Lab Members

Jena Hales, Ph.D.

Dr. Jena Hales is a professor in the Department of Neuroscience, Cognition and Behavior. She received her Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from Bowdoin College, where she worked with Dr. Seth Ramus examining cortical physiological representations of hippocampus-dependent memories in rats. She then received her Ph.D. in Neurosciences from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where she worked with Dr. James Brewer and used fMRI to examine human brain activity during the learning of object associations. She continued working at UCSD in the lab of Dr. Robert Clark as a postdoc, where she used rats as a model system for exploring the biological mechanisms of memory formation, storage, and retrieval. Since starting her lab at USD in 2015, Dr. Hales has continued exploring memory function and dysfunction using tightly controlled as well as more naturalistic and ecologically valid behavioral tasks combined with precise stereotaxic, neurosurgical manipulations and detailed histological processing. Her current research has focused on the involvement and interaction of the hippocampus and adjacent medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) in spatial and temporal memory domains.

CV

Alecsandra Inocentes '28

Alecsandra is a proud, first-generation Filipino American majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Law, Justice, and Society. Alecs joined the Hales Lab in the summer of 2022 as a high school sophomore and has been an active member ever since. At USD, she is a member of FUSO, POI, SASE, and Neuroscience Club. Outside of academics, she enjoys doing her nails, baking, going to concerts, and singing karaoke! After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in neuroscience research.

Luka Kazanjian '27

Luka is an honors student majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. He joined the Hales lab in the fall of 2023 and has never looked back! Outside of research, he is a member of USD’s club ultimate frisbee team the Flat Tax Ballers, as well as the Phi Delta Epsilon Pre-Medical Fraternity and Alcala Club. Torn between research and medicine, Luka would love to combine the two in his future career. His favorite part of the lab is learning new histology techniques and in his free time, he surfs and plays viola!

Madeline Kramer '27

Madeline is an honors student studying Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in chemistry. She joined the Hales lab in the spring of 2024, excited to dive into the research that summer. At USD, she is involved with Outdoor Adventures, STEM Outreach, and the Phi Delta Epsilon pre-medical fraternity. In her free time, she enjoys climbing, biking, and exploring new hikes around San Diego.

Josiah Lee '27

Josiah is an honors student majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. He joined the Hales lab in the fall of 2024. Outside of research, he is a member of Alcalá Club and FUSO, a Torero Tour Guide and a student leader for InterVarsity. In his free time, Josiah enjoys surfing, playing basketball, thrifting for new clothes, and spending time in nature.

Vera Maaskant '27

Vera is a neuroscience major, chemistry and biomedical ethics double minor, and pre-vet. She joined the Hales lab in fall 2024 and is passionate about exploring research. Vera moved from the Netherlands in 2020 to Dallas, Texas and now enjoys beautiful San Diego. Outside of school, she likes to find new coffee shops, read, and go on hikes. After graduation, Vera plans to go to graduate school!

Emma Mozalova '29

Emma is a prospective Neuroscience major with minors in Creative Writing and Chemistry. She got a chance to join the Hales Lab in the summer of 2025 after taking part in the Catalyst Research First Program. At USD, she holds the position of Commuter Senator for the Associated Student Government. She is a part of the Alcalá Review and is hoping to join the consultants at the Writing Center sometime in the near future. Some of her favorite pastimes include hiking, baking, running and hanging out with her friends, family, and cats! Emma is a first-generation student and is on the pre-med track, although she is unsure of what speciality she wants to pursue just yet.

Sophia Taylor '28

Sophia is an Honors student majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. She joined the Hales Lab at the beginning of 2026 and has quickly gained hands-on research experience, developing new skills and contributing to ongoing projects. She received a Summer Internship Award to support her research. At USD, she serves as the Public Relations Chair of the Honors Student Board, works as a Chemistry tutor, and is an active member of AED, contributing to the rush and philanthropy committees. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, exercising, beach walks, and spending time with friends. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a surgeon, with an interest in incorporating neuroscience research into her future work.

Hales Lab Alum!

