Short CV
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Alien Therapeutics Inc., Philadelphia, PA 2022 – Pres.
Focus: Circular RNA Therapeutics
Founder | CEO
Exponent Inc., Philadelphia, PA 2023 – 2023
Human Factors Consultant
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, MD 2021 – 2021
Division of Translational Research
Traumatic Stress Research Program
Special Volunteer | COVID-19
University of Wisconsin, WI 2020 – 2021
Department of Psychology
Assistant Professor | Tenure-Track | (Link)
Asok Laboratory
Columbia University | Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY 2016 – 2021
Department of Neuroscience
Zuckerman Mind Brain & Behavior Institute
Associate | Postdoctoral Research Scientist | (Link)
Kandel Laboratory | Advisor: Eric R. Kandel, MD
EDUCATION
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD Est. 2027
Carey School of Business
MBA, Analytics | Leadership | Innovation
Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC Est. 2027
School of Advanced International Studies
MAIR, International Economics | Finance
University of Delaware, Newark, DE 2016
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
PhD, Psychology | Neuroscience
Advisor: Jeffrey B. Rosen, PhD
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 2010 Department of Psychology
BS, Neuroscience | 2nd Major Psychology | Distinction | Magna Cum Laude
Advisors: Thomas J. Gould, PhD & Richard G. Heimberg, PhD
CERTIFICATES
IBM Artificial Intelligence Engineering Professional Certificate 2024
Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate 2024
IBM Data Science Professional Certificate 2023
McAfee Counter-Intelligence Threat Analyst Certificate 2023
AS in Business Administration 2002 – 2005
Cisco (CCNA) Networking Academy 2000 – 2002
HONORS AND AWARDS
Johns Hopkins University (Carey Business School) Dean's Scholarship 2024
Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) Scholarship for Technology and International Affairs 2025
NIMH Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (F32-MH114306 / 5th%) 2018 – 2021
American Psychological Association (APA) Top Dissertation Research Grant 2015
NSF EPSCOR Seminar Subaward: Proper Management of Scientific Data 2015
Pavlovian Society Top Poster Prize 2015
University of Delaware Competitive Dissertation Fellowship 2015 – 2016
University of Delaware Competitive Graduate Research Fellowship 2014 – 2015
ISDP Sackler Institute Travel Award 2013
Delaware Society for Neuroscience Top Poster Prize 2013
University of Delaware Professional Development Award 2011 – 2014
University of Delaware Department of Psychology Travel Award 2011 – 2014
Temple University Neuroscience Research Expo Top Poster Prize 2009
Temple University Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology 2009 – 2010
PRESS AND MEDIA
Interview for Nutopia / Disney+ on Fear and Survival Mechanisms (2023).
Commentary on ISRIB Molecule Development by Google Calico Labs, MIT Technology Review, Cambridge, MA (2021).
-
Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/25/1031783/isrib-molecule-treat-brain-injuries-memory/
Reflections of a Scientist at Columbia University. Columbia University News and Media. New York, NY (2021).
-
Available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipi2LzlNUxI
Childhood telomere work featured in, “The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer.” By Elizabeth Blackburn and Elissa Epel (2017).
Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) work featured in, “The CRF Signal: Uncovering an Information Molecule.” By Jay Schulkin (2017).
Molecular Psychiatry Cover Image (2017).
Why do we like to be Scared? UD: The Review (2015).
How we remember aversive memories: Applying optogenetics and pharmacology to decipher the function of CRF. Science Rocks Radio (93.1 FM), Newark, DE (2014).
-
Scientific Philosophy
Scientific discoveries rely on our ability to:
1) rapidly learn from failures,
2) pay attention to the details,
3) think broadly outside of the box, and, in this day and age,
4) work well with others.
These abilities are critical regardless of career path. In research, identifying how to answer an important question (e.g., Why do we remember one particular memory more strongly than another?) critically depends on developing these abilities in an intellectually and technically supportive research environment. Innovative ideas come from anyone of any background at any education level.
Google Scholar
ResearchGate
X
