Amy Wolff, PhD
Staff Scientist
Amy obtained her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, and continued there for her Ph.D. in Neuroscience in the lab of David Bilkey. Her doctoral thesis examined the long-term behavioral and neural consequences of alterations in the maternal environment, and the relationship of these changes to a schizophrenic phenotype. She then moved to Hamburg, Germany for a postdoctoral position in the lab of Ileana Hanganu-Opatz to explore how the communication between brain regions develops during early postnatal life, before moving to the UK to take up a Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship working with Dimitri Kullmann, David Bannerman, and Dennis Kaetzel. As part of this work, Amy utilized chemogenetic and optogenetic techniques to explore how the dysfunction of different types of neurons might be involved in schizophrenia. Amy then joined the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford as a Postdoctoral Neuroscientist working in the labs of Paul Dodson and Peter Magill investigating the in vivo firing properties of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in mouse models of Parkinson's disease.
Julia Wells, BS
Lab Manager
Julia recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Neuroscience. During her undergraduate studies she was a part of environment microbiology research on the microbial community in snow algae for the Hamilton Lab. Later, she researched TBIs and the effects of pharmaceutical therapy on TBI recovery for the Region’s Neuroscience Center as an intern and then joined the Saunders Lab as an undergraduate. She was able to stay on the team and take a new role where she hopes to continue researching for the team before pursuing graduate school! In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and finding new coffee shops.
Julianna Prohofsky, BS
Research Technician
Julianna graduated with a major in Neuroscience and minoring in Marine Biology and Behavioral Biology from the University of Minnesota in 2022. She is currently a full time research technician in the lab and plans to pursue medical school with an interest in interventional radiology. In her free time, Julianna volunteers with Crisis Text Line and M Health Fairview and enjoys participating on the synchronized swimming team at the university.
Megan Brickner, PhD
Post Doctoral Fellow
Megan completed her PhD in the graduate program of neuroscience at UMN in 2026 and continues her research in the lab as a post-doctoral fellow. She graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Psychology and Biology, and a minor in Neuroscience. At UNC, she worked with Dr. Kathryn Reissner to investigate the role of intra-nucleus accumbens administration of D-Serine on cocaine seeking behaviors. Additionally, her honors thesis focused on the effects of PARP-1 inhibition within the central nucleus of the amygdala on cocaine reinstatement. Megan also played for the UNC Women’s Rugby team.
As a graduate student, Megan investigated neural circuitry underlying emotional learning and addiction. Her hobbies outside of lab include making her way through her “must read” book list, brewery hopping, and learning new songs on the guitar.
Bella Green, BA
MD/PhD Student
Bella is a third-year graduate student in the Department of Neuroscience and third-year MD/PhD student at UMN. She graduated from Willamette University in 2020 with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. At Willamette, she worked with Dr. Kyle Stephenson to explore predictors of psychological and relational distress related to sexual dysfunction. After graduation, she worked in Dr. Karl Clark's Behavioral & Functional Genetics lab at Mayo Clinic to investigate genetic modifiers of stress and endocannabinoid signaling in zebrafish. In her graduate work, she is interested in investigating neural circuits implicated in sensory encoding and how they may be altered in addiction. Her clinical interests include neurology, psychiatry, and addiction medicine.
In her free time, Bella enjoys listening to podcasts, playing with her cat, or exploring local cafes!
Louisa Kuper, BA
PhD Student
Louisa is a fourth year PhD student in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience (GPN). She graduated in 2020 with a degree in Neuroscience from Vassar College, where she researched the role of astrocytes in cognition with Dr. Lori Newman. Prior to joining the GPN, Louisa worked in the lab of Dr. Erich Jarvis at The Rockefeller University researching the neurogenetics of vocal behavior in mice. In her graduate work, she is interested in studying individual differences and neurocircuitry of attention and cue-based learning. When not in the lab, you can find Louisa running and biking by the Mississippi and exploring local breweries.
Micaela Porod, BA
PhD Student
Micaela is a fourth-year PhD student in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience at UMN, co-advised with Dr. Nicola Grissom. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2021 with a BA in Psychology and minors in Neuroscience and Studio Art. After graduating, Micaela completed a postbac research fellowship at the National Institute on Drug Abuse under the mentorship of Dr. Geoffrey Schoenbaum. There, she studied how cocaine-induced changes in the orbitofrontal cortex impact midbrain dopamine system function.
In her graduate research, Micaela will focus on dopamine signaling dynamics in complex decision making. Outside of lab, she enjoys concerts, dabbling in various art forms, walking around the lakes, and doting on her two guinea pigs, Daria and Jane.
Fallon Curry, BS
PhD Student
Fallon is a third year PhD student in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN). She graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Tech in 2022 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. At Virginia Tech, she worked with Dr. Michelle Olsen studying astrocyte development and morphology, and completed a summer fellowship with Dr. Shannon Farris investigating hippocampal CA2 and its role in social memory encoding. After graduation, she completed a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the National Institute on Drug Abuse under Dr. Mike Michaelides, where she investigated the role of synaptic zinc in reward related circuitry and behavior.
As a graduate student, she is interested in studying the neural circuitry that underlies reward and motivation. In her free time, she can be found baking, riding her bike along the river, or cheering on Pittsburgh sports teams.
Lily Rohlf
Research Assistant
Lily is a senior at the University of Minnesota studying neuroscience with a minor in mathematics. After graduation, She plans to continue research and pursue a PhD. She is a member of the UMN Women's Club Hockey Team, and enjoys biking, thrifting, and doing puzzles.
Hannah Huynh
Research Assistant
Hannah is a senior studying neuroscience with a minor in health psychology. After graduation, she plans to pursue an MD. In her free time, she likes biking, crocheting, traveling, and eating good food.
Lab Alums
Margaret Stelzner, PhD (medical writer)
Angela Eggers (NIH Postbacc)
Mariam Hassan (Research Coordinator, Children’s Hospital Philadelphia)
Gretchen Stemmler (graduate student, University of Washington)
Tyler Swiatkowski (NIH Postbacc)
Will Szot (University of Rochester)
Ananya Narayan (Medical school, UMN)
Trinity Pirrone (graduate student, Pasteur Institute, Paris)
Carli Poisson, PhD (faculty, Trinity College)
Ishika Jain (undergraduate, UMN)
Kaisa Bornhoft (MD/PhD student, University of Iowa)
Anoo Maskeri (Neuroscience Graduate Program, UMN)
Madelyn Blake (undergraduate, UMN)
Liv Engel (graduate student, University of Toronto)
Tim O’Neal, PhD (data analyst)
Cassandra Herubin
Val Collins, PhD (post doc, UCSF)
Eric Mitten (Neuroscience Graduate Program, UMN)
Sonal Sinha (undergraduate, Johns Hopkins University)
Michael Dahl (graduate student, NYU)