Lab Alumni
BASMA RADWAN-IBRAHIM, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Basma Radwan-Ibrahim received her bachelors degree in neural science from New York University, her masters of science in biomedical engineering from Boston University and her Ph.D. from New York University in 2015 under the tutelage of Dr André Fenton, where she investigated the neural correlates of cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome. Under the mentorship of Dr Dipesh Chaudhury, she investigated the role of sleep on modulating depression-like behaviours. She combined different research techniques ranging from rodent behaviours, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, cellular imaging and optogenetic methodologies. Basma is originally from Egypt and enjoys learning about history and ancient world civilizations. On her days off, Basma is busy running around and laughing with her two little daughters: Heidi and Deanna.
HE LIU, MD/PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
He Liu received his medical degree, specializing in Anesthesiology in 2006. After graduating, He Liu undertook the anesthesiology residency program from 2006-2008. He completed his M.M. training in the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology & Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology at Xuzhou Medical College, under the instruction of Professor Jun-li Cao (2011). He received his PhD in Anesthesiology from China Medical University under the instruction of Professor Li-Cai Zhang (2014). He subsequently worked as an anesthesiology residency in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College (2014-2015). During training for his M.M. and PhD, he performed a series of studies investigating Regulation of Pain Signal Transduction. In 2015, he joined the team of Prof. Chaudhury in NYUAD as a Postdoctoral Associate investigating functional changes in neural circuits connecting the circadian clock of the brain to regions associated with mood disorders such as depression.
ALVARO YAÑEZ TOUZET
Research Fellow
Alvaro was an inaugural Research Fellow at New York University Abu Dhabi (2020). He did his BSc in biology at NYUAD (2019), specializing in brain and cognitive science and graduating magna cum laude. A physician in the making, Alvaro aspires to be a global neurologist-scientist. He has lived in Chile, Peru, and the UAE; studied away in the US and Ghana; and volunteered in Ecuador and Colombia. His research interests lie in the crossroads between the emergence of behavior and neuronal biophysics. At Chaudhury Lab, he investigated the relationship between susceptibility to stress and sleep patterns, using electroencephalography, electromyography, and models of behavioral testing. Currently, he studies medicine at The University of Manchester (2025).
AYESHA AL HAMMADI
Research Assistant
Aisha received her bachelor degree from the United Arab Emirates University, majoring in cell biology with minor in cognitive science. She joined team of Prof. Chaudhury lab in NYUAD as a research assistant and she is a part of the Kawader program. she aims to gain a good research skills to pursue her higher education in the near future.
MARIAM ANWAR
NYUAD Graduate Student
Mariam graduated from NYUAD majoring in Biology on the pre-medical track, and minoring in literature and computer science.
VONGAI MLAMBO
NYUAD Graduate Student
Vongai Christine Mlambo graduated from NYUAD (2020) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Psychology. During her time in the lab, Vongai launched and developed the techniques to assess the relationships between stress-susceptibility and disturbances in core body temperature in a rodent model of chronic social stress. After graduating, she spent 6 weeks as a post-graduate practical fellow in the lab, pioneering the use of passive infrared sensors to improve assessments of stress-induced activity changes. Vongai is now an MD candidate at Stanford University School of Medicine where she intends to apply her background in neuroscience research to clinical settings.
MERIMA SABANOVIC
NYUAD Graduate Student
Merima Sabanovic graduated from NYUAD majoring in Biology with a specialization in Brain and Cognitive Science and a minor in Psychology. Merima pioneered the winner-loser behavioural paradigm in the lab, which she d to investigate the effects of social stress exposure on expression of social dominance in rodents. After graduating from NYUAD she won a place with the Wellcome Trust Doctoral Training Program in Neuroscience, with further funding provided by the Clarendon Fund and is currently studying for a PhD in Oxford University.
GLORIA JANSEN
NYUAD Graduate Student
Gloria Jansen graduated from NYUAD majoring in Biology with a specialization in Brain & Cognitive Science. As part of her undergraduate research at NYU Abu Dhabi, Gloria spearheaded the use of transcriptomics to determine neuronal sub-populations in mice that are resilient or susceptible to chronic social defeat stress. After graduating from NYUAD Gloria received an MRC fellowship is currently studying for a PhD in Cambridge University.
HALA AQEL
NYUAD Graduate Student
Hala is a Palestinian-American graduated from NYUAD majoring in Biology. She is most passionate about health policy and hopes her work in that field can have a more widespread, global impact on healthcare. Her research interests focus on investigating the impact of induced jet lag models on susceptibility to stress-related depression in mice.
CHRISTINA ‘MISYA’ ERWIN
NYUSH Graduate student
Christina graduated from New York University Shanghai (NYUSH). She volunteered in the lab during her 3rd year studies at NYUAD and was enormously helpful in setting up the lab.
SOAAD HAMMAMI
NYUAD Undergraduate Student
Soaad is a Syrian Graduate student majoring in Biology at NYUAD with a minor in Film and New Media. Her interests are founded in biochemistry, organic chemistry, science democratization and communication for the general public.
