Current Students
April Becker
April Becker is a graduate student working on a Ph.D. in neuroscience at UTSW. She earned her M.S. in Behavior Analyisis from University of North Texas and her undergraduate in biology from Colorado State University. At CSU she studied muscle atrophy under Dr. Don Michales and investigated the function of songbird vocalizations in the lab of Dr. Myron Baker. Her later research with Dr. Jesus Rosales-Ruiz and Dr. Sigrid Glenn focused on orderly recombination of behavior as a source of novel forms, environmental influences on motivation, and cultural analysis. Under Dr. Mark Goldberg, she is initiating work in behavioral recovery from stroke.
Katie Poinsatte
Katie Poinsatte started working in the Neurorepair lab the summer after graduating from Ursuline Academy of Dallas, helping to unpack and organize the new space. She is now a sophomore at Kenyon College, a small liberal arts school in rural Ohio, working towards degrees in English and Neuroscience. Katie continues to work in the Neurorepair Lab seasonally when she returns to her hometown Dallas, often helping with histology. When Katie isn’t fighting with the cryostat, she can be found stage managing theatrical productions, working on the Kenyon Review, and drinking tea.
Syed Rasheed
I am a senior Psychology and Child Learning & Development double major at UT Dallas. I moved to the U.S when I was just 8 years old from Doha, Qatar. I started working at the Neurorepair Lab in May 2012 to gain research experience and fulfill my requirements to graduate with honors at UT Dallas. My honors thesis work in the Neurorepair Lab focuses on behavioral recovery from stroke. My research with Dr. Sunita Rangarajan on antimicrobial properties of plant extracts was published in The Exley journal. When I’m not busy with school or research I love to hang out with friends and play and watch every sport possible. I plan to attend medical school and pursue a career in pediatric neurology.
Former Students
Laura Freriks
My name is Laura Helene Freriks, and I was born in The Netherlands. I'm a Zoology student with Microbiology courses on the side. I always had an interest in biology related courses especially in virology and immune related diseases. In the past I studied clinical chemistry and hematology, and I did an internship in Oban, Scotland, in a small clinical laboratory for 5 months to graduate for this. At the moment I'm in my final months to graduate for my Zoology bachelor and to graduate for this I have to do an internship for eight months, my school offered me a place at UT Southwestern in the Neurology department and that's how I ended up in the lab. At first I didn't really know what to expect from Neurology, but as time is passing I grew into it and really started to like it. In the near future I'm going to do a Masters in Immunity and Infection and I hope to go in to HIV/AIDS research after that. In my free time I like drawing, painting, Paintshop Pro, playing video games and hanging out with my friends.
Justin Morales
My name is Justin Morales. I am a recent high school graduate from Sterling High School in Somerdale, NJ, and will attend Southern Methodist University (SMU) in the fall. Science has always been an interest of mine since I was younger, following the footsteps of my aunt and uncle who are pediatricians, and I have learned to embrace it and blaze my own trail. Since the summer following my ninth grade year, I have been doing internships in different laboratories across America at places like the University of Pennsylvania, the National Institute of Drug Abuse in Baltimore, and now UT Southwestern. Through my lab work I’ve found that neurology has become a strong interest that I wish to pursue in the future.
Alexis Ayanru
My name is Alexis Ayanru. I am a rising senior at Bishop Dunne Catholic School. This summer I am part of UT Southwestern's STARS program, which allows for rising seniors to experience what working in a lab and researchers is like. Originally, I had no interest in neurology, but after spending many weeks in Dr. Stowe's lab, I have a greater appreciation for the work that they do. I hope to take my experiences with me to college and further in my journey to become not only a medical doctor, but a researcher as well.