Andrew Zhang is a sophomore majoring in Molecular and Cellular
Biology. Currently, he is a research assistant in Dr. Huimin Zhao’s
lab and also part of UIUC’s American Chemistry Society and
REACT. He believes that neuroscience is a great field to learn about.
There are so many things to learn about the brain - especially ideas
that can improve our lives. He is excited to be a part of Brain
Matters in sharing neuro- science!

Brain Matters Writers 

My name is Christopher Jones. I am a Community Health-Pre Med major. As an
Undergraduate student I have been involved in several activities including
Minorities in Medicine (MAPS), Intramural Basketball, as well as various
volunteering opportunities throughout the Champaign-Urbana community. I
am also a member of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity inc. One of my most
memorable moments thus far was belong selected to participate in the NIAMS
Summer Research Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Washington
D.C. My goal is to attend Medical School and become a Neurosurgeon.

Emma Ibanez is a senior majoring in MCB with a minor in
chemistry. As an undergraduate research assistant in the Rhodes
lab, she genetically modifies clownfish for studying socially
influenced sex change. Emma also enjoys caring for her plant
collection and learning how to play the piano. After graduation, she
plans to attend graduate school for further research in
neuroendocrinology.

Lina graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2021 and is now
a first-year medical student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She was previously
doing research in an auditory neuroscience lab at the Beckman Institute on campus and
was awarded the 2021 Berkowitz Summer Fellowship for her work there. Lina was also
published in Cells for her contributions in looking at age-related hearing loss and the
distribution of serum lipidomic biomarkers as a means of predicting the development
of Alzheimer’s Disease. Outside of academics, she is involved in social justice work and
volunteers through various organizations to serve in underserved communities. She is
very excited to share her passion for neuroscience through Brain Matters!

28Brain Matters・Volume V Issue ii



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Hanifa is a Senior at the University of Illinois majoring in Molecular and
Cellular Biology with Honors Concentration and minoring in Philosophy.
She has been interested in neuroscience after reading Paul Kalanithi's
autobiography When Breath Becomes Air. In addition to writing for
Brain Matters, Hanifa is currently researching the effect of AVP on the
brain's glymphatic system in Dr. Martha Gillette's lab. She volunteers at
Carle, Avicenna, Salt and Light, and the Illini Medical Screening Society.

Laura is a Junior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and is
pursuing a minor in Food Science. She is very excited to showcase
the new volume and hopes to expand the journal to new horizons.
Aside from working on the journal, she is an assistant researcher
in the Robinson Lab, is an MCB leader, an Orientation Leader, a
member of Bioscience Journal club, and an executive board
member of the Undergraduate Neuroscience Society.