Alessandra received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2012 at University of Cagliari, Italy. She then obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience in 2016 from University of Cagliari and University of Basel, Switzerland where her research focused on pharmacological characterization of GABAB and CB1 receptors' modulators. Alessandra joined the Department of Psychiatry at University of California San Diego in 2016, where she performed her postdoctoral research studying light-induced neurotransmitter plasticity and clock dysfunctions in mood disorders. 

In 2020, Alessandra received the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the NIH-NCCIH to study the effect of light on amygdala plasticity and emotion-related behaviors. She started her lab in the Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences at University of South Carolina, College of Pharmacy in June 2022. 

Outside the lab Alessandra loves to spend time with her dog, traveling, and cooking.

Pablo graduated in Biology in 2016 from the University of Valencia, Spain and in 2018 he completed his Master degree in Biomedical Biotechnology from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. He then obtained his Ph.D. cum laude in Biotechnology in 2022 from the Polytechnic University of Valencia developing his research at the Principe Felipe Research Center. Pablo joined the lab in March 2023.

Pablo current research focus on the mechanism underlying medial amygdala somatostatin circuit adaptation to chronic light cycles disruption in adolescent mice. His goal is to shed light on the potentially deleterious effects of altered light environments on brain circuits regulating affective behaviors during adolescence.

In his free time, Pablo enjoys practicing sports, playing video games, hanging out with his friends and traveling.

Pablo received the First Place Postdoctoral Scholar Poster Award at Discover USC in Aprli 2025 and the J. Christian Gillin Early Career Investigator Award from the Society of Light, Rhythms, and Circadian Health in May 2025.

Alex graduated from the College of Charleston in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She received her Master degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2019. Alex joined the lab in September 2022 as lab manager and she was admitted to the Pharmaceutical Science Graduate program in Fall 2023.

Alex current project investigate the effect of photoperiod on astrocytes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The goal of her project is to understand the role of astrocytes in regulating photoperiodic plasticity in the circadian pacamaker.

Her hobbies include drawing/painting, yoga, and spending time with family and friends.

Ashita earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Bangalore University in 2017 and completed her Master’s degree in Biotechnology at Christ University in 2019. Following her graduate studies, she pursued research at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (TIFR) in India and the Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire in France.

In 2021, Ashita joined the Pharmaceutical Science Graduate program and became a member of the lab in June 2024. Her research focuses on how disruptions in the light cycle during adolescence impact memory and the local clock of the hippocampus. Her goal is to explore circadian therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating memory impairments in adolescents.

Outside of her research, Ashita is a matcha enthusiast and enjoys exploring diverse culinary experiences during her travels.

Ashita received the First Place Graduate Students Poster Award at Discover USC in Aprli 2025. 

Janhvi is a current sophomore at the University of South Carolina Honors College pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with a minor in neuroscience. She is from Irmo, South Carolina. Janhvi joined the lab in October 2022.

Her research interests include sexual dimorphic responses to environmental light disruption in the amygdala and regulation of social behavior in adolescent mice.

In her free time, Janhvi enjoys dancing and traveling. 

Janhvi received the Magellan Scholar Award in May 2023, the Trainee Professional Development Award from the SfN to present her project at the Neuroscience meeting in Washington D.C. in November 2023, and the First Place Biology and Biomedical Science Poster Award at Discover USC in April 2025.

Cateyann is a current sophomore at the University of South Carolina Honors College pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience, with a minor in Spanish. She is from Long Island, New York. Cateyann joined the lab in August 2024.

Her research interests include characterizing somatostatin neurons in the medial amygdala in response to environment light disruption during adolescence.

In her free time, Cateyann enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with friends. 

Leo is an English Cocker Spaniel. He was born in July 2020, and he loves to play with his ball, frisbee and wood sticks. Leo will join the lab to support the team in difficult moments and to celebrate our accomplishments.