About Us

Nicole L. Baganz, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor, Biomedical Science
Director of Community Engagement and Programming, Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute
Director, ASCEND

Bio: Nicole Baganz, Ph.D., earned her master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago. She went on to earn her doctorate in physiology from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio. Beginning with her doctoral studies, and continuing through her postdoctoral studies in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Baganz has pursued research into the mechanisms by which chemical signaling in the brain can be impacted by the immune system and early-life stress, with a specific interest in alterations in the action of the chemical serotonin. In addition to her scientific interests, Baganz has engaged extensively in community outreach to educate the public as to the promise and progress of brain research. She is currently assistant director and director of community engagement and programming at the Florida Atlantic Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute.

David Cinalli, Ph.D.

Assistant to the Director and Assistant Director of MobileMinds

Bio: David Cinalli studies how the brain encodes, consolidates, and recalls different forms of memory in laboratory mice. "I learn about how memory system function can help us develop treatments for disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Now if only I could remember where I left my car keys."

Alexandra Paz, Ph.D.

Assistant to the Director of Community Engagement and Programming

Bio: Alexandra “Aly” Paz is a postdoctoral fellow working with the Advancing STEM-Community Engagement through Neuroscience Discovery (ASCEND) program at Florida Atlantic Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. Paz earned her doctorate in Integrative Biology in Neuroscience from Florida Atlantic University. Her interest in neuroscience stems from a curiosity about the connection between neurological processes and animal behavior. Paz discovered her passion for neuroscience education while volunteering for the ASCEND program. Now a full-time member of the ASCEND team, Paz supports the program’s communication and community outreach efforts, unraveling the complexities of neuroscience to inspire young people to take an interest in STEM.

Paula Kurdziel, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Randy Blakely

Bio: Paula Kurdziel is a postdoctoral fellow in the Biomedical Science Department at Florida Atlantic's Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. She started in the Blakely Lab in 2017 to investigate the intricate connection between our brain and peripheral immune system. She completed her PhD in Genetics at Michigan State University where she studied the epigenetic control of drug-associated memories formed in addiction. There, she was introduced to neuroscience outreach and has found any opportunity to teach people about the brain and neuroscience research. Paula is passionate about instilling an appetite for science in everyone around her.

Claudia Alvarez

GNTP Affiliate Program: Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) Mentor: Henriette van Praag, Ph.D.

Bio: The role of diet and exercise in modulation of adult neurogenesis, neuroinflammation and amyloid-beta pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Daniel Nemeth, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow
Mentor: Ning Quan, Ph.D.
Thesis topic: Immune- to Neuro-Memory

Bio: Daniel Nemeth, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Ning Quan. Bio: I am working with Dr. Ning Quan to dissect the functional mechanisms of cell type specific Interleukin-1 Receptor 1 (IL-1R1) in the central nervous system (CNS). My primary focus is determining if neurons can encode an immunological signal into changes in neuronal connectivity via IL-1R1, which we term as "Immune to Neural Memory". My line of research will dissect how neural encoding of immune signals can lead to the manifestation of either aberrant or beneficial behaviors. Ultimately, I aim to unveil neuro-immune related mechanisms of affective disorders and cognitive decline. Additionally, I am working with a model of sub-chronic peripheral inflammation that dynamically alters microglia, the resident tissues macrophages of the CNS.

Haylee Mesa

Graduate Research Assistant, Lab Manager
Mentor: Dr. Qi Zhang

Bio: Haylee is a graduate student in the IB Ph.D. program and a lab manager for Dr. Qi Zhang’s lab. Her current research and work with Dr. Zhang investigate the role of cholesterol metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease. Haylee is passionate about the future of STEM education and the president of the Association for Integrative Biology Graduate Students. Outside of neuroscience, she also competes in Dressage and has goals to compete nationally and internationally in the next few years.

Jana Strickler, Ph.D.

Managing Director, Brain Institute Cell Imaging Core, Biological Sciences, College of Science

Bio: Jana Strickler manages the Imaging Core Manager that includes the Nikon Center of Excellence Core Facility.

Jessica Frank

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Mentor: Gregg Fields, Ph.D., FNAI

Thesis Topic: "The Synthesis of MT1-MMP Chemical Probes for Druggable Target Deconvolution in Metastatic Cancer Models."

Chandani Singh

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Mentor: Gregg Fields, Ph.D., FNAI

Thesis Topic: “Synthesis and characterization of peptides and enzymes inhibitors, as well as to evaluate the activity of peptide probes and inhibitors towards enzymes, specifically members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family.”

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