Dan Feldman
Dan Feldman received his Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Stanford, and conducted postdoctoral research at UCSF and at NINDS. His laboratory was at UCSD from 2000-2007. He has been at UC Berkeley since 2007. Besides running his lab, he is Neurobiology Division Head for MCB, and is Director of the T32 Neuroscience Training Program at Berkeley. He teaches undergraduate and graduate circuit-systems neuroscience.
Kelly Wong, Lab Manager
Hi! I’m interested in characterizing & developing behavioral treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. Alternate whereabouts include sweating in an orchestra pit, gaping out of an airport window, or napping in a sunny patch on the lawn.
Han Chin Wang, Postdoc
I'm interested in understanding how we perceive the world and integrate information to guide our decision. I also like to play tennis and assemble model kits to create a miniature world.
Deepa Ramamurthy, Postdoc
I am a systems neuroscientist interested in neural circuit mechanisms that facilitate experience and context-dependent changes in sensory processing and behavior. I am currently studying cell-type specific roles of inhibitory interneurons in attentional modulation of sensory processing. I aim to understand the link between circuits for attention and learning by investigating the role of selective attention in gating cortical map plasticity. Other than science, I also enjoy reading speculative fiction, making art and trying to teach tricks to my budgie.
Bree Bohannon, Postdoc
I am interested in understanding the unique role of specific cell types to inhibitory circuit plasticity. In particular, I would like to know how a cell’s biophysical properties relate to that cell’s functional role in circuit plasticity and what happens to the cell circuit in neurological/psychiatric diseases. Outside of the lab, I enjoy running, yoga, and boxing/mixed martial arts.
Hannah R. Monday, Postdoc
I received my PhD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Broadly speaking, I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie diverse forms of plasticity in the brain and how they relate to neurodiseases. In the Feldman lab, I am investigating homeostatic plasticity in inhibitory cortical circuits and its potential impairment in mouse models of autism. By identifying novel molecular targets underlying homeostatic plasticity, and modulating their levels with gene editing, we hope to develop therapeutic interventions for autism. Outside of lab, I enjoy digging in my garden, making art, and spending time with my human and animal family.
Pierre-Marie Garderes, Postdoc
Hello there! I joined the lab in the fall of 2022 after completing my PhD at the University of Aachen. Here, my research uses perceptual behavior and electrocorticography (ECoG) to unravel the intricate communication between cortical columns, which are the building blocks of brain computations. Our aim is to gain insights into how activity organizes at a mesoscale to yield a coherent sensory experience. When I'm not busy at the experimental rig, you might spot me enthusiastically cycling through towns and picturesque landscapes, whipping up unexpectedly delicious meals, enjoying a sun-soaked nap, or savoring refreshments 'en terrasse' with both old and new friends.
Kaeli Vandemark, PhD Student
My research interests include understanding how cortical inhibition shapes higher-order feature selectivity in sensory cortex. More specifically, I aim to elucidate the roles that different cortical inhibitory interneuron subtypes play in multi-whisker tuning. Outside of the lab, you can find me attempting to bake yet another pie, oil painting, and/or chatting with the neighborhood cats.
Lucia Rodriguez, PhD Student
I’m interested in understanding how higher-order areas shape perception in the primary somatosensory cortex. Specifically, I am investigating how top-down feedback projections help refine neural coding of sensory stimuli in S1 in order to support appropriate behaviors. Outside the lab you’ll find me chatting over some beers or maté with friends, playing the occasional RPGs, either tabletop or on a screen, annoying/pleasing my neighbors with long hours session of singing and guitar and making arepas for a party of 20 (minimum).
Laura Gomez, PhD Student
I am a Biophysics PhD student joint with the Ji Lab interested in applying high speed 2P voltage imaging to study how neural ensemble dynamics underlie perceptual decision making in S1. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking around national parks and nature photography, exploring new countries, making Colombian food for friends and family and playing electric guitar.
Allison Nieto, PhD Student
I am interested in understanding the mechanisms that mediate the competitive aspects of experience-dependent plasticity. Specifically, my research is focused on various inhibitory interneuron subtypes: how they themselves are influenced by different experiences, and how this shapes the overall function of cortical circuits. When not in lab, I enjoy exploring new places with friends, searching for the best iced coffee, and then dancing off the caffeine buzz.
Lab Undergrads
2022 Ski Trip!
Lab Alumni:
Grad students
Cara Allen, 2000-2004. Policy analyst, NINDS, NIH.
Kevin Bender, 2001-2005. Assoc. Professor, UCSF.
Vanessa Bender, 2002-2006. Postdoc, Jahr group, Vollum Inst.
DJ Brasier, 2003-2007. Lecturer, Neuroscience Dept., Carnegie-Mellon Univ.
Jason Wolfe, 2003-2007. Postdoc, Brecht group, Berlin. Now AI hardware engineer at Intel Nervana.
Shantanu Jadhav, 2004-2008. Asst. Professor, Brandeis Univ.
David House, 2005-2010. Postdoc, Luscher group, Univ. Geneva.
Renna Stevens, 2006-2010. High school science teacher.
Kelly Clancy, 2009-2014. Postdoc, Mrsic-Flogel lab, Univ. of Basel.
Brian Isett, 2011-2017. Postdoc, Gittis group, Carnegie-Mellon Univ.
Sam Harding-Forrester, 2011-2017. Medical school, Univ. of Melbourne, Australia.
Keven Laboy-Juarez, 2012-2018. Postdoc, Olveczky group, Harvard Univ.
Amy LeMessurier, 2012-2018. Postdoc, Rob Froemke group, NYU.
Tomer Langberg, 2016-2020. Postdoc, Tel Aviv University (Fulbright Fellowship).
Joe Aman. 2016-2022. Project scientist, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA.
Postdocs
Han Chin Wang, 2015-2024. Research Fellow, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
Elisabeth Foeller, 2000-2003. Research Asst. Prof, Univ. of Frankfurt. Now in pharma industry.
Tansu Celikel, 2001-2003. Professor & Chair of Neurophysiology Group, Radboud Univ., Netherlands.
Patrick Drew, 2004-2007. Assoc. Professor, Penn State University
Sowmya Venkataramani, 2005-2007. Postdoc, Rowland Taylor group, Vollum Inst. Now a patent lawyer.
Lu Li, 2007-2012. Scientist, Allen Brain Inst. Now Professor, Sun-Yat Sen Univ., China
Toshio Miyashita, 2008-2012. Assoc. Prof., Teikyo Univ. School of Medicine, Japan.
Ray Shao, 2008-2012. MD program, Harvard. Now anesthesiology resident at Duke.
Leah McGuire, 2010-2012. Statistician, Salesforce Inc.
Justin Elstrott, 2010-2013. Scientist, Head of Optical Imaging Lab, Genentech
Melanie Gainey, 2012-2017. Asst. Professor of Library Science, Carnegie-Mellon Univ.
Phil Schnepel, 2013-2016. Postdoc, Poulet group, Max Delbruck Ctr for Molec Medicine, Berlin.
Michelle Antoine, 2014-2019. Tenure-track investigator, NIAAA, NIH.
Lab Managers
Katie Smith
Undergrads
Nilasha Krishnamurthy
Meeseo Lee
Jiayu Zhou
Cheryl Yang
Kaiulani Williams
Kathy Kaimaktchiev
Manya Zhao
Minha Kim
Preethi Nalluru
Sara Ahsan