Lab Members

Sarah Heilbronner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. She is interested in what the brain's wiring diagram can tell us about its function.

[email protected]

Sarah_HeilbronnerCV2022.pdf

Tanya Casta is our lab manager and chief histologist.

Mark received an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences from Marquette University. He then pursued a PhD in Developmental Neuropharmacology at Vanderbilt University. He is currently a postdoc studying brain connectivity through anatomy and ultra-high field diffusion MRI tractography.

Megan is a graduate student in the GPN. She received her B.A. in Biology, Neuroscience, and Molecular Biology from Coe College. Her research interests include changes in connectivity caused by experience and rat homology.

Adriana is a student in the Graduate Program of Neuroscience. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Brooklyn College - CUNY. She is interested in circuit level mechanisms that are involved in the development and organization of the brain and how this information can improve our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Jessica has a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Arizona and is now working on her Ph.D. under Craig Packer (Lion Center) and Sarah Heilbronner. She studies the brains of lions! African lions have a unique social structure and Jessica wants to learn more about what makes them behave differently than their asocial cousins, tigers and leopards.

Sam received her B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Central Florida. She is currently a student in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience, advised by Matt Chafee and Sarah Heilbronner, and is interested in the local and cortical circuitry that is affected in schizophrenia.

James is a researcher working across Heilbronner Lab and University Imaging Centers. He received his M.S. in Computer Science at UMN and is currently working on image processing and analysis of 3D microscopy images of small animals. James also works on some coding of behavioral tasks.

Sylvie received her B.A. in Psychology & French from Grinnell College and her M.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Oregon Health and Science University.

Elena will be graduating in Fall 2021 with a Neuroscience B.S. and a minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality studies. She is currently working in the Heilbronner Lab as an undergraduate researcher and will be pursuing a clinical research position after graduation prior to applying for an MD/PhD.

Maya was a grad student in the Heilbronner and Hayden labs. She is now a postdoc at NIH. Find out more about her latest work here

Austin was an undergrad and research technician in the Heilbronner Lab. He graduated in Spring 2021 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. He is now attending Florida State University in pursuit of a doctorate degree in Neuroscience. While there, he will be researching retinal degeneration using zebrafish as a model.

Alexa was an undergrad and research technician in the Heilbronner Lab. She recently graduated in Spring 2021 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. She is currently working as a Researcher 1 in the Heilbronner Lab and looking to gain more clinical experience before heading to medical school!

Ben was an undergrad and research technician in the Heilbronner Lab. He graduated in Fall 2020 with a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, & Behavior. He is currently working in the Heilbronner Lab as a Researcher 1 and as a vet assistant before pursuing vet school.

Mahtahn was an undergrad and research technician in the Heilbronner Lab. Mahtahn graduated in Spring 2021 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. He is currently looking forward to attending the University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School, starting this summer!

Zane was an undergrad and research technician in the Heilbronner Lab. He is a junior at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, double majoring in neuroscience and psychology. He is currently employed by two labs in the N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, studying the neurobiology of neurodegenerative disease. Zane plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neurobiology when he completes his dual degree.

Hannah was a research technician in the Heilbronner and Hayden labs. She has moved on to pharmacy school at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Amera was an undergrad in the Heilbronner Lab. She is currently an MS2 at the University of Minnesota Medical School.