Neuroscience Alumni and Career Opportunities
The Neuroscience discipline of the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program has an 89% completion rate to degree, with an average time to degree of about 5.2 years. After graduation, nearly all of our trainees obtain high-quality, research-intensive post-doctoral positions at major research universities. Of 25 graduates in the past 10 years, 20 obtained post-docs at universities such as Emory, Harvard, LSU, Pitt, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Utah, UC Davis, Colorado, USAISR, etc.) and 3 who were M.D./Ph.D. students entered residency.
After completing their post-doc, our graduates have many options, including becoming a lab director/PI at an academic institution, pharmaceutical or biotech company, or government research facility (e.g., NIH). Other career paths include university teaching, academic administration, patent law, scientific publishing, government work in science policy, and management in businesses related to scientific or medical products.
Neuroscience Alumni
Hudson Smith, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Kelly Berg, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Pharmacological Characterization of Methocinnamox: A Long-Lasting Mu Opioid Receptor Antagonist with Allosteric Properties '
Current Position: 2023- Post-doc, Dept Pharmacology & Toxicology, UT Medical Branch, John Allen, PhD, mentor
Liliana Espinoza, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Carie Boychuk, PhD
Dissertation: 'High fat diet-induced neuroplasticity in cardiac-projecting dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus motor neurons: a novel mechanism for cardiovascular disease '
Current Position:
Simon Levy, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Bess Frost, PhD
Dissertation: 'Developing a Drosophila melanogaster model of prion-like tau aggregation '
Current Position:
Gabbe Zuniga, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Bess Frost, PhD
Dissertation: 'Deficits in nonsense-mediated RNA decay contribute to neurodegeneration in tauopathy '
Current Position: 2022- completing medical school for MD/PhD
Michelle Doyle, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Greg Collins, PhD
Dissertation: 'Role of dopamine D3 and serotonin2C receptors in compulsive-like drug taking '
Current Position: 2022- Post-doc, Dept of Psychiatry, UCSD, Abraham Palmer, Ph.D., mentor
Mustafa Mithaiwala, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jason O’Connor, PhD
Dissertation: 'The role of oxidative kynurenine metabolism in mediating cognitive impairment during chronic inflammation '
Current Position: 2022- Post-doc, Dept Pharmacology, UTHSA
Denisse Paredes, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Morilak, PhD
Dissertation: 'The role of BDNF in mediating the therapeutic effectsof fear extinction in the infralimbic cortex '
Current Position: 2022- Post-doc, Dept of Neuroscience, UT Austin, Michael Drew, Ph.D., mentor
Allie Vaiana, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 2022
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Morilak, PhD
Dissertation: 'Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment Induced by Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer and the Therapeutic Effects of Vortioxetine '
Current Position: 2022- Associate Director, Research Programs, Michael J. Fox Foundation
Amy Wu, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November 2021
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jason Pugh, PhD
Dissertation: 'Cerebellar molecular layer interneuron activity modulation on Purkinje cell firing behavior in a dystrophin-deficient mouse model '
Current Position: 2022 - Post-doc, Dept of Physiology, UTHSA
Grace Porter, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: December 2021
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jason O’Connor, PhD
Dissertation: 'The Role of BDNF in mediating the PFC-dependent behavioral and neuroinflammatory response '
Current Position: 2022- Medical writer, Medtronic
Breeanne Soteros, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November 2020
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Gek Sia, PhD
Dissertation: 'Defenders of the Synapse: Sushi Repeat – Containing Protein X-Linked 2 (SRPX2) Regulates Complement -Mediated Synapse Elimination in the Central Nervous System '
Current Position: 2021- Post-doc, Dept Pharmacology, UTHSA
Melodi Bowman, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November 2020
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Lyn Daws, PhD
Dissertation: 'Investigating the role of uptake-2 Mechanisms in Monoamine Neurotransmission: Implications for the Treatment of Depression '
Current Position: 2021- Research Scientist and Supervisor, Charles River Laboratories, San Francisco CA
Miryam Pando, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: October 7, 2020
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Kelly Berg, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Regulation of Peripheral Kappa Opioid Receptor – Mediated Antinociception'
Current Position: 2020- Post-doc, Battlefield Pain Management Branch, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, San Antonio, TX
Danielle Santana Coelho, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: September 22, 2020
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jason O’Connor, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Investigating the Pathophysiology of Maternal Inflammation-induced Autistic-like Phenotype: From Rodents to Primates'
Current Position: 2020 – Post-doc, Dept. of Psychology & Neuroscience, Baylor University, Mentor: Joaquin Lugo, Ph.D.
