People

Natali L. Chanaday R. (Nati)

I grew up in Argentina and obtained a PhD in Chemistry at the National University of Cordoba (Argentina). I then did a postdoctoral training in molecular neuroscience in the US (Texas and Tennessee). I joined the University of Pennsylvania in 2022. I am fascinated by neurons and want to understand how they maintain and remodel the molecular composition of different compartments to sustain neurotransmission, with a special focus on synaptic vesicles.

Hobbies: crafting, sketching, knitting, reading a lot (especially science fiction), cooking (particularly desserts) and doing experiments in the lab!

Favorite quotes:

“A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it” ― Frank Herbert, Dune

“No hay fácil ni difícil; fácil es lo que ya sabemos hacer, difícil, lo que aún no hemos aprendido a hacer bien” ― Bernardo Houssay

A. Alejandro Vilcaes (Ale)

I am a molecular biologist interested in understanding cellular communication. Interactions between lipids and proteins are critical for this process. Here, I work on trafficking of extracellular vesicles in neurons. Also, I study the role of the glycolipid lipid metabolism on neurotransmission. In Argentina, my research focuses on lipid metabolism in tumor cells.

Hobbies: origami

Jiangnan Xiao (Violet)

I got my bachelor’s degree in cognitive science at UCLA and am currently in a biotech master program here at Penn. I was able to achieve a relatively interdisciplinary background since I've studied neuroscience, cognitive psychology, programming and molecular biology. Now I am investigating the role of store-operated calcium entry in neurotransmission.

Hobbies: oil painting, cooking, thrillers

Favorite quotes: "I was smart enough to go through any door that opened" ― Joan Rivers

Robbie T. Moul

I received a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a bachelor's degree in science with a major in neuroscience from Lebanon Valley College, PA, in 2022. I then received a Fulbright Student Grant to conduct research at the Research Centre for Natural Sciences Institute of Organic Chemistry in Budapest, Hungary. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, where I am specifically interested in neurochemistry research.

Hobbies: Roller skating, kayaking, and hiking 

Eve Gautreaux

Coming soon…

Miguel Angel Huerta

I am an undergraduate research student from New York. I first began my research journey in high school where I investigated the relationship between music and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Now, I am researching compensatory mechanisms found in neurons and their roles in preserving Ca2+ in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Hobbies: Running, performing music, watching video essays

Favorite quotes: "He buys expensive clothing and beautiful luggage, upon which he has the words Repisce Finem embroidered" ― Leo Tolstoy

Alumni

here is all the wonderful people who moved on to the next step

Jahleel D. Torres Pérez

Hello there! My name is Jahleel, and I am from Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. I’m doing my bachelor’s degree, majoring in Psychology, and minoring in Medical and Health Humanities at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. I joined the Chanaday Lab as an intern during the 2023 Penn IDEAL Research Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) in the Biomedical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. My project was focused on studying STIM Proteins and how they regulate Calcium Dynamics in a Compartment-Specific Manner in Hippocampal Neurons. I am interested in diverse topics related to clinical psychology, psychopathology, cognitive, behavioral, and affective neuroscience, and neurodevelopment.

Hobbies: playing guitar, listening to music, traveling, exercising, enjoying nature, going to the beach, and trying new coffee shops