Lab Members

Jiangtao Li, MS

PhD Student – Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (GBCB) Program

BS,  Shaoguan University  (Biotechnology) 
MS, Jiaotong University (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
jtli@vt.edu

Xiaoran Wei 

PhD Student - Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences (BMVS) Program

BS, School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University (Bioinformatics)
xrwei@vt.edu

Beatriz Torres
Graduate Student – MCB Program, VT School of Neuroscience

BA, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Psychology & Neuroscience)
beatriztc@vt.edu

Rachel Hedeen
Research Technician

BS, Virginia Tech (Neuroscience & Psychology)
hederac@vt.edu

Raymundo Hernandez
PhD Student – TBMH Program, VT School of Neuroscience

BS, Arizona State University (Science of Psychology)
rdherna1@vt.edu

Uri Kahanovitch, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow, Smid Laboratory, The University of Western Ontario

BSc, Hebrew University in Jerusalem
MSc/PhD, Tel Aviv University
urik@vt.edu

Jessica Boni
Post doctoral Fellow:: Vandevord Laboratory, Virginia Tech

Graduate Student- University of Alabama Birmingham
(Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology)
BS, Emory University
jlboni@vt.edu

Leanne Holt, PhD
Former Graduate Student of the Olsen Lab

Graduate Student: University of Alabama Birmingham (Neuroscience)
BS, Mercer University
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Tristan Stoyanof
Former Research Technician of the Olsen Lab

Current Position: Graduate Student at Virginia Tech, Biomedical and Veterinary Science
BS, Virginia Tech

Earl Gilbert
Former Research Technician of the Olsen Lab

Current Position: Graduate Student at Virginia Tech, Molecular and Cellular Biology
BS, Virginia Tech

Helen Vanderpool
Former Lab Manager of the Olsen Lab

MS, Virginia Tech- Business Administration
BS, University of Texas- Biology
Current Position: Account Manager for ThermoFisher Scientific

Kelsey Patterson
Former Graduate Student of the Olsen Lab

MD/PhD Student: University of Alabama Birmingham (Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology)
BS, University of Alabama Birmingham
Currently completing medical training

Natasha Pacheco
Former Graduate Student of the Olsen Lab

Graduate Student: University of Alabama Birmingham (Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Program)
BS, University of Michigan
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Inova Translational Medicine Institute

Sini Nwaobi, MD/PhD
First Graduate Student of the Olsen Lab

MD/PhD, University of
Current Position: Pediatric Resident and University of Los Angeles

Heather Minkel, PhD
Second Graduate Student of the Olsen Lab

PhD, University of Alabama Birmingham
BS, Central Michigan University
Current Position: Veterinary Medicine student at University of Michigan

Vishnu Cuddapah, MD/PhD
First Post-Doctoral Fellow of the Olsen Lab

MD/PhD, University of Alabama Birmingham
BS, Tulane University
Current Position: Pediatric Neurology Residency at University of Pennsylvania

Kenneth (Taylor) Holt
Former Masters Student of the Olsen Lab

Accelerated 5th-year Masters Program (Biology), University of Alabama Birmingham