Yongji Wu received her Ph.D. in Basic Veterinary Medicine from Northwest A&F University in the lab of Dr. Shanting Zhao. She then continued her postdoc training on autism research in the lab of Dr. Liping Wang at Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Yongji is interested in the relationship between genes and background in ASD and the convergence and divergence pathways that are critical during brain development and disease pathogenesis.

Outside the lab, Yongji enjoys reading, listening to music, and exercising.

Gaea Dominguez is a PhD student in the GMB Program at Emory University. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2023. During her undergraduate studies, she discovered her passion for developmental biology through her time in Dr. Kellee Siegfried’s lab. Gaea’s research interests include investigating the dynamic genetic and epigenetic landscapes during organismal development, especially in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

Outside the lab, Gaea enjoys spending time with her cats (Momo and Coco), experimenting with various arts and crafts, playing video games, fishing, and hiking.

Kevin Fuentes is a PhD student in the NS Program at Emory University. He received his B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Lehigh University in 2022. During his undergraduate studies, he discovered his passion for neurological disorders through his time in Dr. Neal Simon’s lab. Following graduation, Kevin completed a post-bac at NIH, working alongside Dr. Diana Bianchi and Dr. Laura Baxter on establishing an in vitro model system using Neural Progenitor Cells (NPC) to identify safe and effective drugs for trisomy 21 (T21). Kevin’s research interests include investigating the molecular changes occurring in the brain, especially in neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASDs.

Outside the lab, Kevin enjoys cooking with friends, participating in soccer and tennis, and hosting movie nights with friends!

Caitlin is an Emory neuroscience graduate student currently rotating in Dr. Zhou’s lab. Prior to Emory, she received her undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech, where she studied peripheral nerve injury and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. To that end, she is interested in learning more about the genetic and cellular underpinnings of neurological disorders, such as autism.

Outside of lab, Caitlin enjoys hiking, traveling, and cooking.

Aranis is a PhD student in the Neuroscience program at Emory University. Prior to Emory, she received her B.S. In Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2022. During her undergraduate studies, she discovered her passion for research in the lab of Dr. Jenny Hsieh, where she made 3D brain organoids from ​patient derived- induced pluripotent stem cells to study SARS-CoV-2 neurotropism. Aranis' research interests include using omics approaches to better understand the epigenetic and genetic underpinnings of neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders, like autism and schizophrenia.

Outside of lab, Aranis enjoys hiking, reading, and trying out new restaurants!