Jillian Eichstaedt
4th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

hh9892@wayne.edu

Education
Michigan State University, MI; B.S. Human Biology, Neuroscience

Hometown
Belleville, MI

Advisors

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

Vaibhav A. Diwadkar, Ph.D.; Paul Burghardt, Ph.D.; Eric Woodcock, Ph.D.; Amy Rothberg, M.D.

Research

Awards & Honors

• Predoctoral Travel Fellowship Award, Society of Biological Psychiatry (2025–2027)
• Top Poster Award, Caswell Diabetes Institute Metabolism, Obesity, Nutrition, and Diabetes Symposium, October 2024
• Finalist, Magnetic Moments Competition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, May 2023

Publications

• Eichstaedt JM, Khatib D, Easter P, Rosenberg DR, Diwadkar VA, Stanley JA. Selective Inhibitory Motor Control Evokes Increased Glutamate Modulation in the dACC: a Proton Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study. Imaging Neuroscience. Under Review.
• Perez-Bonilla P, Santiago-Colon K, Matasovsky J, Ramirez-Virella J, Garver H, Fink G, Dorrance AM, Leinninger GM. Activation of Ventral Tegmental Area Neurotensin Recpetor-1 Neurons Promotes Weight Loss. Neuropharmacology. 2021 Sep 1. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108639.

Personal Interests

Caitlin Katz
1st Year, Predoctoral Candidate

hi2907@wayne.edu

Education:
California State University SB; B.A. Biological Psychology

Hometown:
La Quinta, CA

Advisors

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

Research

Awards & Honors

Publications

Personal Interests

Christine Lee
4th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

christinelee@wayne.edu

Education:
Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs College, MI; B.S. Neuroscience

Hometown:
Grand Ledge, MI

Advisors

TBA

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

TBA

Research

Using neuroimaging to study cognitive decline

Awards & Honors

Publications

N/A

Personal Interests

Baking, reading, music

Annie Thy Nguyen
4th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

annie.nguyen@med.wayne.edu

Education:
Scripps College; B.A. Neuroscience

Hometown:
Claremont, CA

Advisors

TBA

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

TBA

Research

My primary research interests include critical periods of neurodevelopment and the effect of genetic or environmental variations throughout this process. I am also working on cortical network mapping and structure-function relationships of the developing brain.

Awards & Honors

Publications

Personal Interests

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, visiting museums, making pottery, and hanging out with my bunny! I currently participate in the Wilderness Medicine Interest Group (Co-coordinator) and the American Physician Scientists Association (Mentorship Liaison/Institutional Representative) through Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Taylor Takla
4th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

taylortakla@wayne.edu

Education
University of Michigan, MI; B.S. Neuroscience

Hometown
West Bloomfield, MI

Advisors

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

Ana Daugherty, Hilary Marusak, Merrill Landers (from the University of Nevada Las Vegas)

Research

Addiction/substance abuse, exercise

Awards & Honors

• Best Clinical Research Presentation, Translational Neuroscience Program Symposium, May 2024, Wayne State University
• Thomas C. Rumble Competitive University Graduate Fellowship, 2023 – 2024, Wayne State University   
• Whitaker Prize, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, June 2023, Aurora, Colorado
• 2nd Place Graduate Research Symposium 3-Minute Thesis Competition, March 2023, Wayne State University
• 1st Place Translational Neuroscience 3-Minute Thesis Competition, November 2022, Wayne State University
• Outstanding Research Award, Eugene Applebaum College Research Day, October 2022, Wayne State University
• 2nd Place Translational Neuroscience 3-Minute Thesis Competition, May 2022, Wayne State University

