CURRICULUM VITAE

Interests:
  • Sensory perception-related research

  • Interdisciplinary collaborations with different perspectives within and outside of neuroscience

  • Storytelling and experience-building in media and virtual reality  

  • Scientific writing and the impact and dynamics of popular and academic scientific publications

  • Making scientific information and concepts accessible to whomever is curious

  • Supporting diversity in the sciences, community building

  • The intersection of science and art

EDUCATION

The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
September 2017 - present

David Rockefeller Graduate Program
Awards: National Science Foundation - Graduate Research Fellowship Recipient, Women & Science Graduate Fellow

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Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY

September 2010 - May 2014
Major: Neuroscience & Behavior (Cellular concentration)
Honors: On Dean’s List for Fall 2010-Fall 2013

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Highland Park Public High School, Highland Park, NJ

September 2006 - May 2010

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior

Graduate fellow (August 2018 - present)

Advisor: Dr. Leslie Vosshall
  • Investigating chemosensation in the mosquito Aedes aegypti and the neurobiological mechanisms of the insect repellant, DEET.

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Rotation #1: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior (September 2017 - December 2017)

Advisors: Dr. Laura Duvall, Dr. Leslie Vosshall

  • Investigated the molecular neurobiology and behavior of mating and host-seeking in various species of mosquitoes.

Rotation #2: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior (January 2018 - May 2018)

Advisors: Dr. Rory Coleman, Dr. Vanessa Ruta

  • Developed assays for investigating visually-mediated input in Drosophila courtship circuitry.

Rotation #3: Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Language, May 2018 - July 2018

Advisors: Greg Gedman, Dr. Erich Jarvis

  • Used next-generation sequencing to resolve cell type and activity patterns in songbird brain regions.

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Columbia University, Department of Neuroscience

Research Assistant (July 2014 - November 2016)
Advisor: Dr. Eleanor Simpson, lab of Nobel Prize winner Dr. Eric Kandel

  • Main project: Using behavioral pharmacology and microdialysis, investigated the impact of 5-HT2c receptor modulation on tonic dopamine changes in the midbrain during motivated behavior.
  • Other projects: Investigated neurogenesis in the striatum using different behavioral paradigms, rt-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy.

  • Mentoring: Mentored one undergraduate student for two summers, one high school student for one summer, trained recently hired research assistants

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Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Biology

Undergraduate Research Assistant (September 2011-May 2014)

Advisor: Dr. John Glendinning

  • Undergraduate Thesis Project: Performed in vivo electrophysiology in rats to investigate alterations in the peripheral taste system caused by fetal ethanol exposure. Developed procedures for accessing, recording from the lingual and glossopharyngeal nerve, stimulating sensory fields and analyzing data.
  • Funding: Through Columbia’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) in Biological Sciences for Summer 2013. Gave oral and poster presentations.

  • Other Projects: Examined the role of oral stimulation of sweet taste in the release of insulin from the pancreas.

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Princeton University, Department of Molecular Biology

Undergraduate Research Assistant (Summer 2012)

Advisor: Dr. Amanda Crocker, Dr. Mala Murthy

  • Worked on the development of single-fly, appetitive-conditioning Drosophila melanogaster assay for measuring olfactory learning for the investigation of cellular memory traces.
  • Funding: Through Princeton’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) in Molecular Biology for Summer 2012. Gave oral and poster presentations on summer project.

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Rutgers University, Department of Biology

High School Research Assistant (Summer 2009)

Advisor: Dr. Monica Driscoll

  • Assisted in manipulation of C. elegans genome using RNAi to increase longevity and vitality in old age.

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Dennis EJ, Goldman OV, Vosshall LB. Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Use Their Legs to Sense DEET on Contact. Current Biology. 2019 May 6. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.04.004.

