Previous Lab Members

Post-Doctoral Researchers and Medical Fellows

Ben Zimmerman PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
Ben received his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There, he worked in the Cognitive Neuroimaging Lab with Gabriele Gratton and Monica Fabiani. Ben did research with human volunteers applying multiple human neuroimaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging, diffuse optical imaging, and electroencephalography. As a visiting postdoc in the Raber Lab, he continued research on aging by analyzing previously collected data from unique non-human primate datasets in order to make the most of the lives of these valuable model animals. Link to Ben’s bibliography here

Dr. Payel Kundu
(2018 - 2021) Payel joined the Raber lab after finishing her PhD. Her projects focused on the cognitive effects of genetic factors that predispose humans to early as well as late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, specifically apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoforms and mutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP). She also investigated the cognitive and metabolic effects of the plant compound Xanthohumol (XN). Her work has shown that XN has positive effects on metabolic health, even in the absence of weight loss, and she went on to investigate whether these benefits extend to brain health in the context of a high fat diet. Payel also received a grant from the Collins Medical Trust to investigate the causal role of the microbiome in cognitive dysfunction in an AD model.

Dr. Tunde Akinyeke
(July 2014 - August 2017) Dr. Tunde Akinyeke received his doctoral degree in Biomedical Sciences from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN where his thesis was titled, “The Role of Troglitazone in the c-MycDegradation on Prostate Cancer Cells”. Following his matriculation from Meharry, he accepted his first postdoctoral research position at New York University (NYU) in the Department of Craniofacial Biology and Basic Sciences. There he continued his research on the role of antidiabetic medications on the degradation of c-Myc protein in prostate cancer cells. Following his first postdoctoral appointment he accepted a second postdoctoral position at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in the lab of Dr. Jacob Raber, Department of Behavioral Neuroscience. While in Dr. Raber’s lab, Dr. Akinyeke refined his research to the effects of alcohol on c-Mycin the brain. Following this, Dr. Akinyeke worked as a general science teacher and advocate/mentor at Open School, a charter college-preparatory school in Portland, OR. Currently, Dr. Akinyeke holds two positions; full-time Biology faculty at Seattle Central College and Associate Biological Sciences faculty at Shoreline Community College.

Dr. Damian Zuloaga
(November 2011 - August 2014) Damian began in the Raber lab and now maintains his own lab. The overarching goal of the Zuloaga laboratory is to determine how hormones regulate sex differences in stress-related behaviors. There are dramatic sex differences in anxiety and depression although the specific hormones and brain regions that regulate these differences are unknown. The goal of Dr. Zuloaga’s laboratory is to elucidate these sexually dimorphic neural circuits and determine how sex-specific hormone exposure contributes to behavioral differences throughout the lifespan. Since his arrival at the University at Albany, a primary research focus has been to determine the role of corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1) as a mediator of sex differences in anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in rodents. Another focus has been on determining the neural mechanisms that underlie alterations in the HPA axis and mood disorders following psychostimulant (e.g. methamphetamine) abuse.

Dr. Lance Johnson
(November 2011 - December 2016) Lance joined the Raber lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow. While here, he investigated the role of the Alzheimer's disease risk factor Apolipoprotein E (APOE) in metabolism and cognitive function, and explored the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance-associated cerebrovascular dysfunction and recovery. Lance joined the University of Kentucky in 2016, where he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and the Sanders Brown Center on Aging. His laboratory's research is focused on understanding the role of APOE in cerebral metabolism, with a special focus on glia and their contributions to neurodegeneration. The lab employs a variety of transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches (from cells to mice to humans) in order to identify early-life changes in metabolism associated with APOE.

