https://www.wolff-lab.org/team daily 0.75 2025-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1606959061733-GYSNBMUICUFLKGTTXLRM/IMG_0652.jpg Team - Steffen Wolff, PhD Assistant Professor Steffen received a BSc and MSc in Molecular Biotechnology from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He then pursued his PhD with Andreas Lüthi at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel, Switzerland, dissecting the role of defined neuronal populations in fear learning. He went on for a postdoc with Bence Ölveczky at Harvard University to study the distributed neuronal circuitry underlying the learning and execution of motor skills. He opened the Wolff Lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore in March 2021. Outside the lab Steffen tries to put his studies on motor skill learning to good use to improve his beach volleyball skills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/4ed70e30-d6f8-4faa-b79a-307682dcd303/Lab.jpg Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1629405760157-WJ01SFTLOIIONDPKQSD8/image.png Team - Dominic Isaacs Rotation Student I am an engineer and PhD student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. I received my BS and MS degrees in bioengineering from the University of Colorado, specializing in computational cell biology and advanced light microscopy techniques to study electrophysiology. I have also spent time studying dopamine neurotransmission in the ventral striatum of awake animals during motivated behaviors and drug addiction models. I joined the (brand new!) Wolff lab as a rotation student where I will be helping the team design and build long term enclosures for rats to study how stereotyped motor sequences are learned, maintained, and executed. I'll also be helping to set up electrophysiological recordings in the lab. My free time is spent doing a bunch of things. I read, mountain bike, snowboard if I can, and play guitar. I also like to (try) and learn about practical electronics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/80f1e2ba-3f2b-4b4d-b02a-082ce5425bc3/Noury.jpg Team - Saovleak Noury Khim PhD Student Noury is a Program in Neuroscience PhD student. She graduated from Temple University in 2019 with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience. There she studied activity-dependent mechanisms of circuit formation and how new neurons integrate into established circuits. She completed a postbaccalaureate program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where she focused on developing novel CRISPR tools to study genetic underpinnings of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases. She joined the Wolff lab to investigate how the brain learns and executes multiple motor skills under various context conditions. Outside the lab, Noury enjoys playing volleyball, camping, cooking, and experimenting with coffee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/36e340b8-663b-4772-a0b2-d7e05ad2fed7/wolf-brain-moon_no_label.png Team - Colin Choudhary Lab Assistant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/e2d69511-fe8e-48d5-8482-24bc347d4788/wolf-brain-moon_no_label.png Team - Ahmed Elrashidy Lab Assistant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1629466203355-TMP6NGKK4A09H27NZL9P/Screen+Shot+2021-08-19+at+4.45.21+PM.png Team - Tara Foley Research Technician Tara is an aspiring physician-scientist who graduated from Johns Hopkins with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2021. She's currently applying to graduate programs with an interest in neural development, especially regarding psychiatric disorders. In the future, she hopes to use this knowledge to develop better pediatric treatments. Outside of the lab, she likes to play soccer, ski, read, and cuddle with her dog, Astro. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1629405585299-DEZ54WQPBQLC4FCUBGNI/Eva-Profile+Photo.jpg Team - Eva Abel Lab Assistant Eva is a rising senior at Hamilton College. She is a Biochemistry/Molecular Biology major and a Physics minor. Eva is a pre-med student, and aims to attend medical school after graduating from Hamilton. Eva began working in the Wolff Lab in June 2021, constructing the equipment and boxes utilized in the animals’ training, and electronically tracking the animals’ behaviors. Outside of the lab, Eva enjoys spending her time outdoors, with animals, and volunteering. She is also a member and captain of Hamilton’s women’s lacrosse team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/08fc6532-bdb1-45d1-9b39-ab28b22d2ac8/Elvig_Headshot_Fall21.jpg Team - Sophie Elvig PhD Student Sophie is a Program in Neuroscience PhD student. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2019 with degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology. There she focused her studies on neuropharmacology and opioid use disorder. She also spent time working at the National Institute on Drug Abuse researching metabolic treatments for alcohol use disorder. She joined the Wolff lab to investigate how disruption of basal ganglia nuclear projections may affect complex motor learning and the execution of previously learned sills. In her free time Sophie likes to go to concerts, spend time outdoors, and go skiing (when possible). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/fcf189bb-e128-4902-b430-178fcfab07ff/wolf-brain-moon_no_label.png Team - Maegan Jennings Lab Assistant Maegan graduated from Towson University in 2020 with a Bachelors degree in Physics. She is working on data analysis in Python at the Wolff Lab, and is taking classes towards her Masters degree in Applied Physics. Outside of work, her hobbies include indoor rock climbing, reading, and painting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/73379e98-d2dd-4ec1-a178-3eab8b67b0d8/wolf-brain-moon_no_label.png Team - Vedansh Dave Research Technician https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/32c670da-9e0c-4e05-8b2d-6e1413c7b6fc/siddhi_pic.jpg Team - Siddhi Date Research Technician Siddhi is a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she received her B.S and M.S.E in Biomedical Engineering. She studied medical robotics and is applying to graduate school to further pursue her passion in robotics and automation. Outside of the lab, Siddhi enjoys playing guitar, collecting vinyl jazz records, and cooking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/17bb588e-751c-4aa2-8e9a-b4c7da72fc95/Ozzy.jpg Team - Azriel Weinreb Lab Assistant Azriel recently graduated from Towson University with a Master’s in Applied Physics. He began working for the Wolff Lab in October 2021 helping with data analysis. His long-term goal is to pursue a career in medical physics. Outside of the lab Azriel enjoys gaming and hanging out with his cats Toby and Stanley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/494d45e0-8f0d-4fe8-b55b-960ae96a7a95/Ellie_cropped.jpg Team - Eliana Abel Lab Assistant Ellie is an upcoming senior at the University of Maryland, planning to graduate in May 2022. She is studying Psychology and Neuroscience. Ellie started working in the Wolff lab around April 2021, helping with behavioral data analysis and the construction of behavioral training and electrophysiological recording equipment. Her main interests of study include mental disorders and behavioral pharmacology. Her goal after college is to obtain her PhD in behavioral pharmacology and get involved in psychedelic therapy research for mental illnesses. Outside of the lab, Ellie enjoys skiing, spending time at the beach and going to concerts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/99471822-8cf3-4454-8dc3-1c9c45747ed5/Tomi.jpg Team - Oluwatomiwa Oladunni MD-PhD Student Tomi is an MD-PhD student at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. He graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Currently, his goal is to learn how to learn about the brain and use that to treat patients in the future. Outside academia, his hobbies include playing soccer, biking, hiking, listening to music and building on his skills as a barista and mixologist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/91530f8a-c820-4fc6-b621-1883a559820a/Isabella.jpg Team - Isabella Tidd Lab Assistant Isabella is graduating from University of Maryland, Baltimore County in spring 2023 with a B.S. in Mathematics and a minor in Psychology. She plans to pursue higher education in Neuroscience. In the future, she would like to use network modeling to investigate neural circuits that may underlie potential causes of neuropsychiatric disorders. Her specific research interests include substance use disorders and other comorbid mental illnesses. In her spare time, Isabella can be found at local rock concerts, exploring new restaurants, and taking care of her cats, Dewey, Nala, and Pippy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/383ad904-b105-4f02-b3c7-c59a214bd210/IMG_3681.jpg Team - Alexander Stein PhD Student Alex is a PhD Candidate in the Program in Neuroscience. He graduated from Columbia University in 2021 with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior and a concentration in Computer Science. After graduation, Alex worked in computational neurogenetics labs as a Research Technician at Weill Cornell Medical Center and then at Memorial Sloan Kettering Research Center, focusing mainly on developing computational analysis packages and pipelines. At the Wolff Lab, Alex is investigating the effects of training context on sequential motor skill learning and the contributions of cortico-striatal projections in motor skill learning and execution. Outside the lab, Alex's hobbies include playing soccer, hiking, playing video games, and spending time with his family , friends, and dog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/ba9ef5a1-b2d7-4184-be69-eaf4a91df5c4/Hunter.png Team - Hunter Bennis Lab Assistant Hunter is a recent graduate from the University of Maryland with a B.A in History and Neuroscience. He primarily helps with data analysis. His current long term goal is to use this experience for future schooling. Outside of the lab Hunter enjoys powerlifting, fishing, watching basketball and gaming. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/cd98f9e7-3c6a-45bc-b55d-aa5d338cd5b1/Chris.jpg Team - Chris Phung Lab Assistant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/4058db44-7cf4-4ed9-a690-8831ceb53f5e/Becca.png Team - Rebecca Weimer Lab Volunteer Rebecca completed a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland in 2021. She began working as a research assistant for an NIH study at her university in her senior year. The project delved deeper into the connection between Alzheimer’s and exercise, suggesting exercise could help alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms or maintain cognitive performance. She now works full-time as a clinical research assistant on Parkinson's research, with hopes of pursuing a doctorate degree in neurosciences. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1ecf3bbe-d5fc-4d90-a32d-9ec5f0cef142/Jian+Pic.jpg Team - Jian Kwon Research Technician https://www.wolff-lab.org/research daily 0.75 2020-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1608755429395-1CR5YMTSFH2FLYFSAGXN/Approach5.png Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1608822404613-72QSRJN4GO9IIAXXUQIB/Multi+boxes+improved2.png Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1608163840814-VQC5K902ULSC1GLMV7Q7/Recording_calendar2.png Research - Tracking neuronal activity throughout learning Observing how neuronal activity patterns change over the entire course of training is key in probing learning and memory formation. Furthermore, processes outside dedicated training sessions, e.g. during sleep, critically contribute to learning. To address both challenges, we will perform continuous (24/7) long-term electrophysiological recordings (4) over days, weeks and months. In combination with our automated analysis pipeline, this will allow us to precisely track learning-related changes in individual neurons and populations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1608133797411-N5IXLTQVIYDUFAD1HATH/Opto_5.png Research - Monitoring and manipulating distributed learning networks To explore how individual nodes - brain areas, circuits and defined neuronal subtypes - function and interact in the distributed networks underlying learning processes, we will extend our recordings to multiple brain areas, and combine them with a wide variety of acute and chronic neuronal activity manipulations (5). This will allow us to determine how activity manipulations affect both the animals’ behavior and the activity of identified circuit elements throughout the distributed networks (6,7). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1608131636568-0JPP6PKY5JQSJDCE0QBB/Memory+network3.png Research - Building frameworks and models for complex learning processes We will use our large behavioral, physiological and functional datasets to build models of learning processes at different levels. We will move from simple conceptual models of learning, memory formation and storage to increasingly complex and powerful computational models, capturing our observations and making new testable predictions. We aim and hope for interactions and mutual inspiration with computational neuroscientists and machine learning researchers. https://www.wolff-lab.org/home daily 1.0 2025-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/100d9be9-6dfc-4ed6-aff9-59f9d84bd690/NBC.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1608755398572-IJ958KRNXPE3RHOVOEYN/Approach5.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/c5a36830-d8f4-4355-af5f-6bb84fddad6a/image.png Home - Make it stand out Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/74712e3a-0c20-40a8-b002-8169d788d615/BBRF.png Home - Make it stand out BRF Seed Grant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc5af42104edf1d77a1dd02/1dfda9d0-52a8-44a1-b7bd-35a2a68dda89/NIMH+logo.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wolff-lab.org/join-the-team daily 0.75 2024-08-14 https://www.wolff-lab.org/contact-1 daily 0.75 2025-09-15 https://www.wolff-lab.org/publications daily 0.75 2025-09-10