I am a cellular and molecular neuroscientist focused on understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neurotoxicity. I am particularly interested in investigating how glial cells in the central nervous system, such as astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, become dysfunctional and contribute to neurodegeneration.

Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow in Shane Liddelow’s lab at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where I am investigating the role of glial cells in a rare neurodegenerative movement disorder. My postdoc research was partially supported by The Leon Levy Foundation.

Before moving to New York, I pursued my PhD in Gaurav Chopra’s lab at Purdue University in the Chemistry Department. My thesis work, partially funded by the Eli-Lilly Stark Neurosciences Predoctoral Research Fellowship, focused on developing biochemical tools to evaluate glial functional responses to amyloid beta. I also characterized the proteome and lipidome of glial cells, including lipid droplet-laden microglia and neurotoxic reactive astrocytes, under chronic inflammation and uncovered a mechanism behind lipid droplet-mediated microglial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. 

My long-term goal is to establish an independent research program that advances our understanding of how glial cells contribute to neurodegeneration, with the aim of developing more effective therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.