Dr. Gwen Haley-Morris
(2008-2011) Gwen received her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Wyoming in 2008 where her research was focused on Neuroendocrinology. During her post-doctoral fellowship in the Raber Lab, Gwen studied models of cognitive aging in rodents, monkeys, and humans. Her rodent research was focused on ApoE genotype specific effects on cognition, anxiety, and radiation induced damages. Her monkey research was focused on molecular mechanisms of behaviors in elderly rhesus macaques. Finally, her human research was focused on understanding ApoE cognitive effects in non-demented elderly. Currently, Gwen is the Central Region Director for CNS Field Medical Affairs at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization Inc.

Dr. Brian Piper
(March 2008 - June 2011) Brian Piper, PhD, a former postdoctoral fellow in the lab, is an assistant professor of neuroscience at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and is a member of the Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes of the Geisinger Precision Health Center. He completed an MS in behavioral pharmacology at Northern Michigan University and a doctorate in neuroscience and behavior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His teaching is in psychopharmacology, behavioral neurology, bioethics, and public health. He maintains an active research laboratory with many medical and graduate students conducting pharmacoepidemiology and quantitative bioethics studies.

Virginia Kleman
(2010) Pacific University doctoral student who performed approved research at the Coffee Creek detention facility.

Nancy Jameson
(2010) Pacific University doctoral student who performed approved research at the Coffee Creek detention facility.

Viva Wheaton
(2010) Pacific University doctoral student who performed approved research at the Coffee Creek detention facility.

Galena Kolchugina
(Summer 2008 - May 2010) Galena was an MD Fellow in the lab. Galena conducted human research and was the recipient of the OCTRI summer research fellowship.

Morad Nasseri
(May 2007- May 2008) Morad was an MD Fellow in the lab.

Dr. Summer Acevedo
(2004 - 2007) Summer worked as a post-doc in the Raber lab. Currently, Summer is an Assistant Professor Faculty at the Ponce School of Medicine, Puerto Rico.

Graduate Students

Dr. Sydney Weber Boutros
( - July 2022) Sydney was a graduate student in the Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (BSN) graduate program, co-mentored by Drs. Jacob Raber & Vivek Unni. Her work focused on learning & memory in the context of sex, aging and apoE. She primarily used contextual fear conditioning to assess neural differences in the 3 apoE isoforms. Sydney is a Pacific Northwestern-er in my heart and soul: she was born and raised in Spokane, WA, then moved to Portland to attend the University of Portland. I graduated from UP with majors in Psychology and Spanish and a minor in Neuroscience in 2014. After graduating, she worked as a research assistant in the Raber lab for 2 years before joining the BSN graduate program. Sydney moved from the lab to become a tenure-track assistant professors in the psychology department at Boise State University. Link to Sydney’s Bibliography here

Dr. Eileen Torres
(September 2014- August 2020) Eileen Ruth S. Torres Ph.D. graduated from the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU in 2020 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from University of California, Los Angeles. Her thesis work tackles how apolipoprotein E, a protein involved in cholesterol metabolism, alters cognition in rodent models of mental health disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to her graduate training and publications in research, Eileen strived toward fostering scientific awareness in all-ages as a volunteer educator at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, has mentored and trained numerous undergraduates in laboratory techniques, and participates in science outreach through organizations at OHSU. Eileen is current a Research Associate in the Alzheimer’s Center at Cornell University. Learn more about her scientific work HERE.

Dr. Laura Villasana
Dr. Villasana received her BS in Biology from the University of Houston and her Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) where she formed an interest in brain injury and recovery while studying the effects of cranial irradiation on cognitive function. During her post-doctoral training at the Vollum Institue and the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine (APOM) at OHSU, she expanded on her developing interest in neurogenesis. With support from an NRSA she and her mentors confirmed that the new neurons generated in response to TBI functionally integrate within the hippocampus and discovered that post-traumatic neurogenesis is modulated by clinically relevant sedatives. She then accepted an Assistant Professorship within the APOM department at OHSU where she established a research program to better understand the functional significance of new neurons on memory recovery after TBI. During this time she also accepted a position as the Director of the Behavioral Core where she formed collaborations with other scientist to examine recovery following various forms of brain injury. Dr. Villasana joined LRI in 2020 where she continues to advance her research in determining how the generation of new neurons after injury can be fostered to help improve cognitive recovery.

