Principal Investigator

Benedict.Kolber@utdallas.edu
Full Kolber CV
Ben Kolber serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD Program (Systems and Cellular Neuroscience Track) in the Department of Neuroscience in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas. He is also director of the UT Dallas T34 MARC program for undergraduate research and previously served as the director of the UT Dallas Enhancing Undergraduate Neuroscience Research Experience (ENSURE) program. Dr. Kolber came to UT Dallas in 2020 after starting his faculty career at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA) in 2011. In Pittsburgh, Dr. Kolber was affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research. Kolber received his PhD in neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Kolber has over 20 years of experience doing neuroscience research.
His graduate work with Dr. Louis Muglia, MD, PhD looked at the role of the endocrine stress response in the modulation of stress adaptation, depression, and anxiety. His post-doctoral work with Dr. Robert Gereau IV, PhD focused on understanding the role of the amygdala in the modulation of acute and chronic pain. Dr. Kolber also has extensive experience teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His teaching interests focus on teaching neuroscience, endocrinology, physiology, pain, grant writing and utilizing innovative teaching techniques in the classroom.
Professional Affiliations
- UT Dallas Center for Advanced Pain Studies
- University of Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research
- Duquesne University Chronic Pain Research Consortium
- American Physiological Society
- Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
- International Association for the Study of Pain
- Society for Neuroscience
- United States Association for the Study of Pain
In his spare time, Dr. Kolber likes to do home renovations and read books that contain indexes (i.e. non-fiction).
Post Docs and Staff

Christian.KueteFofie@utdallas.edu
Christian is a post-doctoral research fellow in CAPS and joined the research group in May of 2023. He completed his PhD from the University of Dschang in Cameroon specializing in natural products biomedical research.

Lakeisha.Lewter@utdallas.edu
Keisha is an NRSA F32 funded post-doctoral research fellow in the Kolber Lab and joined the lab in March 2019. She received a BS in biology from Morgan State University and a PhD in neuroscience from the University at Buffalo. She is the only person (ever?) who has a phobia of seahorses.

Blesson.Paul@utdallas.edu
Blesson started working as a post-doctoral research fellow in the lab in May 2022. He received a BS in microbiology from Bharathiyar University, a MS in genomics from Madurai Kamaraj University, and a PhD from the University of Haifa. Beyond being a wiz in slice physiology he is an inventor and tinkerer.

Mursal.Hussein@utdallas.edu
Mursal was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program and graduated with a BS in May 2023. He worked as a part-time technician from October 2021 until May 2023. He began working as a full-time technician in May 2023. He was promoted to Research Assistant II in 2024. He completed high school in Kenya.

Rebekah.Simcik@utdallas.edu
Rebekah was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program and graduated with a BS in Dec 2024. She began working in the lab in May 2024 and joined as a full-time technician in Dec 2024. She is interested in graduate school.

see.tack@utdallas.edu
See was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program and graduated in Aug 2024. He began working in the lab in March 2023 and continued until he graduated in August 2024 at which point he worked part time in the lab until spring 2025. He graduated after completed an Honors thesis in the laboratory.

Alexis.Trail@utdallas.edu
Alexis was graduate student in UTDallas’ Applied Cognition and Neuroscience MS program. She joined the lab in January 2022. She received her BS in Neuroscience from UTD in Dec 2022 and MS in Dec 2024. She started working full time as a lab technician in Dec 2024. She hopes to continue on to a PhD in neuroscience.
Graduate Students

Bethany.Boston@utdallas.edu
Bethany is a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She rotated and joined the lab in Fall 2024. She received a BS in Biology from Jackson State University and is originally from Colorado.

Veronica.Hong@utdallas.edu
Veronica is a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She rotated and joined the lab in Fall 2020. She received a BS in biology from the University of Washington and a Masters degree in Brain and Cognitive Science from Ewha Womans University (South Korea).

Michael.Ojo@UTDallas.edu
Michael is a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems and Cellular Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. He rotated and joined the lab in Fall 2023. He received a BS in Biology (Cell and Molecular Concentration) from Towson University in Baltimore. He’s the resident bat neurobiology expert in the lab.
Undergraduate Students

Iniya.Anandan@utdallas.edu
Iniya is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. She began working in the lab in May 2022 as part of the Clark Program.

