Critical advancements in the understanding and finding curative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases lie at the intersection of clinical and basic research. I strongly believe that the elevation, participation, and inclusion of minority and diverse voices is an important aspect of this process, especially when it comes to patient-driven care.
Supported students and postdocs
The Kavli Institute for Neuroscience seeks to foster excellence in neuroscience research by supporting the career development of trainees through fellowships, awards, training workshops and networking events that promote exchange of ideas. Below, explore current and past postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and Kavli Undergraduate Thesis Prize winners, along with recent news about their work and achievements. To learn more about our funding opportunities for trainees, please visit our Fellowships and Awards page.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Current Postdoctoral Fellows
Associate Research Scientist in Genetics
Project: "How Does Deletion of the Autism Risk Gene Shank3 Alter the Molecular Profile and Projection Patterns of Social Ensembles in the Nucleus Accumbens?"
Mentor: Yong-Hui Jiang (Genetics)
Postdoctoral Associate (Neuroscience)
Project: "Elucidating Mechanisms of Axonal Maintenance through Tubulin Turnover"
Mentor: Shaul Yogev (Neuroscience, Cell Biology)
Associate Research Scientist
Project: "Determining Circuit Mechanisms of Neuromodulation in Visual Threat Behavior"
Mentor: Alfred Kaye (Psychiatry)
Postdoctoral Associate (Neuroscience)
Project: "Mapping ultrastructural correlates of short-term plasticity within whole-brain connectomes"
Mentors: Aaron Kuan (Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering), James Jeanne (Neuroscience)
2025
Postdoctoral Associate (Neuroscience)
Project: "Elucidating Mechanisms of Axonal Maintenance through Tubulin Turnover" Mentor: Shaul Yogev (Neuroscience, Cell Biology)Postdoctoral Fellow
Project: "Disentangling dual mechanisms for neuroimmune sensing" Mentors: Ruslan Medzhitov (Immunobiology), Rui Chang (Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Physiology)Associate Research Scientist
Project: "Determining Circuit Mechanisms of Neuromodulation in Visual Threat Behavior" Mentor: Alfred Kaye (Psychiatry)
2024
Name | Title | Email |
|---|---|---|
Dhananjay Bhaskar | Postdoctoral Associate | dhananjay.bhaskar@yale.edu |
Hongyan Hao | Postdoctoral Associate in Neuroscience | hongyan.hao@yale.edu |
Clíona Kelly | Postdoctoral Associate | cliona.kelly@yale.edu |
José Jaime Martínez-Magaña | Postdoctoral Associate | jose.martinez-magana@yale.edu |
2023
Name | Email |
|---|---|
José Jaime Martínez-Magaña | jose.martinez-magana@yale.edu |
Winnie Orchard | |
Rafael Perez | |
Xize Xu | xize.xu@yale.edu |
2021
Name | Email |
|---|---|
Elvisha Dhamala | |
I-Uen "Yvonne" Hsu | i-uen.hsu@yale.edu |
2020
2019
Name | Email |
|---|---|
Zheng Wang | wang.zheng@yale.edu |
2018
Name | Email |
|---|---|
Huriye Atilgan |
Graduate Students
2026-2027
Name | Title | Email |
|---|---|---|
Dianne-Lee Ferguson | ||
Angie Maldonado Rodriguez | ||
Jia Shin | ||
Sarah Weber | ||
Andy Yang |
2025-2026
2019-2020
Kavli Undergraduate Thesis Prizes
Each year since the major was founded, the Kavli Institute for Neuroscience at Yale has funded awards to two graduating seniors in the Neuroscience major, chosen by a small ad hoc committee. The award is based on senior research, their poster presentation, and grades in the major.
| Year | Name | College |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jack Cloherty | - |
| Olivia White Storti | - | |
| Evelyn Jiang | - | |
| 2025 | Zachary Moynihan | Branford College |
| Parisa Vaziri | Saybrook College | |
| 2024 | Margot Sarkozy | Ezra Stiles College |
| Rayyan Darji | Grace Hopper College | |
| 2023 | Makayla Conley | Benjamin Franklin College |
| Dhruv Patel | Silliman College | |
| 2022 | Jenna Salameh | Grace Hopper College |
| Isabelle Top | Jonathan Edwards College | |
| 2021 | Renee Jessica Tang | Ezra Stiles College |
| Chika Victory Ogbejesi | Jonathan Edwards College | |
| 2020 | Eren Kafadar | Davenport College |
| Justin Chan | Davenport College | |
| 2019 | Angus Fong | Timothy Dwight College |
| Geeta Rao | Grace Hopper College |
- May 15, 2026
Zhang Honored With 2026 Kavli Postdoctoral Fellowship
- April 29, 2026
Oakleigh Folkes and Dahae "Julia" Jun Honored With 2026 Kavli Postdoctoral Award for Collaborative Excellence
- May 03, 2024
Hao, Chen, and Bhaskar Honored With 2024 Kavli Postdoctoral Fellowship
- January 31, 2024
Clíona Kelly and Jivesh Ramduny Receive 2024 Kavli Postdoctoral Award for Academic Diversity