Publications

• Takla, T. N., Feldpausch, J., Edwards, E. M., Han, S., Calabresi, P. A., Prince, J., Zackowski, K. M., & Fritz, N. E. (2025). Cerebellar Volume Measures Differentiate Multiple Sclerosis Fallers from Non-Fallers. Brain Sciences, 15(1), 77.
• Takla, T. N., Monaghan, P. G., Peterson, D. S., & Fritz, N. E. (2024). The Relation Among Reactive Stepping and Fall-Related Psychological Factors in Multiple Sclerosis. Brain Sciences, 14(12), 1197. 
• Takla, T. N., Matsuda, P. N., Herring, T. E., Daugherty, A. M., & Fritz, N. E. (2024). Motor and non-motor factors of concern about falling and fear of falling in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 48(4), 198-206.
• Monaghan, P. G., Takla, T. N., Chargo, A. N., Edwards, E. M., Yu, B., Myers, E., ... & Fritz, N. E. (2024). Measurement properties of backward walking and its sensitivity and feasibility in predicting falls in people with multiple sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 26(Q3), 155-166.
• Chargo, A. N., Takla, T. N., Fritz, N. E., & Daugherty, A. M. (2024). On the Move: Correlation of Impaired Mobility with Spatial Navigation Ability in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Brain Sciences, 14(3), 277.
• Takla, T. N., Matsuda, P. N., Herring, T. E., Daugherty, A. M., & Fritz, N. E. (2024). Scale development to evaluate differences between concern about falling and fear of falling: the concern and fear of falling evaluation. Frontiers in psychology, 15, 1336078.
• Takla, T. N., Chargo, A. N., Daugherty, A. M., & Fritz, N. E. (2023). Cognitive Contributors of Backward Walking in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis International, 2023(1), 5582242
• Tidball, A. M., Niu, W., Ma, Q., Takla, T. N., Walker, J. C., Margolis, J. L., ... & Parent, J. M. (2023). Deriving early single-rosette brain organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports, 18(12), 2498-2514
• Takla, T. N., Luo, J., Sudyk, R., Huang, J., Walker, J. C., Vora, N. L., ... & Tidball, A. M. (2023). A shared pathogenic mechanism for valproic acid and SHROOM3 knockout in a brain organoid model of neural tube defects. Cells, 12(13), 1697.

Personal Interests

Working out, hiking, trying new foods/restaurants, traveling

Grant Levasseur
5th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

grant.levasseur@med.wayne.edu

Education:
Michigan State University, MI; B.S.

Hometown:

Advisors

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

Research

Awards & Honors

Publications

Personal Interests

Sebastian Pernal
5th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

sebastian.pernal@med.wayne.edu

Education:
Universtiy of Illionois at Chicago, IL; B.S.

Advisors

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

Research

Awards & Honors

Publications

Personal Interests

Alixandria Trombley
5th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

ga6821@wayne.edu

Education:
Wayne State University; B.S. Physics, Psychology

Hometown:
Saint Clair Shores, MI

Advisors

Shane Perrine, PhD

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

TBD

Research

Neural mechanisms of cocaine-taking

Awards & Honors

Neuroscience Scholars Program Associate, National Institute of Health T32 Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity Fellow

Publications

N/A

Personal Interests

Playing soccer, weightlifting and hanging out with my "Detroit Special" rescue dog

John France
6th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

gc9598@wayne.edu

Education:
Michigan State University; B.A. Human Physiology

Hometown:
Harper Woods, MI

Advisors

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

Research

Awards & Honors

Publications

Personal Interests

Dylan Ukasik
6th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

gw4458@wayne.edu

Education:
Allegheny College, PA; B.S. Neuroscience

Hometown:
SpringDale, PA

Advisors

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

Research

Awards & Honors

Publications

Personal Interests

Nicole Zabik
5th Year, Predoctoral Candidate

nzabik@med.wayne.edu

Education:
Oakland University, MI; B.S. Biochemistry

Hometown:
Sterling Heights, MI

Advisors

 Christine A. Rabinak, PhD and Mark K. Greenwald, PhD

Advisory/Dissertation Committee

To be announced

Research

With tools such as functional imaging, behavior measures, and pharmacological manipulation, the questions I seek to answer are the following: (1) How does previous, regular cannabis use influence PTSD symptoms and efficacy of synthetic THC-assisted exposure therapy? and (2) How do healthy individuals use cannabis in the modern day, and how do these patterns deviate when someone suffers from PTSD?

Awards & Honors

• 2012-2016 Oakland University, Distinguished Scholar Award
• 2014-2016 Oakland University, Dean's List
• 2015-2016 Oakland University, Thompson Chemistry Scholarship
• 2016 American Chemical Society, Travel Grant
• 2017-2018 Wayne State University School of Medicine, Robert J. Bernucci Promising Scholar Award
• 2018 Wayne State University, Invited Student Key Note Presenter at the Translational Neuroscience Symposia
• 2018-2019 Wayne State University, Thomas Rumble Fellowship

Publications

1.  Zabik, N.L., Virca, C.N., McCormick, T.M., Martic-Milne, S., "Selective Electrochemical Versus Chemical Oxidation of Bulky Phenol." J. Phy. Chem. B, 2016, 120, 8914-8924.
2. Zabik, N.L., Imhof, M.M., Martic-Milne, S., "Structural evaluations of tau protein conformation: methodologies and approaches." Biochem. Cell Biol., 2017, 95, 338-349.

