Team

Dr. Martinez is a PGY-2 resident specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health. She holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rowan University and graduated with highest honors from Emory University, majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology. In the lab, she contributes to research focused on studying the epidemiological aspects of concussions during pregnancy.

Anya is a recent graduate from Rutgers University. During her time at Rutgers, she studied Cell Biology and Neuroscience, primarily engaging in developmental research. Her project focused on the effects of early-life antibiotic exposure on neurogenesis and behavior in genetically vulnerable mice. Now, she hopes to further her interests in neuroscience and medicine by exploring the long-term consequences of head injuries.

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Jared recently graduated from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he was a Colors of the Brain-Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind Scholar. While at UCSD, he conducted neurodevelopmental research investigating the relationship between subcortical volume and tic severity in Tourette Syndrome. As a former athlete, Jared is now enthusiastic about exploring the long-term effects of head injuries using neuroimaging techniques.

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Alana graduated from Trinity University, where she studied Neuroscience and Psychology with a focus on behavioral neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychology research. Currently, she serves as a Research Assistant in the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Lab at Harvard Medical School, and she is also an affiliated member of our lab. In our lab, Alana focuses on examining changes in white matter integrity among former American football players, contributing valuable insights into the effects of repetitive head impacts.

Omar is a second-year medical student at the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Before pursuing his medical studies, Omar spent two years as the Head Research Assistant at the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Boston College and was recognized for his academic achievements with membership in Nu Rho Psi, a nationally recognized Honor Society. In the lab, Omar is working on neuroimaging projects relating to the long-term consequences of repetitive head impacts in former American football players.

Nuha is a second-year medical student at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, New York. Her academic journey began at Rutgers University, where she earned degrees in Genetics and Mathematics, and a minor in Spanish. She also completed her master's at Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School in Biomedical Sciences. Nuha's experiences working at her family's restaurant, personal experiences with TBI, and profound interest in brain injury deeply influenced her decision to pursue research in TBI. In the lab, she focuses her efforts on investigating demographics and healthcare disparities in TBI rehabilitation within the New York population.

Laura is a current MPH Candidate at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences. Laura uses her personal experience with concussions to advocate for patients and improve conditions for those experiencing barriers to healthcare and rehabilitation services. She is affiliated with the non-profit organization, The Concussion Alliance, where she brings awareness to an otherwise invisible injury and population. Laura received her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville and continues to use the social sciences framework in her research. In the lab, Laura investigates the social determinants of health and health disparities in concussion care.

Manuel Is a current undergraduate student at New York University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Manuel has previously completed an internship at The University of Texas at San Antonio on a project researching Fetal brain vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the lab, Manuel is working on understanding the global gray matter and white matter changes in former American football players.

Ocean is a rising junior at New York University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Chemistry on the Pre-med track. A dedicated and committed individual, Ocean consistently demonstrates perseverance and resilience, never allowing doubts to deter her from achieving her main goals and ambitions. Alongside working in our lab, Ocean also works with Dr. Arshed Arslaan's lab, where she researches racial disparities in acute settings. In the lab, Ocean works on manually segmenting subcortical brain regions of former American football players to better understand the long-term consequences of repetitive head impacts.

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Valentin is a trained physiatrist with a specialization in neurorehabilitation. He completed a fellowship in Brain Injury Medicine at Sorbonne University in Paris, France, with expertise in evaluating and managing both the acute and long-term functional outcomes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Additionally, he served as a neurology instructor for the Physical and Occupational Therapy programs at Sorbonne University. In the lab, Valentin focuses on examining the impact of social determinants of health on the diagnosis and management of concussions within the New York City population.

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Sabrina is a second-year undergraduate student at New York University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. Aspiring to become a physician, she has a keen interest in neurology, particularly in the area of traumatic brain injury (TBI) research. Through her coursework and lab experience, Sabrina aims to expand her knowledge of how brain trauma affects cognitive and behavioral function, with the ultimate goal of contributing to advancements in neurological care and treatment. In the lab, Sabrina is investigating the neuroanatomical changes that follow repetitive head impacts in former American football players.

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David is an undergraduate student at New York University, majoring in Neural Science with minors in Business and Chemistry. In addition to his work in our lab, he also conducts research in Dr. Wendy Suzuki’s lab, where he investigates the effects of music and exercise on cognitive performance and academic outcomes. In our lab, David is studying the neuroanatomical changes that follow repetitive head impacts in former American football players.