Our Team

Jenny Hsieh, Ph.D. | Semmes Distinguished Chair in Cell Biology

The most fascinating cell in the body is the stem cell. How a single pluripotent stem cell develops into the trillions of cells in the human body or how stem cells continue to give rise to new neurons in the adult brain remains a mystery. My lab studies the cellular, genetic, molecular, and circuit mechanisms of the brain and nervous system using human iPSCs, 3D brain organoids and mouse models. Outside of the lab, my family and I love to explore San Antonio at local music fests, rodeos, or hill country wineries. I also enjoy hosting get-togethers, especially inviting the team over for poolside relief in the Texas summer heat!

Gabby Martinez, B.S., M.S.

My name is Gabby Martinez. Both my B.S. And M.S. degrees were completed at UTSA in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Exercise Science and Motor Behavior respectively. I first joined the Hsieh Lab in January 2023 as a Lab Technical Assistant and am now a Lab Manager. When I'm not in the lab, I spend most of my time powerlifting, collecting comics, or with my many rescued cats and dogs.

David Narvaiz, Ph.D.

David is a postdoctoral fellow in the Hsieh Lab at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, where he studied the association between autism and epilepsy, focusing on how these co-occurring conditions impact neurological development. This research fueled his passion for understanding the broader neurodevelopmental challenges faced by individuals with epilepsy, particularly the cognitive dysfunction that significantly affects the quality of life for many patients. Building on his PhD work, David's current research in the Hsieh Lab is dedicated to investigating the role of astrocyte dysfunction in the cognitive deficits associated with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. By integrating innovative approaches from the Hsieh Lab with his expertise in behavioral neuroscience, he aims to identify disease-modifying targets that could mitigate seizures as well as these cognitive impairments. Outside of the lab, David is an avid hockey player and actively engages in social media strategy and content creation, leveraging these platforms to promote science education and outreach.

Zacharie Maloney, B.S., M.S.

Zacharie Maloney is a PhD student in UTSA's Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Joint UTSA/UTHSC Graduate Group in Biomedical Engineering. Zach's project focuses on using engineering approaches to promote vascularization of human cerebral organoids. Joining the Hsieh Lab in Fall 2021, Zach brings experience in biomedical engineering, systems biology, and software engineering.

Adebayo "Bayo" Adeyeye, B.S., M.S.

I have a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and an M.S. degree in Environmental Science investigating the concentrations and movement of estrogen compounds in Cibolo Creek, a perennial stream in the Texas Hill Country that receives treated wastewater effluent. I assist with retrovirus packaging, molecular biology, histology, and confocal microscopy. I also help with animal husbandry and perform behavioral assays including cognitive testing in mouse models of mTLE. The lab members are awesome to work with. In my free time, I watch and play soccer.

Sara Mirsadeghi, B.S., M.S.

Hi there, I’m Sara. I got my B.Sc. from Shahid Beheshti University in Biology and my M.Sc. from the ROYAN institute in Developmental Biology, both in Tehran, Iran. I worked as a research associate in the electrophysiology lab in ROYAN institute for six years and have joined the Hsieh lab in 2023 as a Ph.D. candidate. I’m interested in neurogenesis, either in adult brain or brain organoids. I’m studying the adult neurogenesis contribution to hippocampal activity, especially in epileptic hippocampus. I’m also interested in the concept brain-on-chip! And what does that mean? It means that you can put the organoids onto electrodes and record their network activity or employ electrical stimulation to manipulate their activity. My aim throughput this Ph.D. is to learn from nature by recording the electrical activity of hippocampal circuit in mice brain, then, grow hippocampal organoids in a dish and record their network activity via multi-electrode array chips. Outside of work, I’d like to take long distance walks, read books and watch TV shows. I’m definitely a travel lover and don’t miss a chance to roam around the globe!

Alonna Rios, B.S.

Hello! My name is Alonna Rios. After earning my B.S. in Biology, with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and a minor in Psychology, I joined UTSA as a M.S. student in Biology. I am pursuing a concentration in Neurobiology to further prepare me for a PhD in Neuroscience and my future career as a neuroscientist. I am currently studying a genetic mutation in chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 2 (CHD2) that is associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), a severe form of childhood epilepsy. This project uses patient derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiated into human cortical organoids (hCO) to understand the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to the pathophysiology of CHD2 mutation. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, spending time outdoors, and being with my family.

