Lab Members
Professor, Vice Chair for Research
Dr. Head studied at the University of Toronto, Canada where she obtained her BSc, MA, and PhD in neuroscience in 1997 before moving to the University of California, Irvine and completing postdoctoral training in MIND. Until 2009, Dr. Head served as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Brain Tissue Repository for the UCI Alzheimer disease research center at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Head then became a Professor and Associate Director of Education at the University of Kentucky’s Sanders Brown Center on Aging where she established a Down syndrome aging and Alzheimer disease research study. In 2019, Dr. Head returned to the University of California, Irvine and resumed her position as Director of the Brain Tissue Repository and now also serves as a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys video games, cooking and being with friends.
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Dr. Head studied at the University of Toronto, Canada where she obtained her BSc, MA, and PhD in neuroscience in 1997 before moving to the University of California, Irvine and completing postdoctoral training in MIND. Until 2009, Dr. Head served as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Brain Tissue Repository for the UCI Alzheimer disease research center at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Head then became a Professor and Associate Director of Education at the University of Kentucky’s Sanders Brown Center on Aging where she established a Down syndrome aging and Alzheimer disease research study. In 2019, Dr. Head returned to the University of California, Irvine and resumed her position as Director of the Brain Tissue Repository and now also serves as a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys video games, cooking and being with friends.
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Postdoctoral scholar
Lorena graduated from FMVZ UNAM veterinary school in Mexico City in 2006. She practiced as a small animals veterinary clinician for 8 years before moving to Scotland in 2015 to pursue an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at The University of Edinburgh. She obtained her PhD in 2021 at The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, where she studied feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (aka feline dementia). She joined the Head lab on that same year as a Postdoctoral Scholar. She is a cat lover and in her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to music, attending gigs and concerts, watching films and birdwatching.
Lorena graduated from FMVZ UNAM veterinary school in Mexico City in 2006. She practiced as a small animals veterinary clinician for 8 years before moving to Scotland in 2015 to pursue an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at The University of Edinburgh. She obtained her PhD in 2021 at The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, where she studied feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (aka feline dementia). She joined the Head lab on that same year as a Postdoctoral Scholar. She is a cat lover and in her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to music, attending gigs and concerts, watching films and birdwatching.
Graduate student (INP program)
Elizabeth graduated from UCI with a BS in Neurobiology. She joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher and transitioned to Lab Assistant, before becoming a graduate student. When she is not poking brains or studying, she enjoys reading, creative writing, and going out to get good food with good friends. Also, if drinking coffee can be considered a hobby, then she’s an expert.
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Elizabeth graduated from UCI with a BS in Neurobiology. She joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher and transitioned to Lab Assistant, before becoming a graduate student. When she is not poking brains or studying, she enjoys reading, creative writing, and going out to get good food with good friends. Also, if drinking coffee can be considered a hobby, then she’s an expert.
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Statistician
Michael received his PhD in statistics at Cornell University in 1985. He was professor of statistics at Cornell, Princeton, and University of Pennsylvania before coming to UCI. Since 2013 he has been a statistician with UCI MIND in the Data Management and Statistics Core of the ADRC. He joined the Head Lab in 2020 as statistician for The Beagle Project, bringing expertise in the design of experiments, modeling by exponential families, and other areas of statistical science. For fun he likes to cycle and swim, hike and camp, and read and write poetry.
Michael received his PhD in statistics at Cornell University in 1985. He was professor of statistics at Cornell, Princeton, and University of Pennsylvania before coming to UCI. Since 2013 he has been a statistician with UCI MIND in the Data Management and Statistics Core of the ADRC. He joined the Head Lab in 2020 as statistician for The Beagle Project, bringing expertise in the design of experiments, modeling by exponential families, and other areas of statistical science. For fun he likes to cycle and swim, hike and camp, and read and write poetry.
Undergraduate researcher
Kevin is a second year undergraduate student at UCI majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology. He joined the Head Lab to gain research experience and further his knowledge in neurological disorders. In his spare time, he loves to go running, travel to new hiking trails, and binge-watch cheesy sci-fi movies.
Kevin is a second year undergraduate student at UCI majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology. He joined the Head Lab to gain research experience and further his knowledge in neurological disorders. In his spare time, he loves to go running, travel to new hiking trails, and binge-watch cheesy sci-fi movies.
Undergraduate researcher
Lab Manager
Postdoctoral scholar
Dr. Flores Aguilar received her B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UAEM in Mexico. She pursued her Ph.D. at McGill University in Canada, where she studied preclinical neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome. After finishing her Ph.D, she worked as Bioanalytical Principal Investigator in the Biomarker Team of a CRO. Following her passion for science, Lisi joined the Head lab in 2022 to study cerebrovascular contributions to Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome and aging. In her free time, Lisi enjoys travelling, music festivals, camping, hiking, and stand-up paddling. She likes being with family, friends, her cat Jazz and learning watercolor painting.