Joy Yamazaki
(2017) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology MS student at OHSU (Division of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems) that performed research over the summer for six credits of research and four credits of independent study.

Dr. Jessica Siegel
Dr. Siegel received her BA in Psychology from the University of Puget Sound and her Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). During her graduate work, Dr. Siegel became interested in studying the effects of methamphetamine exposure on the brain acetylcholine system. With support from an NRSA, her dissertation work found that early postnatal methamphetamine exposure alters behavior and the brain acetylcholine system later in adolescence and adulthood in mice. Immediately following her graduate work at OHSU, Dr. Siegel accepted an tenure-track assistant professor position at the University of the South in Sewanee TN where she taught in the Psychology department and created the first Neuroscience program. In 2015, Dr. Siegel accepted a tenure-track professorship at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul MN, where she was a tenured associate professor in the Psychology department and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience program. Recently, Jessica joined OSU as Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Dr. Emmanual A. Cruz Torres
(August 2011) Emmanual was a graduate student in the Raber lab.

Dr. Theodore Benice
(August 2003 - May 2009) Theodore was a graduate student in the Raber lab.

Research Assistants

Ariel Chaklai
(July. 2022 - Aug. 2023) Ariel was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. At the age of 18, Ariel moved to California to attend Chapman University and in 2016 Ariel graduated with a double major in Spanish and political science. Shortly after Ariel realized that she was interested in the field of neuroscience and she began taking biology classes at Portland State University. Ariel is particularly interested in behavioral neuroscience and furthering our understanding of the biology underlying human behavior. Ariel plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience in the future. In her free time, Ariel enjoys running, biking, traveling, and practicing her Spanish when she gets the chance!

Sarah Holden
(2019-2023) Sarah was born in Arkansas, raised in California, and came to Portland to study Psychology and Chemistry at the University of Portland. The day after graduating with her bachelor’s in 2019, she started work in the Raber Lab as a research assistant. For the past two years her work has focused on behaviorally phenotyping the pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease and its modulation by genetic factors, including risk factors such as apoE isoform. She has also studied the effects of space radiation on learning, memory, and the metabolome. She worked to develop novel techniques in the lab, and in doing so learned that in science the possibilities are truly endless. Next year she will apply to MD PhD programs, where she hopes to translate the scientific skills she learned in the lab to innovate and optimize patient care. Outside of the lab her hobbies include cooking, reading, writing, hiking, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Rebecca Pupp, Research Assistant
(January 2022-July 2022) Born and raised in Wisconsin, Rebecca received a BS in Biological Sciences from UW-Milwaukee in 2019 with a strong interest in animal behavior. Rebecca worked with Dr. Gerlinde Hoebel to complete two projects which investigated Eastern gray treefrog behavior from an ecological standpoint.  In April 2021 Rebecca began working at Marquette University (WI) in Dr. Matthew Hearing’s lab as a research technician, where she enjoyed genotyping a variety of transgenic mouse strains for the lab’s colony and performing IV surgeries on mice used in Remifentinal self-administration substance abuse studies.  After deciding to move to Oregon for personal reasons, Rebecca joined the Raber lab in January 2022 and is currently working in a pathology lab at Legacy Health. 

Kat Kessler, Research Assistant
(May 2020-May 2022) Originally from Philly, Kat moved to Portland to attend Reed College in 2015. While there, she completed a thesis in which I looked at the ability of an anti-inflammatory to slow the progression of non-motor effects in Parkinson’s disease. After graduating in 2020, Kat joined the Raber lab as a Research Assistant. Kat is currently in training to become a nurse.