Personal Interests

If I'm not nerding out about my dissertation, I am most likely doing one of the following: cooking, making cold brew, weight training, or appreciating art.

Erin Edwards, Ph.D.

eedwards@med.wayne.edu

Education:
University of New England, ME; B.S. Neuroscience

Hometown:
Fenton, MI

Advisors

Nora Fritz, PhD and Jeffrey Stanley, PhD

Dissertation Committee

Ana Daugherty, PhD; Anna Kratz, PhD; Patrick Mueller, PhD

Dissertation Research Title

Backward Walking: A Clinical Marker of Fall Risk for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Dissertation Defense Date

Friday, March 4, 2022

Lana Ruvolo Grasser, Ph.D.

lgrasser@med.wayne.edu

Education:
Michigan State University, MI; B.S. Neuroscience

Hometown:
Sylvan Lake, MI

Advisors

Tanja Jovanovic, PhD and Arash Javanbakht, MD

Dissertation Committee

Paul Burghardt, PhD; Alana Conti, PhD; David Rosenberg, MD

Dissertation Research Title

Dancing the Storm: Neurobiological Correlates of Trauma-Related Psychopathology in Youth Resettled as Refugees, and the Efficacy of Creative Arts and Movement Therapies to Address Trauma-Related Psychopathology

Dissertation Defense Date

Thursday, March 3, 2022

James Matchynski, Ph.D.

jamatchy@med.wayne.edu

Education:

Hometown:

Advisors

Alana Conti, PhD and Shane Perrine, PhD

Dissertation Committee

Kamran Avanaki, PhD; Tanja Jovanovic, PhD; Jeffrey Stanley, PhD

Dissertation Research Title

Development and Implementation of a Novel Method to Quantify FOS-Related Neuronal Acitivity in vivo Using High-Resolution Photoacousstic Imaging

Dissertation Defense Date

Friday, February 4, 2022

Nolan O'Hara, Ph.D.

nohara@med.wayne.edu

Education:

Hometown:

Advisor

Dissertation Committee

Dissertation Research Title

Dissertation Defense Date

Brian Silverstein, Ph.D.

bsilvers@med.wayne.edu

Education:

Hometown:

Advisor

Dissertation Committee

Dissertation Research Title

Dissertation Defense Date

Chaitali Anand, Ph.D.

canand@med.wayne.edu

Education:

Hometown:

Advisor

Dissertation Committee

Dissertation Research Title

Dissertation Defense Date

Wafaa Sweidan, Ph.D.

wsweidan@med.wayne.edu

Education:

Hometown:

Advisor

Dissertation Committee

Dissertation Research Title

Dissertation Defense Date

Andrew Neff, Ph.D.

aneff@med.wayne.edu

Education:

Hometown:

Advisor

Dissertation Committee

Dissertation Research Title

Dissertation Defense Date

Natalie Wiseman, Ph.D.

awiseman@wayne.edu

Education:

Hometown:

Advisor

Dissertation Committee

Dissertation Research Title

Dissertation Defense Date

Michael Lisieski
M.D./Ph.D. program, Wayne State University Medical School, 3rd year.

mlisiesk@med.wayne.edu

Education:
University of Buffalo; B.S. Pharmacology & Toxicology; B.A. Psychology

Hometown:
North Huntingdon, PA

Advisor

Shane A. Perrine, Ph.D.

Dissertation Committee

Alana C. Conti, Ph.D., Mark K. Greenwald, Ph.D. and Jonathan D. Morrow, M.D., Ph.D.

Dissertation Research Title

The Effects of Cocaine Exposure on Hyperactivity, Susceptibility to Traumatic Stress, and Locus Coeruleus Function in Rats

Dissertation Defense Date

March 2018

Muzamil Arshad
M.D. Ph.D. program, Wayne State University Medical School,Detroit, MI, 4th year.

muarsha@med.wayne.edu

Education:
Benedictine University, Lisle, IL; B.S. Physics

Hometown:
Romeoville, IL

Advisor

Naftali Raz, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Stanley, Ph.D.