Ayomide.Dairo@UTDallas.edu
“Mide” is an undergraduate student in UTD’s psychology program. She began working in the lab in July 2024 and is diving into the world of the amygdala. She is a UTD Eugene McDermott Scholar!

Anna.Dalfrey@UTDallas.edu
Anna is an undergraduate student in UTD’s psychology program. She began working in the lab in September 2024. She plays the clarinet and everyone in the lab can mispronounce her last name because of the von Frey assay in sensory biology!

Bhavya.Jaiswal@utdallas.edu
Bhavya is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. He began working in the lab as a Clark Fellow in May 2024 and is on the pre-med track.

Alishba.Khalid@UTDallas.edu
Alishba is an undergraduate student in UTD’s bioengineering program. She began working in the lab in September 2024 and is the lab’s go-to person for changing foreign currency since she collects international money.

Myra.Khan@UTDallas.edu
Myra is an undergraduate student in UTD’s biology program. she began working in the lab in August 2023. She is an excellent violinist.

Maria.NunezOrdaz@UTDallas.edu
Maria is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. She began working in the lab in August 2023 and is on the Pre-Med track.

Jesus.SoteloMorales@utdallas.edu
Jesus was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. He began working in the lab in December 2022 and was a fellow in the ENSURE undergraduate research program. He graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience in May 2024 and is excited to go to graduate school in neuroscience.

ZubabHassan.Syed@UTDallas.edu
Zubab is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. He began working in the lab in August 2023.
Alumni

Ruwaida is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. She worked in the lab March 2021 to August 2021.

Rachel is a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She worked in the lab Summer 2023 and rotated in the lab in Fall 2023. She is currently in the lab of Dr. Michael Kilgard.

Salma is a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She rotated in the lab in Fall 2023. She is currently in the lab of Dr. Kate Sadler.
MEGAN ATHERTON
Megan was a technician in the Kolber Lab from 2018 to 2020. She received a BS in biology from University of North Carolina at Ashville and a BA in philosophy with a history of science focus from St. John’s College. She is currently a laboratory manager at the Hillman Cancer Institute (Pittsburgh, PA).

Heather was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology PhD program, rotated in the lab Fall 2016, worked in the lab from Spring 2017 to Fall 2021 until she received her PhD. She then worked as a visiting scholar in the Kolber lab for several years. Simultaneously, she has been working as a full-time post-doctoral associate at New York University. She received a BS in biology from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.
OLIVIA BABYOK
Olivia was an undergraduate in the 2018 to 2021 when she received her BS in biology from Duquesne University. She is currently working as a technician at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
BARATHI BALASUBRAMONIAN
Barathi is a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology PhD program. She rotated through the lab in Fall 2018.
GRANT BARBER
Grant was a technician and worked in the lab from August 2016 to March 2019. He received a BS in biology and a minor in biochemistry from Duquesne University and currently works at UT Southwestern.
MARISSA BEHUN
Marissa was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biomedical engineering program. She worked in the lab from January 2016 until December 2017. She participated in the Pain Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) during the summer 2016 and 2017. She is currently a PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Amulya was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. She worked in the lab from May 2021 to May 2024 graduating with an Honors Thesis from the UTD Honors Program and the School for Behavioral and Brain Sciences. She’s from Phoenix just like Ben!
HARLEY BOBNAR, MS
Harley was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology program and received her master’s degree in 2020. She rotated and joined the lab in Spring 2018. She received a BS in biology from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. She currently works as a nurse in Pittsburgh, PA.

Jad a graduate student in at the University of Sorbonne (Paris, France). He was an intern in the Kolber Lab from May to August 2024.
DEVON BURKHOLDER
Devon was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology department and worked in the lab from September 2012 to April 2013.

Ana Sofia was a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems and Cellular Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She worked in the lab from January 2024 to December 2024. She is currently pursuing a MS degree in neuroscience.