D. Krenik
(2018 - 2021) D was born and raised in Texas, but moved to Portland in 2014 to attend Reed College, where she graduated in 2018 with a B.A. in Neuroscience. Shortly after graduating, she joined the Raber lab as a Research Assistant. She worked on a variety of projects, but the majority of her research focused on genetic disorders, such as Neurofibromatosis 1 and Phenylketonuria. While she focused primarily on the genetic factors that affect neurological functioning, she also had opportunities to study the effects of environmental factors such as chemotherapy and secondhand smoke exposure. Eventually she intends to continue her scientific education in statistics and public health.

Dr. Reid Olsen
Dr. Reid Olsen first joined Raber Lab as a high-school ASE student and returned to the team as a research technician after completing his B.Sc. at the University of British Columbia. Subsequently Reid earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying under Dr. Bryan Roth where he developed and patented a novel drug-screening platform. Reid is now employed as the head of GPCR Pharmacology at Exscientia Ltd., an AI-based drug-discovery company located in Oxford, England. Reid continues to draw on his behavioral neuroscience and biology training he received under Dr. Jacob Raber in the prosecution of multiple drug-discovery programs.

Dr. Angela Rizk-Jackson
Angela is a seasoned professional in the realm of academic research. Her experience spans laboratory, clinical, and administrative settings. She worked as a research assistant in the Raber lab following her undergrad at UC Berkeley. She later obtained her PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, and completed postdoctoral work at UCSF in the area of neuroimaging, using machine learning analytical methods. She has filled many roles throughout her career, and worked to facilitate several strategic initiatives aimed at advocating transparency and diversity, and accelerating research. In her current role as Director of Operations for the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, she supports the enterprise of Computational Health Sciences at the University; and is part of the first NSF Convergence Accelerator cohort building knowledge networks for the future of biomedicine.

Interns and Volunteers

Undergraduates

Montzerrat Pantoja
(January 2023-May 2024) Montze is a recent graduate of Washington State University Vancouver and completed a bachelor's degree in Biology. She was thrilled to be working with the Raber Lab and becoming involved in the quantitative research process, as well as expanding her knowledge in neuroscience. Her long-term goal is to pursue a career in biostatistics and improve public health through data analysis. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, watching Marvel movies, and playing videogames on her Nintendo Switch. Montze lived in Guadalajara, Mexico for most of her elementary and middle school years so now she loves visiting during breaks.

Hayley Stone
(June 2022-June 2023) Hayley is originally from Vancouver, WA but moved to Scotland in 2021 to obtain a BS in Neuroscience at the University of St. Andrews. Hayley is passionate about neuroscience. Hayley is the neuroscience representative at her school and loves to read books and watch documentaries about the topic. She was delighted to intern at the Raber Lab to learn more about neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and to gain research experience, helping her work toward her future goal of getting a PhD. Aside from neuroscience, Hayley loves hiking, listening to music, traveling, working out, picnicking, and visiting art museums.

Ismael Batista
(July 2022-May 2023) Ismael was a Pre-Med student pursuing a Public Health and Psychology double major. He is passionate about researching the chemistry of the brain and the nervous system. Before coming to the Raber Lab, he explored Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy as a treatment strategy for focal epilepsy patients at OHSU's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. He enjoys reading a good book, spending time with family, or watching Netflix when not in class, in the lab, or doing homework. He states that URISE has acted as the source of inspiration to pursue a career in Healthcare. He feels more confident and certain about his future career as a scientist and personal ambitions, thanks to the URISE Program and the mentors and individuals he encountered along the journey.

Naomi Leaper
(August 2022-December 2022) Naomi is from Portland, Oregon and is currently working towards a Bachelors degree in psychology. Naomi loves the psychology field because of how directly the findings impact our lives. Naomi’s specific interest in neuropsychology was formed by a fascination with understanding the always evolving sense of mystery that is found within the brain. Naomi is especially interested in psychology findings encompassing neurodiversity, genetic predisposition, and memory. Outside of school Naomi enjoys baking, taking long walks, and listening to music.