Dissertation Committee

Boris Baltes, Ph.D., Alexander Gow, Ph.D., and Donald Kuhn, Ph.D.

Dissertation Research Title

Change in Processing Speed and its Associations with Cerebral White Matter Microstructure

Dissertation Defense Date

May 2017

Eric A. Woodcock, Ph.D.
Posdoctoral Fellow, National Institute on Drug Abuse T32 Neuroimaging Sciences Training Program, Departments of Psychiatry, and of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

eric.woodcock@yale.edu

Education:
University of Washington (Seattle); B.S. Psychology

Hometown:
Buckley, WA

Advisor

Mark Greenwald, Ph.D.

Dissertation Committee

Boris Baltes, Ph.D., Vaibhav Diwadkar, Ph.D., David Ledgerwood, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Stanley, Ph.D.

Dissertation Research Title

Neuropharmacological Investigation of Stress and Nicotine Self-Administration Among Current Cigarette Smokers

Dissertation Defense Date

May 2017

Denise Briggs, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Standford, CA

dibriggs@stanford.edu

Education:
University of Michigan; B.S. Neuroscience and Psychology

Hometown:
Grosse Point, MI

Advisor

Donald Kuhn, Ph.D. 

Dissertation Committee

Matthew Galloway, Ph.D., Jason Mateika, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Stanley, Ph.D.

Dissertation Research Title

Cognitive, Psychiatric, and Neuropathological Manifestations of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Dissertation Defense Date

March 2016

Helen Wu, Ph.D.
M.D./Ph.D. program, Wayne State University Medical School, 4th year. 

wuhelen@med.wayne.edu

Education:
University of Michigan; B.S. Biomedical Engineering

Hometown:
 

Advisor

Jeffrey Loeb, M.D., Ph.D. and Jeffrey Stanley, Ph.D. 

Dissertation Committee

Bruce Berkowitz, Ph.D., Matthew Galloway, Ph.D. and Donald Kuhn, Ph.D.

Dissertation Research Title

Identification of Metabolite Biomarkers in Epilepsy using 1H MRS

Dissertation Defense Date

June 2016

Hilary Marusak, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacy and Health Science, Wayne State University

hmarusak@med.wayne.edu

Education:
Kalamazoo College; B.A. Biology and Psychology

Hometown:
 

Advisor

Moriah Thomason, Ph.D. 

Dissertation Committee

Mark Greenwald, Ph.D., David Rosenberg, M.D. and Richard Slatcher, Ph.D.

Dissertation Research Title

Childhood Trauma and Emotion Processing Neurocircuitry

Dissertation Defense Date

March 2016

Dhruman Goradia, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist, Banner Alzheimer's Institute

dhruman.goradia@bannerhealth.com

Education:
University of Mumbai; B.E. Instrumentation Engineering      Wright State University; M.S. Biomedical Engineering

Hometown:
Mumbai, India

Advisor

Jeffrey Stanley, Ph.D. 

Dissertation Committee

Vaibhav Diwadkar, Ph.D., Naftali Raz, Ph.D. and Manuel Tancer, M.D. 

Dissertation Research Title

Evidence of Distinctive Structural Alterations that Differentiate ADHD Boys With and Without a Comorbid Reading Disability

Dissertation Defense Date

June 2015

Brianne Mohl, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Radiology and Neurology, University of Colorado

brianne.mohl@ucdenver.edu

Education:
Colorado State University; B.S. Natural Sciences

Hometown:
Longmont, CO

Advisor

Jeffrey Stanley, Ph.D. 

Dissertation Committee

Joseph Casey, Ph.D., Vaibhav Diwadkar, Ph.D., Lara Jones, Ph.D. and Noa Ofen, Ph.D. 

Dissertation Research Title

Neural Alterations Influencing Skilled Reading in ADHD: A Task-based fMRI Study

Dissertation Defense Date

February 2015

Erik Brown, M.D., Ph.D.
Neurosurgical Resident, Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University Hospital

ecbrown@med.wayne.edu

Education:
University of Michigan; B.S. Electrical Engineering

Hometown:
Allen Park, MI

Advisor

Eishi Asano, M.D., Ph.D. 

Dissertation Committee

Vaibhav Diwadkar, Ph.D., Jeffrey Loeb, M.D., Ph.D. and Jeffrey Stanley, Ph.D.

Dissertation Research Title

Multi-Modality Assessment of Language Function

Dissertation Defense Date

June 2013