UCSF’s innovative, collaborative approach to patient care, research and education spans disciplines across the life sciences, making it a world leader in scientific discovery and its translation to improving health.
Ian joined the Grinberg Lab in the fall of 2018 as an undergraduate research assistant due to his interest in neurodegeneration, following years of research experience in behavioral and molecular neuroscience. After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2021 with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology and Data Science, he continued his work at the lab as a full-time staff research associate.
Jonathan graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018. He was first exposed to research was through UCSF's Diversity Scholar Program in the summer of 2015. Through this program, he received training in neuroscience lab techniques, computational science, and entrepreneurship. He joined the Grinberg Lab in fall 2015 as an undergraduate student. His goal is to pursue a medical career as a clinician in neurology.
Fattin Wekselman received her BS degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Syiah Kuala in Indonesia. Following the 2004 tsunami, she joined the United Nations World Food Program and other NGOs to reunite families, organize the feeding of displaced people, train teachers and mothers, and assist families in rebuilding their independence. She has also worked with the French Engineering Consulting Firm SOGREAH, and in Sepon, Laos as the Sustainability and Community Development Manager at one of the largest gold and copper mines.
Ayesha graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bsc degree in Psychological Sciences where she primarily involved herself in researching family relationships and COVID-19 tracing and public health interventions. While on campus, she was also involved in outreach through founding and leading her club, Women in Psychology.
Tia graduated from UC Berkeley in 2020 after completing a dual degree in Integrative Biology and Molecular Environmental Biology. She started her research journey in 2018 as a research assistant at the Grinberg Lab practicing various wet lab techniques and focusing on the locus coeruleus' role as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.
Maria joined the Memory and Aging Center in February 2021 as Administrative Manager to provide operational, analytical and administrative support to the Neurodegenerative Disease Brain Bank. She has a BA degree in education, with minors in mathematics and Spanish literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining the MAC, Maria managed education programs, business solutions and strategic initiatives in the healthcare, insurance and financial services industries, both nationally and internationally.
Athena studied Integrative Biology and Classics at UC Berkeley. She was involved in archaeological research and assisted the excavation of a prehistoric cemetery in Greece. On campus, she was a volunteer EMT and worked as a chef for her housing cooperative. Her experiences volunteering in hospice and nursing facilities led her to the Memory and Aging Center, where she assists patients, families, and caregivers with the autopsy program.
Song Hua Li has a BS degree in biotechnology from UC Davis and has been working as a histotechnologist since 2015. She joined the Grinberg Lab in June 2019 and runs the histology experiments.
Alex started off in the neuropathology core at UCSF’s Memory and Aging Center in 2013 under the mentorship of Prof. Lea T. Grinberg. There, he developed interests in the factors that influence selective vulnerability underlying early Alzheimer’s disease stages and associated neuropsychiatric manifestations. Now a Ph.D. Candidate at UC Berkeley, he is co-advised by Prof. Grinberg and Prof. Daniela Kaufer and continues his focus on neurodegenerative disease vulnerability.
