People

Francisco J. Alvarez, PhD

Professor

Whitehead Research Building, Room 642
School of Medicine faculty profile

404-727-5139

Biosketch:

Francisco (Paco) received a B.S. in Biology from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid (Spain) in 1984 and a PhD (1987) for work done at the CajalInstitute (CSIC) under the direction of Prof. José Rodrigo and at St. Thomas’s Hospital in London under the direction of Prof. John V. Priestley. He then received further postdoctoral training in the Priestley Lab followed by a second postdoc in the lab of Prof. Alan R. Light at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. ...Read More

During these formative years he studied the different neurochemical types of nociceptors and their synapses in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. He was mainly trained in electron microscopy immunocytochemistry and gained some experience with in vivo spinal cord electrophysiology. In 1993 he was hired as Research Scientist in the Department of Anatomy (later Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology) at Wright State University. There he initially worked with Dr. Robert E.W. Fyffe characterizing neurotransmitter receptor distributions over the surfaces of spinal neurons electrophysiologically identified in vivo and then intracellularly filled with markers for post-hoc microscopy analyses. The focus was on ventral horn motor networks. In 1995 he received his first NIH grant and became an independent investigator. In 1997 and 1998 he visited the lab of Dr. Bruce Walmsley in the John Curtin School in Canberra (Australia) where he preformed correlative studies between synaptic structure and function using patch-clamp whole-cell synaptic current recordings followed by post-hoc immunohistochemistry and structural characterization. In 2003 he became interested in neural circuit development and function as it relates to the motor networks of the ventral horn. Current projects on V1 interneuron development started in 2003. In 2005 he started a collaboration with Dr. Timothy Cope on spinal cord synaptic and circuit plasticity after nerve injuries. In 2011 he moved to Emory University and enter yet another field by studying neuroinflammatory mechanisms inside the spinal cord after nerve injury and their impact on synaptic plasticity. This lead to develop an interest on the responses of injured motoneurons with special emphasis on synaptic adapations that might enhance regeneration after axotomy or pathological decline in neurodegenerative disease.

Dr. Alvarez has served as reviewer for numerous granting agencies in the US (NIH and NSF) and many other institutions throughout Europe. He is an expert in microscopy imaging and while at Wright Sate University originated and developed the university microscopy imaging core.

Hobbies: Running, mountains, travel, Atlético. ...Less

Edyta B. Murlin, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Whitehead 629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: edyta.murlin@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Edyta received her PhD from the Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering at the Polish Academy of Sciences in 1999, after obtaining her Master of Science in Physics from the Adam Mickiewicz University. ...Read More

Olivia Mistretta, MS

Graduate Student
LGS Neuroscience PhD Program
(Co-mentor: Dr. Arthur English)

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email : Ocmistr@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Olivia obtained her B.S. in 2014 at Kennesaw State University, followed by a M.S. in Integrative biology from the same university in 2016. Her master’s thesis focused on the therapeutic potential of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on spasticity. ...Read More

Tana Sue Pottorf, BA

Graduate Student
LGS Neuroscience PhD Program

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: tana.pottorf@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Tana obtained a B.A. in Biology degree in 2018 at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. She started her graduate career at Emory in the fall of 2020 (The CoVid Cohort), and is working towards obtaining her Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Tana joined the Alvarez lab for her dissertation research in the summer of 2021. ...Read More

William McCallum, BS

Graduate Student
LGS Neuroscience PhD Program
(Co-mentor: Dr. Samuel J. Sober, Biology Department)

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: will8mccallum@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Will is originally from San Anselmo, California, and received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Oregon, where he worked with Dr. Mike Wehr on circuits of auditory perception. Will then studied the neuroanatomy of pain perception and opioid function under Dr. Grégory Scherrer at both Stanford University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Will is currently studying how inhibitory interneurons of the spinal cord contribute to motor unit coordination, motor control, and the development of overground walking in mice. Sko Ducks!

Andrew Worthy, BA, BS

Graduate Student
LGS Neuroscience PhD Program

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: andrew.worthy@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Andrew earned a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Chemistry from Emory University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2020. During his undergraduate training, Andrew led an honors research project under the guidance of Dr. Nic Vega that investigated the spiteful weapon dynamics of lysogenic bacteria in conspecific competition with phage-susceptible strains. ...Read More

Zoë Haley-Johnson, BS

Research Specialist

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: zoe.haley-johnson@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Zoë graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2019, with her B.S. in Physiology & Neurobiology and a minor in music performance.

Since joining the Alvarez lab in the fall of 2020, Zoë has begun studying the neuroinflammatory reaction that occurs in the spinal cord following peripheral nerve injury. Specifically, she examines the role of CCR2+ cells entering the ventral horn of the spinal cord around motoneurons axotomized after nerve transections.

...Read More

Elizabeth L. Lane, BS.

