EXECUTIVE TEAM
Anna Leonard•2022
Co-Director
Anna is a 4th year co-mentored by Julie Blendy and Elizabeth Heller. Her work focuses on the genetic and epigenetic regulation of opioid-taking behavior. In addition to serving as GLIA Co-Director, she is the leader for Chalk Talks & Data Eclipse and helps to organize the Brain Bee. Outside of lab, she enjoys baking, reading, photography, and game nights.
Hannah Gura•2023
Co-Director
Hannah (she/her) is a 3rd year graduate student in Nick Balderston's lab. Her work looks at sex differences influencing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation response. Hannah loves catching up with other students at GLIA events and creating meaningful opportunities for students on and off Penn's campus to nerd out. Off campus Hannah enjoys exploring Philly with friends and her dog Suits (who will be getting his dogterate)!
Jessie Greenslade•2021
Professional Development
Jessie Greenslade is a 4th 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!
sofia leone•2024
penn Community Building
Sofia is a 2nd year in the lab of Dr. Naiara Akizu. Her work focuses on the pathological mechanisms of mutations in chromatin modifiers that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. Outside of the lab, Sofia enjoys supporting NGG student life as Community Building chair for GLIA, as well as supporting education in the greater community as a GLIA school outreach apprentice. In her free time, she practices yoga and is a professional hobby-hopper (previous endeavors include watercolor, calligraphy, and hand embroidery).
diana pham•2023
community outreach
Diana Pham is a 3rd year graduate student in Brett Foster’s and Bijan Pesaran’s labs. She is broadly interested in the neural mechanisms underlying memory encoding and consolidation. Specifically, her research focuses on how fluctuations in arousal state across wake and sleep modulate hippocampal ripples and replay in macaques, with the aim of bridging insights between animal and human neuroscience. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, drawing, baking, running, and playing the guitar!.
Stephanie Uroda•2023
Public Relations
Stephanie is a 2nd year graduate student in Edward Lee’s lab. Combining her background in neuroscience and chemistry, she will investigate small molecule activators of an unfoldase protein that is implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, Stephanie enjoys roller blading along the Schuylkill, crocheting stuffed animals, and exploring the Philadelphia markets and food scene with friends.
Abby Lieberman•2022
Secretary
Abby is a 4th year in Tim Machado and Minghong Ma’s labs. She studies how the neural control of orofacial movement changes across contexts using population imaging and electrophysiological techniques as well as computational methods. In addition to serving as the GLIA Secretary, she participates in several outreach activities including Upward Bound Neuroscience, STEM Scholars, the AAB Application Support Program, and the PennNeuroKnow blog. Outside of lab, you can find her doing hot yoga, cooking up a storm, crafting, and hugging her chonky cat Professor Zigzag!
Emily Meyer•2021
Treasurer
Hi! I'm a visual neuroscience researcher in Mike Arcaro's lab. I'm interested in high-level vision, specifically object recognition, and comparing this visual behavior and neural underpinnings across species. I use tree shrews, a close relative of primates, as my model organism to study their behaviors and plan to record from neurons in their visual cortex. Outside of lab, I enjoy spending time with my dog and partner, enjoying amazing Philly food and cooking some of my own, and of course being involved with GLIA! I am currently the GLIA Treasurer and co-leader of the Annual Student Retreat but have previously been involved with other great activities including Recruitment, Upward Bound, Recruitment, and Let's Do Lunch!
Fernanda Holloman•2022
Action Against Bias
Fernanda is a 4th year in the lab of Mike Hart. The Hart lab investigates mechanisms of genes that control behavior and neuronal plasticity. I study how cell adhesion molecules change behavior over time and what are the underlying mechanisms for behavioral changes. My role in GLIA is the chair of Action Against Bias and I lead recruitment. Some of my hobbies include: crafting, gym, volleyball, and hanging out with family & friends.