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MIND GAP| Our Team | UC Davis MIND Institute

Our Team

  • David Segal, Ph.D., smiling and wearing a dark pinstriped suit, blue shirt, patterned tie, and glasses, greenery in the background
    Co-Director of MINDGAP

    David Segal, Ph.D.

    djsegal@health.ucdavis.edu 
    Research Interests:     Development of targeted genome editing technologies for therapeutic applications.

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  • Roy Ben-Shalom, Ph.D., smiling and wearing a blue patterned shirt, with a glass window in the background
    Co-Director of MINDGAP

    Roy Ben-Shalom, Ph.D.

    rbenshalom@health.ucdavis.edu 
    Research Interests:     Mechanisms of neuronal excitability, electrophysiology, and computational neuroscience with a focus on neurodevelopmental disabilities.

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  • ada Alexis Bezue smiling at the camera, wearing a beige blazer and gold jewelry
    Educational Director

    Jada Alexis Bezue

    Research Interest: Engineering cyanobacteria for biomanufacturing systems for the sustainable conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals.

  • Olivia Wrisley smiling, wearing green round glasses, green earrings, and a colorful floral top
    Program Coordinator

    Olivia Wrisley

    ovwrisley@health.ucdavis.edu 
    UC Davis MIND Institute

  • Cecilia Giulivi, Ph.D., with long, straight brown hair, wearing a black turtleneck sweater and small gold earrings, with a subtle smile
    Program Mentor

    Cecilia Giulivi, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Mitochondria bioenergetics, free radical biochemistry, underlying mechanisms that result in dysfunction of mitochondria in several pathophysiological situations such as autism, essential amino acid deficiency, type-2 diabetes, fragile X, and Huntington’s disease.  

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  • Kyle Fink, Ph.D., smiling with short brown hair and a beard, wearing a white lab coat over a gray shirt and black tie
    Program Mentor

    Kyle Fink, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on gene editing strategies and stem cell biology.

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  • Lee-Way Jin, Ph.D., wearing thin metal glasses and a dark gray collared shirt, with short black hair and a colorful mosaic background
    Program Mentor

    Lee-Way Jin, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Neuropathology and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, with emphasis on neuroinflammation, microglial function, and therapeutic development for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

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  • Janine LaSalle, Ph.D., smiling with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a purple top, white cardigan, and delicate jewelry
    Program Mentor

    Janine LaSalle, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Epigenetics of neurodevelopmental disabilities, focusing on DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling.

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  • Stephen Noctor, Ph.D., with short gray hair, wearing a dark suit, lavender shirt, and patterned purple tie, with a glass display in the background
    Program Mentor

    Stephen Noctor, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Development of the cerebral cortex, with emphasis on neural stem cells and neurogenesis.

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  • David Segal, Ph.D., smiling and wearing a dark pinstriped suit, blue shirt, patterned tie, and glasses, greenery in the background
    Program Mentor

    David Segal, Ph.D.

    djsegal@health.ucdavis.edu
    Research Interests: Development of targeted genome editing technologies for therapeutic applications.

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  • Roy Ben-Shalom, Ph.D., smiling and wearing a blue patterned shirt, with a glass window in the background
    Program Mentor

    Roy Ben-Shalom, Ph.D.

    rbenshalom@health.ucdavis.edu 
    Research Interests:     Mechanisms of neuronal excitability, electrophysiology, and computational neuroscience with a focus on neurodevelopmental disabilities.

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  • Meagan Talbott, Ph.D., smiling with long brown hair, red glasses, wearing a light blue shirt and dark cardigan
    Program Mentor

    Meagan Talbott, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Early social communication development in infants and toddlers, particularly those at risk for autism.

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  • Angela Thurman, Ph.D., smiling with long dark hair and rectangular glasses, wearing a red collared shirt, with a blue mosaic background
    Program Mentor

    Angela Thurman, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Language development in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including Fragile X syndrome and autism.

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  • Judy Van de Water, Ph.D., smiling with short, layered brown hair, wearing a cream jacket with gold buttons and a burgundy top
    Program Mentor

    Judy Van de Water, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Immunological factors in neurodevelopmental disabilities, with a focus on maternal immune activation and autism.

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