Samantha Adler, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 21, 2020
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Stress Effects on Neuronal Connectivity in the Orbitofrontal Cortex'
Current Position: 2020 – Human Performance Research Associate/Analyst, Senior Specialist, Psychology, Space and Mission Solutions Division, KBR Brooks City-Base, San Antonio TX
Paul Anthony Martinez, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: June 7, 2019
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Randy Strong, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Biogenic aldehydes as therapeutic targets in Parkinson’s disease'
Current Position: 2019 – Post-doc, Department of Pharmacology, UTHSA, Randy Strong, Ph.D., mentor
Allison Garrison, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April 22, 2019
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jason O’Connor, Ph.D.
Dissertation: The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Modulating Neuroinflammation
Current Position: 2019 – Allison is a clinical regulatory affairs specialist at a medical device company called OsteoMed in Addison TX
Tara Barron, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April 17, 2019
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jun He Kim, Ph.D
Dissertation: 'Physiological Implications of Neuron-Oligodendrocyte Interaction'
Current Position: 2019 – Post-doc, Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Michelle Monje, PhD, mentor
Kelsey Smith, GSBS Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 7, 2018
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Daniel Lodge, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'The medial prefrontal-to-amygdala pathway mediates the enduring anxiolytic effect of adolescent chronic unpredictable stress'
Current Position: 2018 – Post-Doc, Dept. Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Duke University Med Center, Mentor: Rebecca Klein, PhD
Deana Apple, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: January 19, 2018
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Erzsebet Kokovay, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Effects of calorie restriction on the aging neural stem cell niche'
Current Position: 2018 – ORISE Fellow (post-doc), Clinical Decision Support and Automation Research Branch, US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR)
Mikaela Sifuentes, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November 30, 2017
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jim Lechleiter, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Thyroid Hormone Neuroprotection From Ischemic Stroke by Stimulation of Astrocyte Fatty Acid Oxidation'
Current Position: 2018 – Medical Writer, Acelity wound care medical device company, San Antonio, TX
Alicia Avelar, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November 8, 2017
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Mike Beckstead, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Discovering the cellular actions of atypical dopamine transporter inhibitors in midbrain dopamine neurons'
Current Position:2017 – Post-doc, Marshall University School of Medicine, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Brandon Henderson, Ph.D., mentor
Allison (Doyle) Brackley, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March 30, 2017
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Nathan Jeske, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Awakening a DORmant Receptor'
Current Position: 2017 – Post-doc, UTHSCSA, Dept. of Physiology, Glenn Toney, mentor
Elizabeth Fucich, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: Feb 24, 2017
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Medial prefrontal cortical mechanisms of behavioral therapy for stress-related psychiatric illness'
Current Position: 2017 – Post-doc, LSU HSC, Dept. of Physiology, Patricia Molina, MD/PhD, mentor
2020 – Professor of Practice in Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Megan Jo Moerke, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April 28, 2016
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Lance McMahon, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Pharmacological mechanisms underlying the behavioral effects of direct- and indirect-acting nicotinic agonists in non-human prima tes and rodents'
Current Position: 2016 – Post-doctoral fellow, Dept. Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Mentor: Steve Negus, Ph.D.
David Aguilar, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April 19, 2016
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Daniel Lodge, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Effects of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids on animal models of schizophrenia'
Current Position: 2016 – 18, Post-doc, Harvard Med School, Dept. of Psychiatry, Robert MCarley PhD, mentor
2018 –, Post-doc, Harvard Med School, Dept. of Psychiatry, James McNally, PhD, mentor
Jennifer Parrott, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March 26, 2016
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jason O’Connor, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Inflammation-induced depressive-like behaviors: influence of kynurenine metabolism and brain-derived neurotrophic factor'
Current Position: 2016 –, Post-doc, UC Davis Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Mentor: Jacqueline Crawley, Ph.D.
Julianne Jett, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2016
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Noradrenergic modulation of glutamate in the medial prefrontal cortex: A potential mechanism for stress-induced cognitive deficits'
Current Position: 2019 – Post-doc, Washington State University College of Medicine, Mentor: Michael McDonell, Ph.D.
