Postdoctoral Symposium
Maria del Mar Romero López, M.D., Ph.D. |
Guillermo Aquino-Miranda, Ph.D.
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy
Corticothalamic circuits regulating reward-approach and threat avoidance behavior in rats
Dr. Guillermo Aquino-Miranda is dedicated to understanding the neural circuits and mechanisms underlying emotional memories. His research focuses on how fear- and reward-associated memories interact to shape adaptive behavioral responses.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) of Mexico and a master’s degree in Neurobiology from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV-IPN). He then pursued a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City, where he investigated the interplay between dopaminergic and histaminergic systems in the prefrontal cortex using a rat model of schizophrenia. Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Do Monte Lab, Dr. Aquino-Miranda explores how corticothalamic circuits regulate decision-making processes. His work employs advanced techniques such as optogenetics and electrophysiological recordings in freely behaving animals to uncover the neural basis of complex behaviors.
Through his research, Dr. Aquino-Miranda aims to bridge the gap between fundamental neuroscience and its potential applications in understanding psychiatric disorders, ultimately contributing to the development of better therapeutic strategies.
Elham Rastegari, Ph.D.
Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology
The role of transcription factor Pdp1 in regulating mitochondrial homeostasis
Dr. Rastegari’s original contributions to molecular biology and genetics throughout her extensive career studying human diseases, induced pluripotent stem cells, and animal models of human diseases. Dr. Rastegari began her career at Jahrom University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology. She then attended the University of Putra Malaysia, obtaining her master’s degree in plant proteomics and the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, receiving a doctorate in life sciences. After completing her studies, Dr. Rastegari worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Stem Cell Research Laboratory of the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology and the Retina Research Laboratory of the Taipei Veteran General Hospital. Currently, She is working at Dr. Kartik Venkatachalam lab, focusing on mechanisms underlying mitochondria biogenesis.
Victor Banerjee, Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Insights into Zoonotic Risks: Structural Analysis of Infectious Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Prions
Dr. Victor Banerjee specializes in structural biology, focusing on prion-like protein transmission. After completing his undergraduate studies in chemistry at Jadavpur University, he developed an early interest in the intersection of chemistry and biology, which laid the foundation for his current research. Dr. Banerjee began his scientific career at Bose Institute under the guidance of Prof. K.P. Das, where he explored the role of misfolded proteins in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His doctoral work, which focused on protein aggregation mechanisms, inspired his transition to ALS research in Prof. Niv Papo’s lab, where he developed protein-based agents to inhibit the aggregation of SOD1, a key protein involved in ALS.
During his postdoctoral work at UCSF with Prof. Stanley Prusiner, Dr. Banerjee honed his expertise in electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM). He used this technique to study the structural aspects of tau and α-synuclein (αSyn) proteins in diseases like AD and PD. In Prof. Claudio Soto’s lab, he worked on developing biochemical assays for detecting misfolded proteins in ALS patients, correlating the structures with their biological effects. He further investigated the structural aspects of infectious prion proteins that cause Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer and elk. He used cryoEM to reveal the structure of CWD prions and explored their zoonotic risks. Dr. Banerjee has published multiple articles in reputed journals. His primary research interest involves understanding how the structure of protein aggregates influences disease phenotypes.