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Dr. Flores Aguilar received her B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UAEM in Mexico. She pursued her Ph.D. at McGill University in Canada, where she studied preclinical neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome. After finishing her Ph.D, she worked as Bioanalytical Principal Investigator in the Biomarker Team of a CRO. Following her passion for science, Lisi joined the Head lab in 2022 to study cerebrovascular contributions to Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome and aging. In her free time, Lisi enjoys travelling, music festivals, camping, hiking, and stand-up paddling. She likes being with family, friends, her cat Jazz and learning watercolor painting.
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Graduate student
Cherie Anne Stringer graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 2018 with a BSc in Cell and Developmental Biology. She then worked as a research technician at UCI until she joined the UCI INP PhD program in 2020. Cherie is interested in studying the relationship between ion channel migration and astrocytic amyloid plaque clearance in Alzheimer’s Disease in people with Down Syndrome. When not in the lab, Cherie can be found outdoors paddle boarding or kayaking with friends, running, or cycling. She also enjoys the movies, anything music and craft-related, and dying her hair every color of the rainbow.
Cherie Anne Stringer graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 2018 with a BSc in Cell and Developmental Biology. She then worked as a research technician at UCI until she joined the UCI INP PhD program in 2020. Cherie is interested in studying the relationship between ion channel migration and astrocytic amyloid plaque clearance in Alzheimer’s Disease in people with Down Syndrome. When not in the lab, Cherie can be found outdoors paddle boarding or kayaking with friends, running, or cycling. She also enjoys the movies, anything music and craft-related, and dying her hair every color of the rainbow.
Undergraduate researcher
Phong is a 4th-year undergraduate student at UCI majoring in Human Biology. He joined the Head Lab because he thought it would be a great opportunity to further explore his interest in research, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Down Syndrome in an awesome environment. Outside of research and school, Phong also works part-time as a MA/MS at a cardiology clinic and a CPR instructor! In his free time, he enjoys watching anime, exploring new food spots, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family!
Phong is a 4th-year undergraduate student at UCI majoring in Human Biology. He joined the Head Lab because he thought it would be a great opportunity to further explore his interest in research, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Down Syndrome in an awesome environment. Outside of research and school, Phong also works part-time as a MA/MS at a cardiology clinic and a CPR instructor! In his free time, he enjoys watching anime, exploring new food spots, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family!
Undergraduate researcher
Vinutha is a first year undergraduate student at UC Irvine majoring in Cognitive Sciences. She joined the Head Lab to explore her interest in neurodegenerative diseases and learn more about Down Syndrome. Outside of the lab, Vinutha enjoys knitting, watching rom-coms, listening to film scores, and trying new restaurants with friends.
Vinutha is a first year undergraduate student at UC Irvine majoring in Cognitive Sciences. She joined the Head Lab to explore her interest in neurodegenerative diseases and learn more about Down Syndrome. Outside of the lab, Vinutha enjoys knitting, watching rom-coms, listening to film scores, and trying new restaurants with friends.
Lab assistant
Jesse Pascual graduated from UC Irvine in 2015 with a B.S. in Public Health Sciences and a minor in Comparative Literature. He went on to work as a nursing assistant and telemetry technician and later joined the Head lab as a Lab Assistant. In his free time, Jesse enjoy the outdoors and going on day hikes throughout SoCal.
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Jesse Pascual graduated from UC Irvine in 2015 with a B.S. in Public Health Sciences and a minor in Comparative Literature. He went on to work as a nursing assistant and telemetry technician and later joined the Head lab as a Lab Assistant. In his free time, Jesse enjoy the outdoors and going on day hikes throughout SoCal.
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Graduate student (MSTP Program)
Jeremy Rouanet graduated from Emory University in 2014 with a BS in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. Following graduation, he worked as a research technician and clinical research coordinator at Duke University, before joining the UCI MSTP in 2018. Outside of the lab, Jeremy enjoys cycling, film photography, and baking.
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Jeremy Rouanet graduated from Emory University in 2014 with a BS in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. Following graduation, he worked as a research technician and clinical research coordinator at Duke University, before joining the UCI MSTP in 2018. Outside of the lab, Jeremy enjoys cycling, film photography, and baking.
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Lab assistant
Annie Du graduated from UC Irvine in 2022 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. Prior to joining the Head lab, Annie was an undergraduate researcher at the Lane lab investigating the role of Cystatin F on demyelination and phagocytic clearance of myelin in MHV infected mice. In her free time she enjoys hiking, playing Animal Crossing, and annoying her golden retriever.
Annie Du graduated from UC Irvine in 2022 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. Prior to joining the Head lab, Annie was an undergraduate researcher at the Lane lab investigating the role of Cystatin F on demyelination and phagocytic clearance of myelin in MHV infected mice. In her free time she enjoys hiking, playing Animal Crossing, and annoying her golden retriever.
Undergraduate researcher
Halyma is a third year undergraduate student at UC Irvine majoring in Human Biology. She joined the Head Lab to explore her interests and gain experience in research. Outside of lab, Halyma enjoys going out with friends, playing video games, and online shopping.
Halyma is a third year undergraduate student at UC Irvine majoring in Human Biology. She joined the Head Lab to explore her interests and gain experience in research. Outside of lab, Halyma enjoys going out with friends, playing video games, and online shopping.