Jillian Heisler, MD/PhD Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April 2014
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Jason O'Connor, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'A Pathogenic Role for Kynurenine Metabolism in Prefrontal Cortex-mediated Depressive Symptoms'
Current Position:Neurologist, Houston Methodist, email: jmheisler@houstonmethodist.org
Aparna Shah, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April 2014
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Alan Frazer, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Mechanisms underlying the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS): comparison with desipramine'
Post-Doc: 2014-15 Univ Maryland, Dept of Pharmacology, Brian Mathur, Ph.D., mentor
Current Position: 2015-present: Post-doc, Johns Hopkins, Dept Psych & Beh Sci, Mentor: Jay Baraban, MD, PhD,
email: apshah84@gmail.com
Teresa Evans, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: April, 2014
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Traumatic Brain Injury and the Development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis'
Post-Doc: Jim Lechleiter, 2014-2017: Director of Career Development, GSBS
Current Position: Principal Investigator, Teacher Enrichment Initiatives (TEI), Chief Operating Officer, Trauma Insight, and Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, UT Health San Antonio
Stephanie Perez, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: May 2014
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Daniel Lodge, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'The Ventral Hippocampus as a Novel Target for the Treatment of Schizophrenia'
Current Position: Post-doc at UT Health San Antonio, Mentor: Dan Lodge, email: Perezsm@uthscsa.edu
Jennifer Donegan, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March 2014
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'IL-6 facilitates reversal learning in the orbitofrontal cortex of rats'
Current Position: Post-doc, UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO Dept of Pharmacology, Mentor: Dan Lodge, email: Donegan@uthscsa.edu
Alex Martinez, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: January, 2014
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Andrea Giuffrida, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Cannabinoid and Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptors as Anti-dyskinetic Targets'
Post-Doc: 2014 - Post-doc, UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO Dept of Pharmacology, Andrea Giuffrida, mentor
Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
David Medina, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2013
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Salvatore Oddo, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Molecular Mechanisms Underlying TDP-43 Proteinopathies'
Post-Doc: Post-doc at the Barrow Institute, Phoenix AZ, Rachael Sirianni and Robert Bowser, mentors
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Dept of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, email: David.Medina2@dignityhealth.org
Elaine Por, IMGP Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November, 2012
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Nathaniel Jeske, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'β-arrestin-2 mediates TRPV1 desensitization'
Post-Doc: 2013-14, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Cardiology Department, Mentor: Tim McKinsey, Ph.D.
Current Position: Deputy Director, Ocular Trauma Division, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, email: elaine.d.por.mil@mail.mil
Alexandra Soto-Pina, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: November, 2012
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Randy Strong, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Does the peripheral sympathetic nervous system contribute to hypertension induced by chronic dexamethasone treatment?'
Post-Doc: 2013- 2019, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
Current Position: 2020 - Asst. Prof., Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, email: aesotop@uaemex.mx
Yu Tao, Physiology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2012
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Weiss, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Chronic stress animal model of depression'
2012-2017 MS/PhD student, Biostatistics, UTSA, now: Research Assistant, Department of Management Science and Statistics, UTSA;
Current Position: 2017- Principal Statistician, GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, PA
Joseph Walch, IMGP Neuroscience (MD/PhD Program), Ph.D.
Defense Date: July, 2012
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Thomas Cunningham, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Subfornical Organ Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor Expression and Drinking Beahvior in Bile Duct Ligated Animals'
201?-2018 Anesthesiology Resident, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Current Position: 2018- Physician, Anesthesiologist, Atlantic Anesthesia, Inc. Virginia Beach, VA
Margaret Wey, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2012
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: J. Randy Strong, Ph.D
Dissertation: 'Deficient aldehyde detoxification in the nigrostriatal pathway: a potential animal model for parkinson’s disease'
Post-Doc: 2012-14 Dept of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Mentor: Tracey Petryshen, Ph.D.
Current Position: Clinical Trials Pharmacist, Massachusetts General Hospital, email: mwey@chgr.mgh.harvard.edu
Margaux Salas, Cell & Structural Biology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2012
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Ken Hargeaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Post-Doc: Post-doc 2012- at US Army Institute of Surgical Research, San Antonio TX;
2017-Senior Scienctist, Air Force / Metis Foundation, San Antonio, TX
Jie Zhang, Physiology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2011
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Mark Shapiro, Ph.D.
