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!

Vanesa Nieto-Estevez, Ph.D.

Hi there, I am Vanesa. I got my B.S. in Biology in the University of Alcala and my Ph.D in Neuroscience at the Cajal Institute (Madrid, Spain). I joined the Hsieh Lab in 2015 as a postdoctoral fellow; now I'm an Assistant Professor of Research at UTSA. I’m studying genetic epilepsy using 3D organoids. When I am not in the lab, I like traveling, especially to see animals in the wild.

Parul Varma, Ph.D.

Hi, this is Parul. I have my PhD in Nuclear Architecture and Chromatin Organization where I studied the role of nuclear matrix components using Drosophila melanogaster as the model system. Currently, I am studying gene expression dynamics in genetic and acquired epilepsies using mouse and human model systems. I am a Molecular Biologist turned into a Bioinformatician; now I'm an Assistant Professor of Research at UTSA. Recently, I have taken up interest in single cell data analysis and spend most of my time running codes and developing R skills. Other than lab, I love to work out, travel and take part in creative art classes.

Sergio Gamero-Alameda, B.S.

I completed my bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Alcala, in Spain. I joined Hsieh Lab in 2017 at UT Southwestern as a lab technician. At UTSA, my role in the Hsieh lab changed to a lab manager. Outside of work, I spend my time birding, hiking and enjoying nature.

Gabby Martinez, B.S.

My name is Gabby Martinez. I received my B.S. in Kinesiology with a minor in Biology from UTSA and am currently pursuing an M.S. in Kinesiology also at UTSA. I joined the lab in January 2023 as a Laboratory Technical Assistant. I've also been a professional powerlifter for two years now, hold five current American Records in various weight classes and divisions, and I have held a total of 21 American Records in my lifting career thus far. When I am not in the lab or on campus, I enjoy training for my next powerlifting meet and spending time with my two rescue dogs, rescue cat, and my friends and family.

Adyasha Aruk, B.S. - works with Vanesa

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Sophia Carleson, B.S. - works with Sara

Hello! My name is Sophia Carlson, and I recently graduated UTSA with a B.S. in Biology. I currently work in the Hsieh lab as a research assistant and assist Sara Mirsadeghi in studying the effect of aberrant adult neurogenesis on epilepsy in the hippocampus. We use animal models as well as brain organoids to study neurodevelopment in health and disease. My future goals consist of attending medical school and becoming a pediatric physician! Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones and fur babies, painting, and gardening!

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. - works with David

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.

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.

Samhitha Boyana - works with Bayo

Hello! My name is Samhitha Boyana and I am from San Antonio, TX. I am currently a freshman undergraduate research student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience with a pre-medical concentration. Outside of the lab, I love to hike and watch movies. After receiving my bachelor's degree, I plan to attend medical school to specialize in psychiatry or neurology to diagnose/treat psychiatric disorders.

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!