Sydney Nagy
Sydney Nagy attends Stanford University. Sydney spent around three years in the Raber Lab working on a host of projects, including those related to understanding the effects of space radiation on cognition, exploring the interactions between certain genes and apoE genotype on learning and memory, and investigating the relationship between high-fat diet and memory and cognitive impairment, and assisted in a number of behavioral tests, PCR, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy and image analysis. Outside of the realm of neuroscience research, Sydney is a professional aerialist and contortionist who loves to create art through movement, a cyclist on the Stanford Cycling Team, always down for a good adventure, and the number-one-fan of my incredible dog, Petra.

Chloe McQuestin
(2021) Chloe was born and raised in Spokane, WA and at Gonzaga University working for earning a bachelor’s degree in biology. Growing up, Chloe was a competitive gymnast and had the opportunity to work as a gymnastics coach for nearly five years now. Chloe started as an intern in the Raber Lab in the Summer of 2021 to gain more experience in lab work and to learn more about the scientific research opportunities available.

Juliana Wysocka
(2019-2020) Graduate of University of Oregon that interned in the Raber lab and is interested in research and planning to apply to graduate school down the line.

Skyler Younger
(Summer 2018-2020) George Fox University undergraduate student that performed research as part of Murdock Trust funded training.

Estefania Ramos Torres
(2019-2020) Willamette University undergraduate student that performed research funded as part of a presidential scholarship Willamette University.

Andrea Fuentes
(February 2018-2020) PSU undergraduate who interned in the Raber lab, interested to gain research experience and apply for graduate school down the line. Later completed dissertation research. McNair diversity program.

Joanne Lee
(2018) Joanne graduated from the University of Southern California with B.A.'s in Health and Human Sciences and Religious Studies. She joined the Raber Lab as an intern when she was in high school through the Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) program. Since, she has returned to the lab as an intern during breaks throughout college and was even awarded the USC Dream Dollars Scholarship to fund her work. Though she has been involved in various projects in the Raber lab, the majority of her work has been extensively researching the effects of space radiation on the cognitive and behavioral performance of mice. At USC, Joanne was a Community Health Organizer, advancing health and well-being initiatives in diverse student communities on campus, and worked as a Resident Assistant, mentoring students and supporting them in adjusting to campus life.

Reed Hall
I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and attended the University of Oregon where i graduated in 2017 with a degree in human physiology and a minor in chemistry. For the past several years volunteering in the Raber lab, I have focused on the field of metabolomics, studying metabolic changes in response to several environmental stressors including space radiation and secondhand smoke. I have had the opportunity to participate in the OMSI Science Communication Fellowship where, in collaboration with NASA at My Library, I discuss my research remotely with students at libraries across the country. This summer I will begin osteopathic medical school with the hopes to go into a career as an emergency room physician. In my free time I enjoy skiing, surfing or skateboarding. 

Charlton Ransom
(2017) Undergraduate student that performed human research studies.

Josh Fichera
(2017) Lewis and Clark undergraduate student that performed research during the summer.

Betty Wu
(2016 / 2017) Lewis & Clark undergraduate student that performed research as part of HHMI/Rogers funded training.

Colton Erickson
(2015) Lewis & Clark undergraduate student that performed research as part of HHMI/Rogers funded training.

Dana Button
(2015) University of Portland Colton Erickson undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Charity Miltenberger
(2015) Concordia University undergraduate student that performed research as part of Murdock Trust funded training.

Tara Kugelman
(2014 / 2015) Lewis & Clark undergraduate students that performed research as part of Murdock Trust funded training.

Blair Stewart
(-2014)Blair left the Raber lab in 2014, at which point she attended the University of California and received her Masters of Science in Cognitive Psychology in 2017. Since 2019 she has been working at the University of Washington Medical center as a Clinical Research Coordinator on industry and grant funded clinical trials.

Amelia Mulford
(2014) Lewis & Clark undergraduate student that performed research as part of HHMI/Rogers funded training.

Alicia Callejo-Black
(2013) Lewis & Clark undergraduate student that performed research as part of CRT (still partially HHMI funded) funded training.

