Students

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.

Anna is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis studying neuroscience, psychology, and design. She is currently researching the impacts of statin medications on cognition and brain volumetrics in people living with HIV. Outside of the lab Anna competes with the track and field team and spends her free time hanging out with friends.

Uma is a second-year undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis studying Neuroscience, Studio Art, and Healthcare Management. She joined the Ances Lab in 2022 and is interested in the intersection of genetic diseases and Alzheimer disease as well as how changes in the brain are affected by HIV. Her passion for the complexity of the brain led her to pursue medical school where she hopes to become a neurosurgeon. In her free time, Uma enjoys playing Rugby, hiking, listening to music, and traveling.

Tina is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis studying microbiology and anthropology. She is interested in how different spheres of social determinants of health affect brain aging, particularly in persons living with HIV, and is currently focused on investigating the impact of early life stress. Her interest in neurological disorder has encouraged her to pursue medical school in the future with hopes of working with the older adult population. Tina enjoys spending her free time listening to and playing music, hiking, and honing her iPhone photography skills.

Kiana Angela is a third-year undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis studying Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Psychology (PNP) and Writing. She joined the Ances Lab in the Fall of 2022 and is currently focused on how neuroimaging methods (like structural and functional MRI) can be used to observe the development of AD biomarkers in specific populations. Her interest in the changing brain has motivated her to pursue medical school after the completion of her undergraduate studies. Outside of lab, Kiana Angela enjoys volunteering on WashU’s Emergency Support Team as an EMT, listening to music, and writing poetry.

 

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.

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.

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.

Cynthia is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis studying computer science and bioinformatics. She is interested in using her background in computer science to analyze large data sets related to neurodegenerative disease. Currently, she is researching the relationships between biomarkers, brain volume, and cognition in persons with HIV. In her free time, Cynthia enjoys competing with the WashU Club Tennis team, playing flute, and volunteering with Buddy Up Tennis.