Class of 2026:

Keira Boley - Clinical Research Coordinator, The Regenesis Project (Santa Monica)

Amarinah Correa

Avery Ehrlich

Audrey Moffatt - working as an EMT in Los Angeles while studying for the MCAT

Sophia Skubic - PhD student in Neuroscience at Rosalind Franklin University

Class of 2025:

Giulio Fernandes - Postbaccalaureate student at UC Davis School of Medicine

Joshua Spaulding

Julia Swenson-Wilkes - Medical Scribe

Class of 2024:

Anisa Beckett - Medical student at American University of the Caribbean; MS in Sociomedical Sciences (Columbia University '25)

Salma Godoy - MA in Radiation Oncology, CDU Postbaccalaureate Leadership Program student, applying to med school in 2026 cycle

Georgiana Kobzef - PhD student in Biomedical Sciences at SUNY

Maria Tavares Lobo e Silva - PhD student in Neurobiology at UCSD-Salk Joint Program; MS in Clinical Research (UCSD '25)

Madison Wyatt - Medical Student at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine

Zoe Wynter - Medical student at University of Colorado Anschutz; MA in Bioethics (NYU ‘26)

*Christina Doupsas (LJCDS ’24) – Undergraduate student at Claremont McKenna College

Class of 2023:

Daniela Abouchedid - Teacher; applying to neuroscience Ph.D. programs for Fall '24

Viviana Castro - PhD student in Neuroscience at Boston University

Turley Duque - PhD student in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Boston University

Landon Cendejas - applying to masters programs in social work and clinical counseling

James Ghaly - Medical Student at Western University

Ryan Nguyen - Medical student at the University of Washington

Alexa Watson - Medical student at the University of Washington

Class of 2022:

Caroline Azer

Akemi Ito – PhD student in Neuroscience at Boston University

Anahi Salazar - PhD student in Neurobiology at the University of Chicago

Annette Vo – Medical student at the University of Washington

Michelle Zaichik – Medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Class of 2021:

Kayla Cayanan – MRI Research Associate at UC San Diego, Psychiatry Department

Rachel Dahle – Masters of Bioethics student at Johns Hopkins

Charlize De Vera – Medical Assistant at Swedish Medical Center, Adult Epilepsy & Pediatric Neurology; applying to PA school

Tommy Hunt – Medical student at University of Arizona

Ahmet Kraja – Research Associate II at UCSD, Pathology Department

Fabiola Sanchez – Medical Student at Touro College of Medicine in Montana; Prehealth Postbaccalaureate (UC Davis '25)

Class of 2020:

Bronwyn Butuk – Medical student at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

GQ Collins – PhD student in Developmental Psychology at FIU

Megan Elyamani – Program Coordinator at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Linda Leija – Research Assistant Case Lab at UC San Diego

Greer Marshall – Medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine

Megan Mir – Project Manager at BioDuro Sundia

Larissa Olivas – MS in Forensic Psychology from UC Irvine ‘24

Nina Tabrizi – Peripheral Vascular (PV) Clinical Specialist at Medtronic

Alexandra Unapanta – Laboratory Research Coordinator at UCSD's Consortium for Translational Research in Neuropsychopharmacology (CTRIN)

Tyler Walker – Medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Emerald Weeth – Renewable Energy and Environmental Sales

*Nicholas Doupsas (LJCDS ’20) – Marketing Associate at Pfizer; BS in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University '24

Class of 2019:

Ali McLagan – Research Project Coordinator at Northwestern University

Hillary Guerrero – Medical student at UIWSOM

Ellie Petty – PhD student in Neuroscience at Scripps Research

Stephanie Roessler – Physician Associate at Tampa General Hospital Emergency/Urgent Care

Class of 2018:

Teddy Fisher – PhD student in Integrated Neuroscience at McGill

Heather Kovar – Family medicine resident, UCLA (University of Washington School of Medicine ‘24)

Kiran Long-Iyer – PhD student in Neuroscience at UC Davis

Nicole Reitz – Dentist at Laurelhurst Dental Group, Seattle, WA (Marquette University School of Dentistry '22)

Aimee Steen – Orthopaedic Surgery Resident at Naval Medical Center San Diego (WesternU COMP c/o '25)

Jon Vincze – Emergency Medicine Physician St Joes Stockton, CA (Marian University college of Osteopathic Medicine ‘23)

Class of 2017:

Lindsay Benster – PhD student in Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at UCSD/SDSU

Peter Breslin – Supply Chain Specialist IV at Gilead Sciences

Angela Camacho – Good Clinical Practice Quality Assurance Consultant at Quality Link Consulting

Alyssa Morse – Head of Sales Development, Convoso

* denotes a high school student researcher