Current Position: Scientist at CytoBioscience Inc, email: zhangj4@uthscsa.edu
Nikita Ruparel, Cell & Structural Biology, DDS/PhD
Defense Date: 2011
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Ken Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Post-Doc: and Endodontics Resident, 2011-2014, Dept of Endodontics, UT Health San Antonio
Current Position: Asst Professor, Dept of Endodontics, UT Health San Antonio, email: ruparel@uthscsa.edu
Matthew Rowan, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2011
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Bill Clarke, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Estrogen Regulation of Bradykinin Signaling'
Post-Doc: 2011-2013, Dept Oral & Max Surg, UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO, Jeske mentor;
2014-2016: ORISE Fellow, Clinical Trials in Burns and Trauma, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX
Deceased
Ha (Truong) Furmaga, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2011
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Alan Frazer, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects on Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Rats'
Post-Doc: 2011- 2013 Dept of Neuroscience, Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland Clinic, Mentor: Andre Machado, email: hfurmaga@gmail.com
Michelle Baladi, Pharmacology, Ph.D
Defense Date: 2011
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Charles France, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Impact of Feeding Condition on Sensitivity of Rats to Drugs Acting on Dopamine Systems'
Post-Doc: 2011- Department of Pharmacology, Univ of Utah School of Medicine, Annette Fleckenstein, mentor
Current Position: Clinician Scientist, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, 517-349-0865, email: michellegb@earthlink.com
Jacob Garza, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2010
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Xin-Yun Lu, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Leptin Signaling Regulates Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis'
Post-Doc: 2010 -14 Dept of Pharmacology, UT Health San Antonio, Mentor: Feng Liu
Post-Doc: 2014-present Affiliated Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Richard B. Simches Research Center, jgarza@mgh.harvard.edu
Alpa Khatri, Physiology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2010
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Weiss, Ph.D.
Post-Doc: 2010 – 2014 Dept of Pharmacology, Emory University, Stephen Traynelis, mentor
alpa.h.katri@emory.edu
Corina Bondi, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2009
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: David Morilak, Ph.D.
Post-Doc: with Bita Moghaddam and Anthony Kline, Univ of Pittsburgh, Dept of Neuroscience
Dissertation: Chronic-Stress Induced Alterations in Noradrenergic Modulation of Cognition in Prefrontal Cortex
Current Position: Research Asst. Professor, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Univ of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, email: corina@pitt.edu
Nicole Baganz, Physiology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2009
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Lyn Daws, Ph.D.
Post-Doc: 2009, Vanderbilt University, Dept of Pharmacology, Mentor: Randy Blakeley
Current Position:Research Assistant Professor, Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, email: nbaganz@fau.edu
Zach Johnson, Cell & Structural Biology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: 2009
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Robin Leach, Ph.D. and Jeff Rogers, Ph.D.
Post-Doc: 2009- , Psychobiology, Yerkes Primate Center, and Human Genetics, Emory Univ, Mentor: Mark Wilson and Jim Thomas
Current Position: Affiliated Scientist and Director, Yerkes Biomarkers Core; Co-Director, Yerkes Non-human Primate Genomics Core, email: zpjohns@emory.edu
David Petrik, Physiology, Ph.D
Defense Date: 2008
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Robert Brenner, Ph.D.
Post-Doc: 2009-13, Dept of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern, Emilia Eisch, mentor
Post-Doc: 2014-2016, Dept of Physiology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Mentor: Magdalena Götz
Current Position:Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd
David Price, Pharmacology, Ph.D.
Defense Date: March, 2007
UT Health San Antonio Mentor: Andrea Giuffrida, Ph.D.
Dissertation: 'Neuroprotective Effects of Cannabinoids in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease'
Postdoc: Univ. of Colorado at Denver, Dept. of Pharmacology, Mentor: Nancy Zahniser, Ph.D., 2012: Medical Liaison, Lilly USA;
Current Position: Strategy & Capabilities Consultant for Eli Lilly’s U.S. Medical Div., email: Price_David_Alan@Lilly.com
The Office of Career Development
UT Health San Antonio graduate students have access to the GSBS Office of Career Development (OCD). The OCD provides career and professional development training opportunities including individual meetings/career counseling, workshops & seminars. The OCD also works with the Graduate School’s Career Advisory Council and provides career exploration talks. The OCD provides graduate students a framework to discover next steps in their career along with resources to encourage and prepare graduate students for the future.