Emma Kanzabedian, B.S.

Hi! My name is Emma Kanzabedian. After earning my bachelor’s degree in Biology from Louisiana State University, I joined The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) as an M.S. student in Biology with an emphasis in Neuroscience. My research interests lie at the intersection of computational biology and neuroscience, particularly in how algorithmic and data-driven approaches can illuminate the molecular complexity of the brain. Currently, I’m working with David on his project investigating astrocyte dysfunction in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Under his guidance, I am developing my thesis, which will integrate neuroscience and bioinformatics by using computational approaches to analyze transcriptomic data and better understand astrocyte dysfunction in epilepsy.

Jesus Vasquez, B.S.

Hello! My name is Jesus Vasquez. I graduated with my bachelor’s in biology at Our Lady of the Lake University and became a master’s student at UT San Antonio with an emphasis on Developmental and Regenerative Science since 2025. I became interested in science during my youth and became more enthralled by human science as I got older, influenced by family history with autism spectrum disorder and neuro-muscular pathology. I am currently working with Sara on generating hippocampal organoids from iPSCs to model epilepsy from the transcription factor ARX. Under her guidance, I’m researching the potential questions and techniques that I will utilize and develop for my thesis. Besides university, my favorite hobbies include watching movies and reading.

Nico Enerlan - works with Bayo

Hi, my name is Nico. Growing up I struggled a lot with my mental health. At first, this struggle led me to be interested in topics such as psychology and neuroscience to understand more about why I felt the way that I did, but the more I kept learning the more I wanted to know about the human brain and why it functions the way it does. Soon enough, I developed a passion for the human brain and all things related. Now, I am a student at UTSA majoring in neuroscience. My own mental health struggles have inspired me to heal those who are facing their own issues and challenges as well as spread awareness and tear down the mental health stigma through knowledge and research. This is why after my bachelor's I hope to get into an MD/PhD program where I can become a physician-scientist practicing psychiatry and researching molecular psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, or any other related fields. With my future research, I hope to find new ways to diagnose psychiatric illnesses/disorders and find novel treatments for them.

Varsha Ponnala - works with Parul

Hello! My name is Varsha Ponnala, and I am a sophomore undergraduate researcher pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry. I am currently a member of the APPEX program and the Brain Exercise Initiative at UTSA. Outside of lab, I enjoy biking at trails and spending time with friends and family. After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I plan to obtain a dual MD/PhD degree and become a physician-scientist.

Amber Elizalde - works with Zach

My name is Amber Elizalde and I am pursuing B.S. in Neuroscience with a concentration in Pre-Medicine. After my undergraduate degree I plan on pursuing an MD/PhD and becoming a neurosurgeon. Besides my academic interests I love weightlifting, going on hikes, and painting

Brian Udom - works with Sara

salve omnis! If you're reading this, you probably already know that my name is Brian since you had to click on my icon to view my bio, but I digress. I am, at the time of writing this, a CO '26 senior at Health Careers High School applying to colleges with Neuroscience as my intended major. I've always been an avid enthusiast of all things related to medicine but found myself drawn to the brain, not just because countless people have joked around by calling me brain instead of Brian, but because of the challenging science behind it that satiates my curiosity while having tangible human benefits. In the realm of neuroscience, 3D organoids piqued my interest due to their relative novelty and visual stunningness as a result of their self-organizing nature. The connections made by projected neurons remind me of the branching storylines in the fantasy novels I love—complex, unpredictable, and building into something greater than their individual parts.                  With the Hsieh lab, I hope to learn more about neuroscience and its correlation with epilepsy and organoids. Additionally, the idea of using MEA electrodes to study neural activity is particularly electrifying to me (and I mean that both in the literal sense of using electrical stimulation and in the sense that the research genuinely excites me). As for my personal interests, I like books, anime, manga, Japanese light novels, and playing Roblox. Also, aside from the name thing, there's one more similarity between the brain and I: we both never stop learning!

Alvin Philip - works with Zach

My name is Alvin Philip and I am currently a freshman Neuroscience major with a concentration in Pre-Medicine. I am a part of the Top Scholar program and the American Medical Student Association which I play an active role in. Through my work with Zach, I have become deeply interested in learning about human brain organoids and the vast field of neuroscience. I plan on pursuing an MD/PhD to become a physician scientist. In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin, playing tennis, and going to the gym.