Principal Investigator

Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University

Core Member, Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University

I earned my PhD at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in Korea, where I studied phospholipid lipase-mediated signal transduction in the lab of Drs. Sung Ho Ryu and Pann-Ghill Suh.

I completed my postdoc training in molecular and cellular neuroscience research in Dr. Paul Greengard’s lab at The Rockefeller University. After completion of my postdoc, I stayed in the lab as a research group leader, collaborating with Dr. Greengard to study molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and drug addiction.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy running around my neighborhood park and spending time with my family. I am easily excited when I encounter gophers, geese, or deer on campus, especially the gopher family living near the receiving dock in the Research Tower building. My favorite outdoor activity is fishing although my last fishing trip was about 30 years ago. I believe I am a talented cook at home, with genius ideas for aliquoting whatever cooking ingredients, titrating salts, and reconstituting leftovers.

Postdoctoral Fellow

I did my bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology. As an undergraduate researcher, I studied different gut enzymes’ activities in pigeons. In 2019, I earned my Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. I studied the inflammation and neurodegeneration in the hippocampus on a mouse model of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome caused by enterohemorrhagic E. coli. During my postdoctoral training, I worked on different projects such as (a) neurogenic hypertension, (b) ACE2 degradation, (c) SARS-CoV-2 impact in obesity/hypertension, and (d) the effects of probiotics in a Gulf War mouse model.

My main research interests are inflammation, microglia cells, organoids, and cell signaling.

My hobbies are cooking Argentinian dishes, hiking in the mountains, watching TV, and listening to music.