Uma was a graduate student in UTDallas’ Applied Cognition and Neuroscience MS program. She joined the lab in Spring 2022 and graduated in May 2023. She received a BS in Neuroscience from UTDallas. She is currently a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (start Fall 2023).
ABBY COX
Abby was a technician in the lab. She began working in the lab in May 2015 as an undergraduate student. She graduated with a BS in biology in December 2017. While still an undergraduate She was an awarded summer undergraduate fellowship from the American Physiological Society (2016), participated in the Pain Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) for two summers, received a research grant from Tri-Beta, and received a fellowship from the IES Brain Research Foundation. She received her MD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2022 and is currently a resident at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Connor worked as a technician II in the lab from May 2021 to October 2022. He received a BS in biology from Hendrix College and previously worked at the UT Southwestern. He currently lives in California.
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM
Patrick was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. He worked in the lab in Aug 2015 to May 2016. He is currently a PhD student at Lehigh University.
BROOKE DEAL
Brooke is a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology department and rotated in the lab Spring 2018. Brooke received a BS from Drexel University. She is currently a PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. John Pollock.

Kasia is an undergraduate student in UTD’s biochemistry program. She worked in the lab from May 2023 as part of the Honors College URAP program at UTD until January 2024. She was our only Polish speaker in the lab.

Tarik is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. He worked in the lab from July 2022 to Aug 2023.
KYLE EMERSON
Kyle is a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology PhD program. He rotated in the lab in Spring 2019. He received a BS in biology from Allegheny College.
ANTOINETTE FRYE
Antoinette was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s psychology Department. She worked in the lab from May 2014 to August 2014.
SHYANN GAJCOWSKI
ShyAnn was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from May 2015 to August 2015.

Andrew is an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. He worked in the lab from January 2019 to August 2020. He was the fastest person in the lab (short distances). He is currently a medical student at The Ohio State University.
DAVID GEORGE
David was an undergraduate in Duquesne’s pre-med and biology programs. He worked in the lab from January 2012 to May 2013 when he graduated with a BS in biology. While at Duquesne, David was an Undergraduate Research Program fellow. After graduating he served his country in the United States Marine Corps as an Officer and now lives in Washington DC.
MAURICIO GIL-SILVA
Mauricio worked in the lab as a technician from July 2019 to July 2021. He received a BS in neurobiology and music technology from Carnegie Mellon University. He currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
GAGE GLADYSZ
Gage was an undergraduate student at Thiel College studying neuroscience. He worked in the lab May-August 2019 as part of the summer NSF CIRCLE research program.
ADRIANNA GULLI
Adriana was a high school student at Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh when she worked in the lab from December 2014 to May 2016. She graduated with her BS in Psychology from Duquesne University and is currently a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Point Park University.
ALYAH HEATH
Alyah was a high school student at the Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy and worked in the lab in fall 2017.
VIANIE HENRI
Vianie was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from May 2017 to October 2018 and graduated in May 2019 before re-joining the laboratory as a technician in December 2019 until December 2020. She works currently as a mental health home aide and is working towards admission in medical school.
EDWARD HILTON
Eddie was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biochemistry program. He began working in the lab from May 2014 to May 2017 when he graduated with a BS in biochemistry. He was part of the inaugural Pain Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) program. He was also in the PURE program in summer 2016. He received the Clarkston Consulting PA Undergraduate Award in 2015 and a US Airforce Health Professions Scholarship in 2017. He is currently a dental student at Harvard University.
CHRISTOPHER IGNATZ, DO
Chris was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology department, worked in the lab from February 2012 to May 2014 when he graduated with a BS in biology. While at Duquesne, he was an Undergraduate Research Program fellow, received a Tri-Beta Research grant, and won the John C. Johnson Award for Excellence in Student Research. He received his medical degree from LECOM in 2018 and is currently a resident.
DANA INCELLI
Dana was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab in Fall 2016.
MARISA JOHNSON
Marisa is an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from January 2019 to August 2020. Before coming to Duquesne, she played soccer at THE Ohio State University.
KARA JONES, MD
Kara was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from January 2015 to August 2015. While in the lab, she was a Pain Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) fellow. She received her medical degree from West Virginia University.
VISHNU RAHUL KANNAN
Vishnu graduated from Duquesne’s biotechnology MS program (2015) and worked in the lab from March to August 2014. Previously, she received a B.technology in electronics and instrumentation at Amrita University, India.
TOM KELLY
Tom was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology program and rotated through the lab in Spring 2017. He received a BS in biology from Mercyhurst University. He currently works as a technician at Duquesne University.

