Caroline Dugan (Post-Baccalaureate Academic Fellow)
Latest Work: M.D. Student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Caroline Dugan began her journey with Dr. Gobrogge in Fall 2019, utilizing optogenetics in a neuroscience lab at Boston University to study Drosophila behavior. Her experience as a Learning Assistant ignited a passion for teaching, leading her to mentor students in laboratory and discussion sections. After graduating, Caroline worked as a staff instructor, contributing to curriculum development and co-authoring a poster, workshop presentation, and undergraduate STEM pedagogy publication with Drs. Gobrogge & Tullai. Currently, she is a medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she continues to leverage the skills and passions developed under Dr. Gobrogge’s mentorship.
Maura Farrell (Independent Study)
Latest Work: Research Assistant in Dr. Deborah J. Anderson’s lab, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Maura, in collaboration with Dr. Gobrogge, is conducting a literature review on the history and future of contraception. This review covers the unethical testing on women during the development of the birth control pill, the adverse effects of hormonal contraception, and the need for male contraceptives and Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs).
Marco Gambino (UROP)
Undergraduate Research
Marco's research on Parkinson's disease involved studying the effects of the cannabinoid CP-55940 on symptoms using Drosophila melanogaster. His experiment, which utilized the Gal4/UAS system to target dopamine transporters, aims to understand the protective potential of cannabinoids against neurotoxicity.
Lara Gardiner (Keystone Kilachand Honors Project)
Latest Work: Napadow Lab at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center
Lara investigated how serotonin depletion disrupts circadian rhythms in fruit flies and whether sunlight can mitigate this effect. Their study contributes to understanding the relationship between serotonin, circadian rhythms, and potential therapeutic roles of sunlight. 
Otto Holbrook (UROP, 2022 Francis Bacon Award for Writing in the Natural Sciences)
Latest Work: Ph.D. Student in Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Discovery, Northeastern University
Otto researched the role of the protein Scabrous in forming alcohol reward memories in Drosophila, focusing on a mutant form that inhibits these memories. His findings could help identify therapeutic targets for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
Sehjin Jo (UROP)
Latest Work: Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Fotios Spyropoulos, Brighman & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Sehjin studied the Circadian Rhythm Circuit in Drosophila, using the GAL-4/UAS system for brain mapping and behavior analysis. He is now a Research Assistant at Brigham and Women's Hospital, investigating oxidative stress in neonatal hearts and working as an EMT at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Tori Keefauver (UROP, Global Challenge Research Award)
Latest Work: Ph.D. Student in Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
Vole Microglia Poster
Tori researched how social isolation impacts microglia in prairie voles as a model for understanding Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). They developed a protocol for immunohistochemistry to compare microglia in bonded and non-bonded voles.
Derek Kolodziejski (UROP)
Latest Work: Research Associate II, Flagship Pioneering, Boston
Derek utilized the Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADD) method to study the roles of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in alcohol-induced reward conditioned-place-preference using Drosophila melanogaster under the mentorship of Dr. Kyle Gobrogge. His research focused on understanding how receptor modulation affected reward behaviors, contributing to insights into the neural mechanisms involved in conditioned-place-preference.
Currently, Derek works in the biotech industry, actively engaging in small molecule drug discovery. He is part of a pioneering effort at a stealth-stage startup under Flagship Pioneering, where he is developing an innovative chemoproteomics platform targeting oncology and immunology.
Samuel Krick (UROP)
Latest Work: Boston University – Economo Lab Technician
Sam studied the comorbidity of depression and alcoholism in Drosophila by manipulating serotonin transmission using the GAL4/UAS system. He continues his research in the Economo Lab at Boston University, focusing on orofacial motor control.
Muriel Li (UROP)
Latest Work: Continuing Studies
Muriel explored how serotonin affects social reactions in fruit flies and studied the developmental role of the steroid hormone ecdysone.
Mattie Love (UROP)
Latest Work: Continuing Studies
Mattie assessed the effectiveness of Drosophila Activity Monitors (DAMs) in a preference assay, exploring flies' choices between food options and their ethanol preferences, demonstrating the viability of DAMs in behavioral research.
Eddie Miller (UROP)
Latest Work: Clinical Research Study Assistant in the Laboratory of Scott Marek at University of Washington School of Medicine – St. Louis, MO
Eddie investigated how manipulating the gut microbiome affects serotonin usage in the brain using Drosophila, aiming to understand the gut-brain axis's impact on brain function through genetic manipulation.
Brandon Molligoda (UROP Supplies Award, 2022 Francis Bacon Award for Writing in the Natural Sciences)
Latest Work: M.D. Student, University of Central Florida
Brandon focused on the protein scabrous and its role in forming alcohol-induced reward memories in Drosophila. His work also included a review on the behavioral implications of ethanol metabolism in alcohol use disorder.
Shreya Nandyala (Independent Study)
Latest Work: Student at University of California – Berkeley
Shreya reviewed the effects of music therapy and meditation on cognitive decline, highlighting their benefits in reducing stress and improving quality of life.
Josh Rong (UROP)
Latest Work: Clinical Research Assistant, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Josh extended his classroom project on octopamine and Drosophila during a summer UROP. He now focuses on Neurological Movement Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital, particularly Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia.
LJ Ullman (UROP Supplies Award)
Latest Work: M.D. Student, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
LJ investigated the role of scabrous in forming long-term alcohol reward memories in Drosophila, focusing on how mutant variants affect behavior and anatomical expression.
Rhea Singh (Independent Study)
Latest Work: Research Technician, Laboratory of Dr. Richard Axel under the direction of Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Jennifer Bussell, Columbia University.
Rhea Singh investigated the neural circuits responsible for aggression in rodents, focusing on olfactory systems and their links to the prefrontal cortex. This work sheds light on how sensory cues can trigger aggressive behaviors and discusses potential interventions for aggression disorders. Her findings emphasize the complexity of aggression circuits and suggest novel therapeutic strategies.
Lily Tong (Directed Study)
Latest Work: Incoming Ph.D. Student, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College (van der Meer Lab)
Lily Tong studied the effects of dysbindin gene mutations on movement frequency in Drosophila and later worked as a Research Technician in Dr. Mark Howe’s Lab at Boston University, investigating the striatum’s role in visually guided movements. Her work bridges genetic models of schizophrenia and systems neuroscience approaches to decision-making and behavior.
Indu Vaddiparti (Independent Study)
Latest Work: D.O. Student, Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences, Rowan University
Indu reviewed neuroscientific research on sexual orientation among neurodivergent populations, focusing on increased sexual fluidity in individuals with Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Andrew White (Learning Assistant)
Latest Work: M.D. Student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Andrew White's collaboration with Dr. Gobrogge began during his sophomore year while studying the use of Drosophila in neuroscience. Inspired by this work, Andrew served as a Learning Assistant, teaching and guiding new students in essential laboratory skills. After graduating, he spent two years at Brigham and Women’s Hospital researching Parkinson’s Disease, applying techniques learned from Dr. Gobrogge. He also delivered a guest lecture on his findings at Dr. Gobrogge's invitation. Andrew is currently a medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, continuing to apply his learning and experiences from his time with Dr. Gobrogge.
Ziyu (Ivan) Zhao (Independent Study)
Latest Work: Ph.D. Student, Clinical Psychology, Laboratory of Dr. Pamela Keel, Florida State University
Ivan reviewed the interplay between sex hormones, personality traits, and eating disorders, suggesting potential mediating roles of personality and proposing further research using comprehensive personality assessments and neuroimaging techniques.
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