates to neuropsychiatric disease.
ZIFANG (FRANK) ZHAO, PHD
Post-doctoral Research Scientist
Zifang Zhao received his B.Sc in Basic Medical Science and Electrical Engineering from Peking University (China). After graduation, he joined Dr. Wan's group at Neuroscience Research Institute of Peking University for his Ph.D. in neuroscience. He also completed a visiting studentship in Dr. Buzsaki's lab at New York University.
His current research focuses on the development and application of high-density miniaturized neural interfaces to study large-scale neural dynamics.