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.
Gretchen Stemmler, BS
Lab Manager
Gretchen recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and a Minor in Linguistics. As a senior, she completed a Honors Thesis in the lab of Dr. Kent Berridge, using optogenetics to investigate the role of the ventral pallidum in mediating hedonic “liking” and motivational “wanting” behavior. She currently works as a lab technician and hopes to apply to neuroscience graduate programs in the coming year. In her free time, Gretchen enjoys trying new foods, biking, thrifting, and exploring Minnesota!
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.
Margaret Stelzner, BA
PhD Student
Megan Brickner, BS
PhD Student
Louisa Kuper, BA
PhD Student
Margaret is a third year doctoral student in the neuroscience program at UMN. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Neuroscience Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul. After graduation she completed a post baccalaureate research fellowship at the National Institute on Aging exploring how sleep patterns contribute to normal cognitive aging.
As a graduate student, Margaret will be investigating neural circuits surrounding motivation. In her free time she can be found hanging with her pup, training for an (eventual) second marathon, and camping near and far!
Bella Green, BA
MD/PhD Student
Bella is a first-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!
Megan is a third year Ph.D. student in the graduate program of neuroscience at UMN. 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 will be investigating and modulating the neural circuitry underlying addiction as a way to disrupt drug seeking behaviors. Her hobbies outside of lab include making her way through her “must read” book list, brewery hopping, and learning new songs on the guitar.
Micaela Porod, BA
PhD Student
Micaela is a second-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.
Louisa is a second 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.
Ananya Narayan
Research Assistant
Ananya is a junior at the University of Minnesota majoring in Neuroscience with an Spanish minor in the College of Biological Sciences. After graduation she plans to attend medical school. In her free time she loves to sing with her choir at the U and her cappella group Urban Sound, and spends as much time with her puppy Archie as she can.
Mariam Hassan
Research Assistant
Mariam is a junior at the University of Minnesota studying Biology, Society, and Environment with a minor in Public Health. She plans to pursue an MD/MPH or MD/Ph.D following graduation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drinking matcha, shopping, and baking!
Will Szot
Research Assistant
Will is a junior studying Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. When he is not in the lab, he enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and exploring new places in Minneapolis.
Trinity Pirrone
Research Assistant
Trinity is a senior at Macalester College with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Music. After graduation, she plans to continue a research career in neuroscience. When she’s not in lab, she loves playing guitar, singing, being outside, making coffee, and dreaming about traveling.
Lab Alums
Carli Poisson, PhD (Wesleyan University)
Ishika Jain (undergraduate, UMN)
Kaisa Bornhoft (Stanford University)
Anoo Maskeri (Neuroscience Graduate Program, UMN)
Madelyn Blake (undergraduate, UMN)
Liv Engel (graduate student, University of Toronto)
Tim O’Neal, PhD (data analyst, Seattle)
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)