Dr. Gregory Schwartz, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator • NUIN Director
I am fascinated by how retinal circuits perform visual computations. Our lab seeks to understand visual computation at levels from neuronal biophysics up to behavior. We also work on several diseases affecting the retina, and we collaborate with engineers to design new camera sensors inspired by the retina. Supporting the development of the next generation of scientists is my passion and my most important role.
Telicia Moore-Walker
Lab Manager & Sr. Project Coordinator
Hifsah Ahmed
Research Scientist & Sr. Technologist
Clinical treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) requires new therapeutic approaches based on a more thorough understanding of its early-stage retinal neuropathology. While basic research has pointed to several possible molecular targets, there is currently no sensitive screening platform in an animal model to measure retinal dysfunction in DR or its possible rescue by experimental compounds. I will meet this need by developing a new preparation with my subject. Critically, this preparation will allow me to measure and manipulate blood glucose and oxygen, and to deliver drugs through the vascular system over hours or even days, all while monitoring the actual neural signals responsible for vision.
Ninh Nguyen
Research Technologist
Dr. Santiago Guardo-Maya
Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow
I study the biophysics of retinal computation. I’m exploring how retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) regulate their glucose-uptake in response to light and the functional consequences of this process. Additionally, we are studying the activity-dependent regulation of RGC excitability and its role in sensory processing, particularly if the electrogenic nature of Na/K-ATPase plays a role in spike-frequency adaptation and whether this is related to the statistics of the visual world.
Dr. Zach Jessen, Ph.D.
Post-Doctorate Fellow, MD Student
I am interested in describing neural computations in the retina as they relate to health and disease. My main focus is on using calcium imaging and biophysical models to understand retinal neurovascular coupling and how it may be perturbed in diabetic retinopathy. Other projects with which I am or have been involved include modeling the circuit dynamics of the nNOS-2 amacrine cell, modeling the statistical properties of bipolar cell-to-RGC neurotransmission, and using our knowledge of RGC typology to improve retinal prostheses.
Dr. Julia Fadjukov, Ph.D.
Post-Doctorate Fellow
My project focuses on understanding the computations that enable retinal ganglion cells to integrate spatial information using electrophysiological techniques and functional imaging. Other projects with which I am involved include characterizing the intrinsic electrical properties and morphology of displaced amacrine cells.
Xin Zhang
NUIN Graduate Student
Retinal ganglion cells project to various downstream brain regions. I am interested in characterizing the less-known projections. What is their involvement in naturalistic behavior, such as food-seeking? And what information do those projections transmit? My research methods combine circuit tracing, behavior analysis, and ex vivo electrophysiology.
Le Trung Tran
NUIN Graduate Student
My interests are diverse, from the structure and function of different channels to the connectomics of the brain. I also hope to be able to develop novel techniques to contribute to the research of this field.
Jiaming Xue
Masters Student
I am interested in computational neuroscience, particularly in understanding how retinal circuits process visual information. My research focuses on predictive coding in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and exploring their role in representing and anticipating natural motion trajectories. Using computational models and experimental data, I aim to uncover how RGC populations adapt to the complexity of real-world visual environments and contribute to efficient sensory processing.
Venus N. Sherathiya, M.S.
Research Associate – Programmer
My work in the lab focuses on developing user friendly and effective tools which can help researchers in their data analysis process. I am interested in developing data analysis pipelines for the research community. I get excited to build new tools, support and maintain them.
Raphael Tinio
Undergraduate Student
Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) are highly metabolically active neurons that demand a proportionate amount of energy to function. My research aims to better understand the relationship between glucose metabolism and the intrinsic properties of RGCs using electrophysiology techniques. Currently, I am employing inhibitory factors in combination with a glucose transporter knock-out mouse line to study the effects of glucose impairment on RGC spiking ability.
Kavin Suhirtharen
Undergraduate Student
Exploring retinal projections to various retinorecipient regions of the brain is essential for understanding how these areas drive specific behaviors. I am interested in exploring this relationship within the medial amygdala, using various injection techniques to understand how signals travel through the optic tract. Thus, I hope to provide a biological explanation as to how amygdala-related behaviors such as fear and aggression manifest in part due to visual cues.
Preena Sunil Shroff
Undergraduate Student
My research primarily aims to type and investigate the subcellular functioning of displaced Amacrine Cells (dACs) using whole cell electrophysiology and calcium imaging. After recording cellular responses to visual and electrical stimuli at the soma, I locate regions of interest (ROIs) along individual neurites and measure their changes in calcium levels at various times of stimulation to better understand dAC’s computational capabilities at a subcellular level.