Oly was a graduate student in UTDallas’ Applied Cognition and Neuroscience MS program. They joined the lab in Spring 2022 and graduated in May 2023. They received a BS from UCSD and then worked as an educator teaching everything from biology to Texas history. They are currently a PhD student at Rosalind Franklin Univerisity Chicago (start Fall 2023).
MARY KIMMEL
Mary was a professional student in Duquesne’s Pharmacy School and graduated with a PharmD in 2018. She worked in the lab from September 2012 until November 2013.
JACK KLENS
Jack was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s physician assistant program. He worked in the lab from January 2017 to May 2017. He is from Dayton, which makes him great.
BRI KRIEGER
Bri was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from May to August 2017.
NEIL LAX, PHD
Neil was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology PhD program and received his PhD in 2018. He received a BS in chemistry, ecology, and evolution at the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently an assistant professor and chair of neuroscience at Thiel College.
SARA LEEP
Sarah was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program and graduated in Dec 2018. She began working in the lab from January 2017 to October 2018. She is currently a medical student at West Virginia University.
CAELA LONG
Caela was an undergraduate student from Swarthmore College and worked in the lab from May 2013 to June 2016 (primarily in the summer URP and PURE programs). She worked as a research technician at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in the lab of Dr. Jeffrey Roizen before joining the UPenn neuroscience PhD program.
ANTONIO LOPEZ
Antonio was an undergraduate student at Boston University studying neuroscience. He worked in the lab from May to August 2018 as part of the summer PURE research program. He is currently an MD student at Drexel University.
IFRA MALIK
Ifra was an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh’s neuroscience program. She worked in the lab from January to May 2017.
LAUREN MARTINEZ
Lauren was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from September 2019 to December 2019.
GABRIELLE MAJETIC
Gabbie was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biomedical engineering program. She began working in the lab in January 2018. She worked as a technician in the laboratory on computational modeling from 2019 to Fall 2020.
NEAL MCQUAID, MD
Neal was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biotechnology MS program and joined the lab in December 2014. He received a BS in mechanical engineering with a concentration in biomedical engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. He received a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Wahab is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. He worked in the lab from May-Aug 2023 as part of the Clark Program.

Alejandro was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program and graduated in December 2022. He worked in the lab from October 2020 until he left the university.

Nina was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. She worked in the lab from January 2021 to May 2022 graduating with a BS in Neuroscience and an honors thesis.

Jaini was a visiting graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems and Cellular Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She defended her PhD student at Universidade Federal de Pelotas with Dr. Ethel Wilhelm in fall 2024. She joined the Kolber Lab in April 2023 and worked in the lab until April 2024. She received a BS and MS previously from Universidade Federal de Pelotas in Brazil.

Phuong was a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She rotated and joined the lab in Fall 2022 and worked in the lab until Dec 2023. She received a BS in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from the University of Houston.
ANNA POLSKI, PHD
Anna was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology PhD program and rotated in the lab Fall 2014 before joining the lab full-time in April 2015. She received a BS in Biology from Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA. She defended her PhD in June 2019. She is currently a clinical trial coordinator at Allegheny General Hospital Singer Neuroscience Institute.
ENZABELLE QUINTO
Enzabelle was an undergraduate student in the UTDallas neuroscience Program. She worked in the lab in Fall 2021.

Avaneesh was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. He worked in the lab from May 2021 to May 2024 graduating with an Honors Thesis from the UTD Honors Program and the School for Behavioral and Brain Sciences. He lives in Dallas but loves the Steelers! He is currently a MD student at UTSW.
RANI RAJARAM, MD
Rani was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology department and worked in the lab from January 2013 to May 2015 before graduating with a BS in biology. While at Duquesne, she was an Undergraduate Research Program fellow. She received a medical degree from Temple University.
AUSTIN RAMSEY, PHD
Austin was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s psychology department and worked in the lab from September 2013 to December 2014 when he graduated with a BS in psychology (minor in biology). While at Duquesne, he received a Irene and Eric Simon Brain Research Foundation summer research grant. He received a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Maryland and is currently a post-doctoral research at the University of Colorado.
ZACH RESKO
Zach was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology department and worked in the lab from August 2014 to May 2016. He is currently getting his PhD in microbiology.

