Meet the team
Jimena Andersen, PhD
Principal investigator CV
Jimena is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at Emory University School of Medicine. She is originally from Argentina and has lived in Europe and the US since her teenage years. Jimena attended the University of Bath, UK for her undergraduate degree where she studied Biology. She then pursued her PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology at the National Institute for Medical Research, UK under the supervision of François Guillemot. For her postdoc, Jimena worked with Sergiu Paşca at Stanford University, where, among other achievements, she pioneered the generation of cortico-motor assembloids.
Juliette Bélanger-Bienvenue
Lead research specialist / Lab manager
juliette.belanger-bienvenue@emory.edu
Juliette is originally from Quebec, Canada and moved to Toronto to pursue higher education at the University of Toronto. Having completed a B.Sc in both Forensic Science and Chemistry, Juliette found a passion for pharmacology and toxicology leading to their M.Sc in Pharmacology. Juliette’s M.Sc thesis focused on the use of antipsychotics in regulating the molecular changes of Fragile-X in neurodevelopmental disorders. Juliette took part in numerous mentorship opportunities during both their undergraduate and graduate programs and continues to be passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists. Juliette is currently the lab manager of the Andersen and Birey labs at Emory University.
Supriya Wariyar
Lead research specialist
supriya.suresh.wariyar@emory.edu
Supriya is from Mumbai, India. She completed her undergrad from Dr. D.Y. Patil University, Mumbai India in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. She then moved to the US where she completed her M.S. in Biology from St. John’s University, Queens, NY. She joined the Ward Lab in 2019 as a Research Specialist where she oversaw day to day lab activities and performed experiments, such as nerve surgeries and confocal microscopy. In 2022 she joined the Andersen lab.
Taylor Pio
Neuroscience Graduate Student, F31 Fellow
taylor.pio@emory.edu
Hi! I'm Taylor, and I am pursuing my PhD in Neuroscience at Emory University. Originally from Georgia, I graduated from UCLA in 2019 with a B.S in Neuroscience. I then worked in New Orleans for a biotech company developing stem cell-based models of the nervous system, including a peripheral nerve model and a brain organoid. I am invested in advancing the field of stem-cell based models, and I hope to use them to bring new knowledge and effective treatments for dysfunctions of the nervous system (ALS, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, etc) to the greater public. In my free time, I love to go on walks, be a giant goof ball, and dream about homesteading one day. Please feel free to reach out if I can be of any assistance!
Nuri Smith
GMB Graduate Student, NSF GRFP Fellow
nuri.smith@emory.edu
I am a PhD student in the Genetics and Molecular Biology program here at Emory. I graduated from the University of South Carolina Upstate with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in both Biology and Experimental Psychology. During my studies I was involved in various projects from investigating the effects over-supplementation to folic acid and vitamin B12 on the expression of autism spectrum disorder related genes to the ability of binaural beats to calm anxiety in college students. Following graduation, I was accepted into the NIH funded Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at Johns Hopkins University to develop CRISPR activation tools to attempt the rescue Schizophrenia pathology. As a new member of the Andersen lab, I aim to apply genetic and molecular techniques in the brain/spinal organoids model to better understand neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Berna Aliya
Neuroscience Graduate Student
I am a PhD student in the Neuroscience program here at Emory University. I graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021 with a BS in Neuroscience and minors in Biochemistry and German. During my undergraduate years, I completed my Honors thesis on critical limb ischemia and how it induces changes in SOD activity and neuromuscular regeneration. Following graduation, I worked as a lead research specialist in the same lab and was responsible for mouse colony management as well as my own research project focusing on peripheral nerve injury. I am super excited to be part of the Andersen lab, where I aim to characterize ALS lines in our orgnaoid model with the long term goal of understanding disease mechanisms!
Sabra Mouhi
Neuroscience Graduate Student
I am a PhD student in the Neuroscience Program at Emory. I am originally from Rabat, Morocco and I received my BA in Neuroscience at Smith College in 2023. During my undergraduate studies, I completed an honors thesis investigating the role of G-protein coupled receptors in the processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein, and the generation of amyloid beta aggregates in a cell culture model. As a member of the Andersen lab, I am interested in studying glial and neuron pathology in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases using organoid models. In my free time, I like to draw and volunteer at an animal shelter.
Jesse Tenkorang
Placement Student, University of Bath
I am a third-year pharmacology student at the University of Bath, currently on placement from London, UK. I’m excited to be working in the lab to explore the development and function of the spinal cord and motor system, which a huge interest to me. My project focuses on using organoids to characterize different ALS lines, allowing us to investigate phenotype differences and dig deeper into the molecular links that may predispose these systems to disease. I’m especially drawn to research that combines cutting-edge techniques with real-world impact, and I look forward to contributing insights to this vital field. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing chess and football, they’re great ways to unwind, stay sharp, and challenge myself in new ways
Meghna Bettaiah
Undergraduate Student, Emory University
Hi, my name is Meghna. I’m originally from Cleveland, Ohio and am currently an undergraduate student at Emory University. I’m interested in majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. My research interests lie in studying the cellular processes behind diseases affecting the nervous system. I joined the Andersen Lab in 2023 and am so excited to be a part of it! At Emory, I also am involved in Graduation Generation where I tutor high schoolers and am a part of our local Red Cross chapter.
Sabrina Zhu
Undergraduate Student, Georgia Tech
Hi! My name is Sabrina Zhu, and I am an undergraduate majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Computer Science (intended) and Health and Medical Sciences (intended) at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I joined the Andersen Lab in Fall 2023 because of my interest in using organoids as models to better understand the cells in the spinal cord as well as the potential for them to help us learn more about the mechanisms behind spinal cord and nervous system disease.
Arjun Vohra
Undergraduate Student, Emory University
My name is Arjun Vohra, and I am an undergraduate at Emory majoring Biology and Economics. I am from Pune, India. I joined the Andersen Lab in 2023, because of how interesting the field of developmental biology is to me, and how fascinating the applications of organoids can be. My current research interests involve finding ways to characterize the cells of the dorsal root ganglia organoids grown in the lab. I am also interested in the application of viruses towards this goal. Outside of my academics at Emory, I am a pretty avid visual artist (and have created art for some small online video games) and am a member of Emory’s satire newspaper magazine.
Solan Yao
Undergraduate Student, Emory University
Hi, I’m Solan, and I am an undergrad at Emory University intending to major in Biology and Quantitative Sciences. I joined Andersen Lab summer 2024 due to my interest in the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases at a cellular level and how we can use organoids to model them.
Meet also the Brain Organoid Hub team here
Lab Alumni
Alison Mansfield, MD
