Lab Alumni

Olga is a clinical coordinator in the Ances Lab.

Sharmila is a programmer in the Ances Lab. She studied MS in Computer Science at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, specializing in computer vision. She is interested in medical image processing, statistical analysis and machine learning.

Malavika is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis pursuing a BA in Neuroscience. She is currently focused on analyzing ethno-racial differences in biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and investigating how these differences are impacted by social determinants of health. She joined the Ances Lab in early 2022 and is excited to continue investigating and learning about biomarkers of AD while combining her interest in neurodegenerative diseases with her background in computer science. Outside of the lab, Malavika is a volunteer EMT with the WashU Emergency Support Team and likes to walk through St. Louis with friends and play the piano in her free time.

Janaya Nelson is a second-year medical student at Meharry Medical College. She graduated from Spelman College in 2019 as a Chemistry major and Dance minor. Upon graduation, she obtained her Masters in Medical Science from Hampton University in 2021. In the Ances Lab, she works with Dr. Jeremy Strain researching Alzheimer Disease and Down syndrome.

Nawang (he/him) is a 2022 MIR research scholar, currently in medical school at University of Minnesota. He graduated from UW-Madison in 2019 with a BS in Industrial & Systems Engineering and is interested in combining this background with his interest in neuroradiology. His summer research project utilizes functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) to model the brain’s major cortical association networks as a function of beta-amyloid plaques and tau, two hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in individuals with preclinical AD. Nawang hopes that his findings will help guide the use of fcMRI in clinical trials aimed at preventing or slowing down the cognitive symptoms associated with AD.

Anna Boerwinkle began working in the Ances lab as a research technician after graduating from Washington University in 2017 with a B.S. in Systems Science and Engineering. She is interested in neurology and got involved in neuroimaging research to combine this interest with her engineering background. Anna‘s primary research is evaluating neuroinflammation in people living with HIV using PET imaging. She is also responsible for processing the FreeSurfers and PET scans for the HIV projects.

Wiete Fehner is a first year PhD student in the Imaging Science program at WashU and is currently doing her rotation in the Ances Lab. She graduated from the University of Turku (Finland) in 2020 with a M.Sc. in Human Neuroscience. Her research focused on utilizing optical imaging (fNIRS) and fMRI to investigate the auditory cortex with application in the clinical context. In general, Wiete is interested in neuroimaging techniques and using neuroimaging in the context of clinical populations.

John is a clinical research coordinator who works in both the department of neurology and radiology. He has a MA in psychology from the University of West Georgia and has experience working with a variety of clinical and research populations ranging from adolescents to older adults. For the past several years, he has worked on multiple projects focusing on memory, aging, HIV, and Alzheimer’s disease. Along with recruiting and scheduling research participants, John facilitates study visits by administering neuropsychological tests and coordinating MRI and PET neuroimaging scans.

Dimitre is a Washington University graduate with Masters in Electrical Engineering. For more than a decade, he has been involved in modeling of human motor control by the Central Nervous System (CNS). He was interested in multivariate modeling of not only what brain regions are involved in some function, but also how impairments and diseases are encoded and modify brain-activity patterns. Specifically, the methods of Representational Similarity Analysis (RSA) coupled with the explosive evolution of machine learning tools, e.g. nilearn, greatly facilitate such investigation as well comparisons across imaging modalities, models, individuals and species.

Patrick has a BS in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, and a PhD in Computer Science from the University of South Alabama. He was interested in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Data Analysis and Nonlinear Dynamics.

Collin is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis pursuing a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Applied Mathematics. He is excited to have the opportunity to work with the Ances lab to further explore the field of neuroimaging and neurodegeneration. He is interested in white matter hyperintensities and their link to the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. When not working in the lab, you can find Collin singing along with his a cappella group, catching up on the latest Netflix blockbusters, or exploring the city of St. Louis.

Michelle is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, pursuing her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. She has been working in Ances Lab since the fall of 2018, and is excited to continue working and explore neuroimaging, in the hopes of combining her love of engineering with that of neuroscience. In her free time, Michelle enjoys writing, film-making and petting dogs.

Haleem graduated with his masters in Applied Physics from the University of Missouri – St. Louis in 2016. He began work at Washington University in the Radiation Oncology department in 2016, and is excited to continue his work in Ances Lab. He is interested in imaging methods and how aging and Alzheimer’s affect the brain.

Alex is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and worked as a clinical research study assistant in the Ances Lab as the Trainer for the Exercise and Aging Study.  He has a BS degree from the University of Southern Illinois Edwardsville and has experience working in clinical research studies focusing on the benefits of exercise. He has worked on multiple projects focused on memory, aging, HIV and Alzheimer’s disease. Alex was with the Ances Lab from 2016-2020.

Matthew Brier completed his undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Dallas (BS, Neuroscience) before joining the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his PhD in the Ances lab studying the impact of pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease on brain structure and function. He received his MD from Washington University in St. Louis and stayed at Barnes Jewish Hospital for residency training in Neurology. He currently serves as an Administrative Chief Resident for the Department of Neurology. He has accepted a position as Instructor in the MS/Neuroimmunology section of the Department of Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. He currently uses neuroimaging tools to study disability and progression in Multiple Sclerosis.

Gina worked in the Ances lab as an undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied neuroscience. She wrote her undergrad thesis on the effects of early life stress on functional connectivity in individuals living with HIV. She has since earned her MD and MPH from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently completing residency in Child Neurology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her clinical and research interests include neuro-infectious disease and health equity.

Dr. Leontiev worked with Dr. Ances as a medical student from 2008-2009 as part of his Independent Studies Project at the University of California – San Diego School of Medicine. He is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology at University of Pennsylvania.

Jessica is a senior at WashU majoring in Biochemistry and Neuroscience and minoring in Psychology. She is currently investigating how certain types of medications can affect cognition in HIV+ patients. In addition to research, Jessica serves as a Patient Care Technician at the Barnes Jewish Hospital ER and Chemistry Residential Peer Mentor. She likes to run, do jigsaw puzzles, and play piano in her free time.

Gina was an undergraduate research assistant in the Ances lab from 2015-2017. While pursuing a BA in neuroscience at Washington University, she initially joined the lab as a data entrant and test administrator. She quickly developed an interest HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), and she was involved in several projects investigating changes in cognition and sleep in individuals with HAND. Currently, she is attending medical school at Washington University where she has maintained a strong interest in the study of neurological disorders.