Tabitha is a graduate student in UTDallas’ Systems Neuroscience Track in the Cognition and Neuroscience PhD program. She rotated in the lab in Fall 2023 and is currently in the lab of Dr. Christa McIntyre.
SADIE RISKUS
Sadie worked in the lab before her BS in Duquesne’s biology program and then worked as a technician in the lab until May 2019. She is currently a neuroscience PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh.
ANNE ROBERTS
Anne was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from January 2017 to May 2017 and August 2017 to May 2019.
NADINA ROBUSTO
Nadina was a technician and joined the lab in June 2016. She received an MA and BA in psychology from Duquesne University and worked as a clinical psychologist.

Jacob was an undergraduate student in UTD’s biology program. He worked in the lab from December 2023 to August 2024 helping out with all of our basic research.
KATE SADLER, PHD
Kate was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology PhD program and joined the lab in January 2012. She received her PhD in 2017 and was funded during her doctoral work by a NIH/NIDDK F31 NRSA fellowship. She was a post-doctoral researcher at the Medical College of Wisconsin working with Dr. Cheryl Stucky and is currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas.
MUZAMIL SALEEM, PHD
Muzamil was a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology department and rotated in the lab Spring 2013. Muz received a BSc in clinical sciences from King’s College, London and a MSc in neuroscience from the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London. He received his PhD in the laboratory of Dr. John Pollock in September 2019.

Samuel is an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. He worked in the lab from January 2022 to August 2024. His favorite mechanical pencil is the Pentel Graphgear 500.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program. She worked in the lab from August 2022 to May 2023. Her goal is to study for a PhD in Germany.
ALICIA SERAFINIO
Alicia was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from September 2017 to May 2018.
YOUSTINA SELIMAN
Youstina was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She worked in the lab from August 2015 to December 2017. She entered medical school at LECOM in Fall 2017.
ALEXIS STEVENSON
Alexis was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s physician’s assistant program. She worked in the lab in spring 2020.
JARRED STRATTON
Jarred was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. He worked in the lab from December 2011 to December 2013 when he graduated with a BS in biology. While at Duquesne, he was an Undergraduate Research Program fellow and was an American Physiological Society Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow. He received an MS in neuroscience from Thomas Jefferson University.
ANNY TREAT, PHD
Anny was a post-doctoral research fellow in the Kolber Lab from July 2019 to May 2021. She received a BS in biology from the University at Buffalo and a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Pittsburgh. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
ALLISON TROUTEN
Allison was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology department and worked in the lab from January 2014 to May 2015. She received an MS in biotechnology at Case Western Reserve University and is currently in a PhD program at the University of South Carolina.
MELISSA WOLZ, MD
Missy was an undergrade student in Duquesne’s biology department and worked in the lab May 2013 to May 2015 when she graduated with a BS in biology. She received a medical degree from West Virginia University.
NICK VERNA
Nick was an undergrade student in Duquesne’s biology department and worked in the lab from May 2013 to August 2013.
ZACH VERNER
Zach was a graduate student in Duquesne’s post-baccalaureate program. He worked in the lab from September 2018 to May 2019. He received a BS in exercise science from the University of North Georgia.
ANNA VIETMEIER
Anna is a graduate student in Duquesne’s biology PhD program. She rotated in the lab in Fall 2019. She received a BS and MS from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH.

Antos was an undergraduate student in UTD’s neuroscience program and graduate with a BS in December 2022. He worked in the lab from March 2021 to December 2022 before starting as a technician at UTSW. He is currently a MD student at Baylor College of Medicine (start Fall 2024).

Michelle worked in the lab as a technician I Fall 2021 to May 2023. She received a BS in biology from the University of Washington and started medical school at Texas A&M in fall 2023.
MEERAAL ZAHEER
Meeraal was an undergraduate student at Vassar College studying neuroscience. She began working in the lab in May 2018 as part of the summer PURE research program and was funded through an American Physiological Society Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
ANALISE ZAPAKDA
Analise was an undergraduate student in Duquesne’s biology program. She began working in the lab in May 2016. She graduated in May 2017 with a BS in biology and continued to work in the lab until September 2017.