Massarra Eiwaz
(2012 / 2013) Lewis and Clark undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Lily Ningsih
(2012) Lewis and Clark undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Alexandra MacColl Garfinkel
(2011) Alexandra MacColl Garfinkel worked in the Raber Lab as an undergraduate deeply interested in Behavior Neuroscience. After graduating from Lewis & Clark College with a dual degree in Biology and Psychology, she moved to Boston and began working with Dr Connie Cepko at Harvard Medical School developing a suit of behavioral assays to test novel gene therapies for genetic blindness. She is currently perusing her PhD in Genetics, and is a graduate student in the Khokha Lab at Yale University. She has shifted focus to studying the genetic causes of congenital birth defects and is mainly interested in the interplay of metabolism and genetics in early embryonic patterning.

Jorge Gonzalez
(2011) University of Portland undergraduate student that performed research as part of OHSU Summer Equity Program.

Jacob Jackson
(2011) PSU undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Karen Li
(2011) Rice University undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Daphnee Berteau-Pavy
(Summer 2009, Summer 2010, Summer 2011) University of Oregon undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Collin Clifford
(Summer 2009, Summer 2010, Summer 2011) Whittier College (Los Angeles, CA) undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Andrew Persichetti
(2010/2011) PSU undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Jonathan Popejoy
(2011) PSU undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Selena Corbett
(2009-2010) University of Puget Sound undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab. Received Summer Research Stipend at University of Puget Sound and was selected as Summer 2010 Richard Bangs Collier Scholar ($3,500).

Alex Chu
(Summer 2009, Summer 2010) University of Oregon undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Victoria Li
(Summer 2010) University of Portland undergraduate student who performed research as part of the Equity Summer Research Program.

Anthony Lin
(Summer 2010) Duke undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Hilary Gray
(Summer 2010) Lewis & Clark undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab as part of HHMI funded training.

Krystle Edwards
(2010) Portland State University/University of Oregon undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Elizabeth Paige Cooper
(2009) Scripps College (Claremont, CA) undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Alan Curtiss
(2009) Portland State University undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Elizabeth (Brooke) Honeycutt
(2009) Missouri University of Science and Technology student that interned in the Raber lab.

Ritika Jain
Ritika Jain is a sophomore majoring in Cognitive Science, with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience and Decision Making, and minoring in Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick Honors College. Her research interests include metabolic disorders and plans to pursue a career in medicine. Currently, she is a part of Dr. Estela Jacinto's lab (Rutgers) and studies the mTOR signaling pathway. Prior to attending Rutgers, she got the opportunity to work in Dr. Jacob Raber's lab (OHSU) and study the effect of radiation on cognitive and behavioral performance in mice. Outside of school, Ritika enjoys dancing, hiking, and baking.

Peter Van Meer
(May 2004-November 2004, May 2005-February 2007) Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, M.Sc. received in 2003.

Wendy McGinnis
(Summer 2014 - Summer 2016) Wendy was an MD Fellow in the lab. Wendy conducted cancer research in mice and was the recipient of the OCTRI/OSLER grant award and a RSNA grant award. Currently Wendy is a resident in training at MD Anderson in Houston Texas.

Alicia McGuire
(2009) Willamette University undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Hong Thien Tran
(2009) Portland State University/University of Oregon undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Brooke Aderonmu
(2009) BSc from Southern Oregon Univeristy student that interned in the Raber lab.

Joshua Smith
(Summer 2008) Joshua was a UCR Biochemistry Undergraduate student in the Raber lab through the Equity Summer Research Program.

Julia Strang
(May 2007-August 2007), Lafayette University student who was an intern in the lab over the summer.

Justin Cox
(August 2007), Clark College student that interned in the Raber lab.

Mike Craytor
(September 2007), Undergraduate student that interned in the Raber lab.

Sierra Tittle
(May 2007-August 2007), Gonzaga University student who was an intern in the lab over the summer.

Megan Warner
(May 2007-August 2007), Mentor and supervisor for training of Pomona College student for research over the summer.

