Diana started as an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience in January 2024. She holds a PharmD/MS from the University of Coimbra and completed her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield, followed by a postdoc at UT Dallas. Her research focuses on axonal transport and RNA regulation in neurodegeneration and peripheral neuropathies, using a variety of omics and computational approaches.

Outside of the lab, she enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures through food, hiking, and spending time with her family, friends and cats Nala and Max!

Catherine graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Research Certificate in Biological Research, a BS in Biology, BS in Psychology, a BS in Sociology, and minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. She joined the lab in August 2024 as a PhD student.

Special Interests: Axonal Structure & Transport, Mitochondrial Function, Cell Signaling, Cats, Tea, Bunnies, Plants, Travel, Pottery, Fine Cuisine, and World Peace. 

Lea has been working as a Lab Technician for Dr. Tavares and Dr. Meyers since November 2024. She graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience and a minor in Health and Medical Science. She is currently assisting in ongoing research regarding post-stroke pain and nerve regeneration and the potential application of Vagus Nerve Stimulation. Her hobbies include cooking, playing the violin, and traveling. Lea hopes to attend medical school.

Nikhil’s journey began as a Student Assistant working alongside Dr. Tavares and Dr. Price, where his curiosity led him deeper into the world of Neuroinformatics. He now helps build and maintain data pipelines while contributing to the Neuron Detection project. Currently pursuing a master’s in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at UTD, Nikhil’s passion lies in understanding the intricate mysteries of protein folding models out there. When he’s not decoding data, you’ll find him chasing adventure—whether it’s trekking up mountains, cycling through new terrain, running, camping, or exploring the great outdoors. 

Sneha is currently pursuing a BS in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. In the Tavares Lab, she is working on a project involving microRNAs and their role in peripheral neuropathies.

Special Interests: bioinformatics, microRNA, gene regulation, neural plasticity, plants, environmentalism, climate change and Star Wars. 

Ryan Ju – Undergraduate

Shaun Meppidayil – Undergraduate