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Bailey M, Goldman O, Bello E, Jeong N, Winiger V, Schipani E, Balsam P, Simpson E. An Interaction between Serotonin Receptor Signaling and Dopamine Enhances Goal-Directed Vigor and Persistence in Mice. Journal of Neuroscience. 2018 January 24. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2088-17.2018

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Glendinning JI, Stano S, Holter M, Azenkot T, Goldman O, Margolskee RF, Vesselli JR, Sclafani A. Sugar-induced cephalic-phase insulin release is mediated by a T1r2+T1r3-independent taste transduction pathway in mice. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 2015 July 8. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00056.2015

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Introduction to Organismal and Evolutionary Biology & Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology

Supplemental Instruction Leader, Barnard College of Columbia University

Semesters: Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012
Responsibilities Included: Assisting approx. 150 students each semester, planning and leading 3 discussion sessions per week, leading review sessions before exams, holding office hours

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Molecular & Mendelian Genetics

Supplemental Instruction Leader, Barnard College of Columbia University
Semesters: Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014
Responsibilities Included: Assisting approx. 30-60 students each semester, planning and leading 2-3 discussion sessions per week, leading review sessions before exams, holding office hours

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Tutoring

2010 - present

I have been working as a tutor for 8+ years. I teach at middle school, high school, AP and college levels. Subjects I have tutored in include Chemistry, Biology, Neuroscience, Algebra, History, as well as teaching organizational, time management and test-taking skills. In 2017, I worked as a Biology and Chemistry expert on the online question service, Sphere.

OUTREACH & LEADERSHIP

Cientiífico Latino, Non-profit organization

Co-Founder, STEM Co-Director (July 2017 - present)

A website that aims to help undergraduate, graduate and professional students by providing resources on scholarships and fellowships, as well as blog posts on professional development. Co-directed guided mentorship initiative for over 100 underrepresented graduate school applicants.

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Graduate Women in Science, Non-profit organization

Fellowship committee member, Media contributor (November 2016 - present)

Selected as a committee member for determining awardees of the GWIS National Fellowships Program​, contributes content featuring prominent women scientists

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NeuroStorm Journal Club, Columbia University/Rockefeller University

Organizer (July 2014 - September 2017), President (September 2017 - present)
A neuroscience think-tank that has been the birthplace of several companies and startups. Gathers in the form of weekly, interdisciplinary, student-run neuroscience journal club, with doctoral and post-doctoral members from labs across multiple departments of Columbia University and Rockefeller University.
Acquired funding: Kavli Neural Systems Institute, The Rockefeller University

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Rockefeller University Student Retreat, Organizer

January 2019 - September 2019

Organized and gave a talk at Rockefeller's overnight student-run academic retreat for all graduate students (100+ attendees).

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WISE Center Women's Empowerment Luncheon, New York City College of Technology

Mentor (March 2018)
Networking event to help guide undergraduate leader's in STEM at New York City College of Technology.

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The Nine Ways of Knowing Blog, Barnard College

Columnist (Spring 2011 - Spring 2014), Arts Editor (Spring 2011, Fall 2013 - Spring 2014), Senior Editor (Fall 2011 - Spring 2012), Editor-in-Chief (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)

As editor-in-chief, more than doubled staff size and increased page views by over 500%; edited and uploaded daily content, organized responsibilities among staff members, assigned pitches to staff writers; responsibilities included web design, HTML and social media; helped found and gain Student Government recognition for student-run blog

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Columbia Science Review, Columbia University

Webmaster (Fall 2013 - Spring 2014), Writer (Fall 2013 - Spring 2014)

Conceptualized and executed alterations for website, uploaded blog content and responsible for maintenance, general executive board responsibilities (link to website)

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St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Volunteer Music Program Founder, Coordinator

Fall 2011 - Fall 2015
Initiated a program for organizing performances in various units of the hospital (e.g., Adult Psychiatric, Detox, Geriatric Psych, Adult Rehab) by contacting performers and working as a liaison with hospital staff

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Worldmuse, Columbia University

Organizer, Musician (Spring 2011 - present)

A musical ensemble that hosts workshops with musicians from around the world, and performs world music and original compositions in various venues in New York  City.

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Jeunesses Musicales Croatia International Vocal Arts Workshop, Selected musician

Summer 2011
Accepted to and attended an interdisciplinary performing arts program and festival in Grožnjan, Croatia

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Barnard-Columbia Choir, Columbia University

Soprano I (Fall 2010 - Spring 2014)
Performed with L’ensemble Médical (German medical schools LMU and TMU) at Carnegie Hall in Spring 2011