Gerold Bongers
(November 2000-July 2001) Free University/Gladstone/UCSF, M.Sc. received in 2001, now Ph.D. student at the Free University, Amsterdam.

High School

Aubrey Welburn
(June 2024-Aug 2024) I am from Southern Oregon, and currently attend the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon, pursuing my undergraduate degree in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry. The complexity of the brain has always fascinated me, especially the vast amount we don’t know. I am especially interested in neurodevelopmental disabilities and have a large interest in how genetics and environment affect occurrences of different neurological conditions. In the future, I hope to become a physician-scientist and am excited to work in the Raber Lab through B-BRITE and gain valuable neuroscience research experience. Outside of academics I enjoy jewelry fabrication, hiking, traveling, and being a part of a book club.

Naomi Robinson
(June 2024-Aug 2024) I am currently a sophomore at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. My academic interests revolve around the intricate connections between genetic techniques in animals and their implications for understanding human neurological diseases. Additionally, I'm intrigued by interactions between environmental toxins and behavioral outcomes. Beyond academics, I serve as a Red Cross blood donor ambassador and contribute to FEMA's regional youth preparedness council. In my free time, I enjoy diving into fiction novels, running track and field, and spending time with friends. I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to work in the Raber Lab.

Phoebe Sandholm
(June 2024-Aug 2024) I have lived in Happy Valley, Oregon for the majority of my life, but I was born in Ohio. I will be a senior in high school in the fall. I’ve always had a deep interest in how the brain functions, how different factors can affect people’s behaviors, and how behavioral habits can differ from person to person. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be an intern at Raber Lab and to work with and learn from many experienced people. In my spare time I love to read and be outdoors, though during the school year most of my time is spent studying or bringing theater productions to life. 

Shrey Goel
(June 2022-Aug 2023) Shrey was a senior at Westview High School in Portland, Oregon. He is very passionate about neuroscience (especially Parkinson's Disease) and hopes to advance current scientific knowledge on this neurodegenerative disease. He wants to pursue a career as a physician, focusing on neuroscience. He joined the Raber Lab as part of Saturday Academy's Apprenticeship in Science & Engineering (ASE) Program, and he is extremely grateful for the array of opportunities and experiences. Outside of the lab, he enjoys the outdoors as an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts, along with learning about the immense opportunities and careers in the medical field as Oregon Health Occupations Students of America (OR HOSA) State President. On the weekends, you can find Shrey exploring the trails of the Pacific Northwest or watching movies with his family.

Alexis De la Torre
(July 2022-July 2023) Alexis was a senior at Petaluma High School in Petaluma, California. He interned at Raber lab to gain more experience in data analysis and medical research as he would eventually like to study statistics and anthropology. What draws him to those fields is his interest to educate people on the harm of misleading statistics and human studies. He has also been doing folk-style wrestling since 7th grade and performs in a Drum Line and the Jazz ensemble in his high school. In his free time, he enjoys reading history books and gardening.

Reetesh Sudhakar
(April 2020 - 2022) Ree worked as an intern with the Raber Lab. He spent his time in the Raber Lab studying behavioral assays, data and statistical analysis, and most recently, metabolomics. As a high school student, he had the chance to work on several projects in the Raber Lab under the guidance of some stellar mentors. Most notably, he worked on studying the effects of ApoE and hAPP on cognition and possible genetic protective pathways for Alzheimer's Disease, and the effect of microgravity and radiation on metabolic pathways. In college, he hopes to pursue biomedical engineering and neuroscience. Outside of research, he loves playing ultimate frisbee, travel, and competing in Speech and Debate.

Elin Berthau
While in high school Elin interned at the lab learning everything from analyzing behavioral videos to brain extractions, and she was even published. Her future goals include attending medical school and possibly specializing in neurology. Elin began college at the University of Utah majoring in mathematics and on the premed track. Outside of the lab she loves to sing, hike, and thrift.