Principal Investigator

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​Edward Zagha, MD PhD

Eddie received his MD, PhD from NYU School of Medicine where he studied intrinsic neuronal excitability in the lab of Dr. Bernardo Rudy. He then joined Yale School of Medicine as a postdoc to study cortical circuits of sensorimotor processing in the lab of Dr. David McCormick. Eddie’s long-term goals are to reveal neural mechanisms of cognitive processes for the purpose of developing rational approaches to the treatment of neuropsychiatric disease. Eddie’s interests outside the lab include hiking in the mountains of southern California and riddling (in the spirit of G.E.B.). 

Contact: edward.zagha@ucr.edu

Graduate Students

Krithiga Aruljothi

Krithiga grew up in India and completed her Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University before moving to California and starting as a Lab technician in Dr. Zagha's lab in 2017. She started as a graduate student in 2019. She studies sensory-motor propagation in mouse cortex using widefield calcium imaging and optical stimulation. Outside lab, you can find her lost in the mountains trying to hike or at home watching the same sitcoms and MCU movies for the umpteenth time. She loves the beach and the South which made her decide on UCR. #TeamIronMan

Contact: krithiga.aruljothi@ucr.edu
Krista Marrero

When she is not with her family, at church, or attempting Zumba, Krista can be found at the lab teaching mice how to wait. Krista currently investigates cortical timing signals using widefield calcium imaging techniques in behaving mice, focusing on the localization, mechanism, and function underlying impulse control. As an undergraduate, Krista studied physics at Cal Poly Pomona, minoring in business; she later earned her master’s degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry at Cal State LA.
Already a native of southern CA, Krista continues her research at UCR, now endeavoring to understand the neural properties of waiting in animal models with the goal of further understanding impulsivity (not waiting), a hallmark of mental health conditions such as ADHD and autism.
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Contact: krista.marrero@ucr.edu
Behzad Zareian

Behzad's paths led him to study neuroscience in the Zagha Lab at University of California, Riverside. He was born and raised in Tehran, Iran; he earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology and an M.S. in biomedical engineering from Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology, two of the most prestigious universities in Iran. Currently, he is interested in sensory-motor transformation and decision making in cortex. He likes naming mice and prefers his mouse names over all other names in the lab: they are the coolest. Besides neuroscience, Behzad is interested in computer games, board games, EDM music, and watching TV shows and movies. #TeamCaptainAmerica

Contact: bzare001@ucr.edu
Zhaoran Zhang
        
Zhaoran graduated from Sichuan University in China with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and conducted 2 years of research at Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai. In 2017, she came to UCR for Ph.D. training in Neuroscience and joined Dr. Zagha’s lab. Zhaoran is interested in the functions of neuronal circuits underlying animal’s behavior, such as paying attention and making decisions. Besides research, she enjoys outdoor activities and photography.

Contact: zhaoran.zhang@email.ucr.edu
Angelina Lam

Angelina joined the lab in Spring 2020. She graduated from UCR with a BS in Biology in 2019, and then went on to join the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. She is excited to be studying cortical roles in sensory detection and behavior. When not in lab, she can typically be found cooking an unhealthy, but delicious meal, building her herb garden, or watching a really good movie and then discussing it afterwards.  

Contact: angelina.lam@email.ucr.edu

Postdoctoral Fellows

Manas Kinra, PhD

Research Assistants

Emaan Kaur

Lovleen Swatch

Pawrsa Nikzad

Lab Alumni

David Salkoff, PhD (Research Specialist)

Bardia Movafagh (RA)

Ramtin Sahafi (RA)

Ethan Kim (RA)

Raghad Tabaza (RA)

Amanda Jayasekara (RA)

Jacob Klatt (RA)