EXECUTIVE TEAM
Gianna Perez
Co-Director
Gianna is a 5th year in the lab of Desmond Oathes. Her broad research interests involve using TMS and fMRI to probe brain circuit function in order to better understand and treat neuropsychiatric disorders. Her thesis work focuses on determining regions of the brain that change in response to depression treatment, and if targeting these specific areas with TMS results in better symptom reduction. She plans to work in science policy and is interested in work that addresses issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and the ethics of Neuromodulation and Neuroimaging technologies. gperez97@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Joseph Gallegos
Co-Director
Joseph is a 5th year in the lab of Jennifer Orthmann-Murphy.
josephtg@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Jessie Greenslade
Professional Development
Jessie Greenslade is a 3rd year in the lab of Dr. Bushra Raj, within the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. Her research is currently focused on investigating the chromatin accessibility profiles of neural progenitors and neurons across development, with the goal of identifying genomic regulatory elements involved in neuronal specification. In addition to being PR Chair, she is co-leader of the Fuel for Successful Scientists and Return of NGG Alumni activities. Outside of doing super cool Neuroscience things, Jessie enjoys playing volleyball, exercising, painting by numbers, and being with friends and family!
jessie.greenslade@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Maeve Coughlan
Outreach
Maeve is a 4th year student in Dr. Sandra Maday's lab. Her work focuses on how astrocytes form synaptic contact with neurons. Outside of lab, she enjoys knitting, painting, and spending time with her pup Tilly.
coum@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Kyndall Nicholas
Public Relations (Recruitment)
Kyndall is a 4th year in the lab of Kacy Cullen. She was born and raised in Central Maryland. Inspired by her collegiate athletic career, she studies how lifestyle diets impact traumatic brain injury damage and repair. She likes to do indoor cycling, pole dancing, and weightlifting.
kyndall@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Anna Leonard
Public Relations (Website & Social Media)
Anna is a 2nd year co-mentored by Julie Blendy and Elizabeth Heller. Her work will focus on the genetics and epigenetics of opioid addiction. Outside of lab, she enjoys baking, reading, photography, and game nights.
anna.leonard@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Jules Riley
Secretary
Jules is a 4th year in Erika Holzbaur's lab. Her thesis work focuses on clarifying how the malfunction of mitochondria (the powerhouses of the cell) in neurons and glia is involved in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Outside of lab, Jules can be found playing and coaching ice hockey, and making way too many mugs in pottery class. This is Jules' fourth year as a GLIA member, and second year on the executive board. She is also a co-chair of the Public Lecture Series committee and a writer for PennNeuroKnow and Brains in Briefs. juriley@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Fernanda Holloman
Action Against Bias Liaison
Fernanda is a 2nd year in the lab of Mike Hart. She graduated from Albright College in 2020 with a B.S. in Biochemistry. Her research combines genetics and neuroscience to study social behavior in neurodevelopmental disorders. Outside of lab, Fernanda enjoys reading, binge-watching Netflix, crafting using different mediums, and spending quality time with family and friends.
fernanda.holloman@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Ethan Blackwood
Treasurer
Ethan is a 5th year (2019 cohort) studying different kinds of neural state transitions, during anesthesia and over the course of learning, in Alex Proekt’s lab. He is also studying how artificial networks can form analogies across domains during learning with Anna Schapiro. In GLIA, he is a co-leader of the Public Lecture and NeuroNet. Outside of lab, Ethan can be found making and consuming food and drinks, hanging out in Philly’s beautiful parks, and trying to find ways to fight climate change. ethanbb@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Liz Siefert
Community Building
Liz is a 3rd year co-mentored by Anna Schapiro and Brett Foster. She studies human memory using a variety of computational and cognitive neuroscience methods (ex: scalp and intracranial EEG). More specifically, she is interested in how our memories change and shift overtime and the role of offline states, such as sleep, in memory processing. Outside of lab, she loves playing soccer and printmaking.
elizabeth.siefert@pennmedicine.upenn.edu