Research Specialist

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: elizabeth.louise.lane@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Veronica Amores Sanchez

Undergraduate Student
Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
Emory College of Arts and Sciences

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: veronica.amores.sanchez@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Veronica joined the Alvarez lab in the Spring of 2023 as a transfer student from Miami-Dade Honors College, where she earned an associate degree in Biology with a Dual-Language emphasis. ...Read More

Rodrigo Colon Garcia

Undergraduate Student
Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
Emory College of Arts and Sciences

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: rcolong@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Rodrigo began his undergraduate career in 2022 majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, and minoring in French at Emory College of Arts & Sciences on the pre-medical track. ...Read More

Desi Naini Ukmar

Undergraduate Student
NBB/Anthropology
Emory College of Arts and Sciences

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: desi.naini.ukmar@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Desi is a rising senior double-majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology, and anthropology and human biology at Emory University. ...Read More

Briella Lucadamo

Undergraduate Student
NBB/Anthropology (pre-med)
Emory College of Arts and Sciences

Lab: Whitehead 627-629
Lab Number: 404-727-4826

Email: briella.lucadamo@emory.edu

Biosketch:

Briella is a sophomore majoring in neuroscience & behavioral biology and minoring in Anthropology at Emory University on the pre-med track with the goal to become a physician scientist. ...Read More

Alvarez Lab Alumni

Wright University	1995 - 2010	Position after leaving Alvarez lab and current position (italics)
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
Dr. Rosa M. Villalba	1999 - 2002	Research Scientist, Yerkes Primate Research, Atlanta, GA Same
Dr. David Gonzalez-Forero	2003 - 2004	Assistant Professor, University of Cadiz, Spain Professor, University of Cadiz, Spain
Dr. Patrick Sonner	2008- 2010	Instructor, Wright State University, Dayton, OH Director of Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
Ph.D. STUDENTS
Dr. Eric J. Geiman	1998 - 2003	Postdoc, F32 Awardee, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA Full Professor, Sinclair College, Dayton, Ohio
Dr. Valerie C. (Neff) Siembab	2004 - 2009	Associate Director Microscopy Imaging Core Wright State University, Dayton, OH Contract Specialist, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, WSU, Dayton, OH
Dr. Dannette S (Geiman) Richards	2003 - 2009	Teaching Instructor, Sinclair College, Dayton, OH Assistant Professor, Sinclair College Dayton, OH
Dr. Ana Benito-Gonzalez	2007 - 2011	Postdoc, F32 Awardee, John Hopkins Medical School Baltimore, MD
MASTERS STUDENTS
Michael C. Knox	1999 - 2000	Medical School, University of Toledo, OH M.D. practice in Lebanon, Indiana
Eileen Fitzsimons Kantamneni	2004 - 2006	Bhagavatula Charitable Trust, Non-profit NGO in rural India Same
Haley E. Titus	2008 - 2009	PhD Student, Neuroscience PhD Program University of Cincinnati, OH Founder of Haley Tituts Strategy, LLC and Vice President of NovaXs Biotech Corp and NeuroSantys

Emory University	2011-present	Position after leaving Alvarez lab and current position (italics)
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
Dr. Andre F Rivard	2011 - 2015	Staff Scientist, Stanford University, CA
Dr. JoAnna T. Anderson	2011 - 2016	Medical Writer, prIME Oncology, Atlanta, GA Medical Writer, Articulate Science, Atlanta, GA.
Dr. Laura Gomez-Perez	2013 - 2018	Returned to Spain High school teacher, Malaga, Spain
Dr. Ryan Wood	2020 - 2023	Research Scientist, AriA Imaging Software Development, Madison, VA
Dr. Paula M. Calvo	2022 - 2023	Postdoctoral Trainee, University of Seville, Spain
Ph.D. STUDENTS
Dr. Travis M. Rotterman	2013 - 2018	Postdoc, F32 Awardee, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA Asssitant Professor, Boston University K99/R00 awardee
Dr. Erica T Akhter	2015 - 2019	Instructor Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA Senior Lecturer, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
UNDERGRADUATES (HONORS) Positions listed correspond to those after Emory graduation
Turnee Malik (Honors)	2013 - 2014	PhD Student, Vanderbilt University (Tennessee)
Anirudh Dwarakanath	2013 - 2014	Masters in Botechnology and Health Sciences, John Hopkins University Medical Student, Albany Medical College 2019 grad
Adam J. Schultz (Honors)	2014- 2016	Postbaccalaurate Research Program, National Institutes of Heath (Washington DC)
Tavishi Chopra	2017 - 2019	Medical Student, Creighton Medical School (Omaha, Nebraska)
Shlok Sarin	2018 - 2020	Medical Student, Case Westren Resereve (Cleveland, Ohio)
Noah Greenfield	2018 - 2022	EMT, Neuro ICU, Patient Care Technician Medstar Health. Medical Student, University of Virginina School of Medicine (Charletosville, VA)
Anthony Wang	2020 - 2023	Analyst, ClearView Healthcare Partners (Boston, MA)
Celia Bianco (Honors)	2022 - 2024	Research Technician at the Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND) (Boston, MA)
Shannon Zhang	2022 - 2024	Unknown
POST BAC RESEARCHERS
Alicia Lane B.S. GaTech 2015	2015 - 2019 Research Tech	Graduate Student, Emory Neuroscience PhD Program (Atlanta, Georgia) Woodruff Scholar
Indeara Codgell B.S. U. Penn 2019	2019 - 2020 Research Tech	Graduate Student, Kennesaw State MS Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Program (Kennesaw, Georgia)
Andrew Worthy B.S. Emory 2020	2020 - 2023 Research Tech	Graduate Student, Emory Neuroscience PhD Program (Atlanta, Georgia)

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