Current Members
Susanna Rosi PhD
Susanna earned her undergraduate degree and PhD from the University of Florence. Before beginning her faculty position at UCSF, she continued her training at the Neural System Memory and Aging Center at the University of Arizona.
Outside the lab Susanna loves to cook with her twins, run, and do yoga.
Principle Investigator
Lewis and Ruth Cozen Chair II Director of Neurocognitive Research
Brain and Spinal Injury Center
Weill Institute for Neuroscience
Kavli Institute of Fundamental Neuroscience
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
Xi Feng PhD
Specialist
Xi attended Wuhan University and completed his PhD at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He joined the Rosi lab from a postdoctoral position at the University of Cleveland. Xi’s focus is radiation-induced cognitive changes.
In his spare time he can be found on the water fishing, playing badminton, or hiking the trails of California.
Valentina Frattini
Student Researcher
Valentina is currently studying Neuroscience with a minor in Legal Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz. She is currently working on our traumatic brain injury projects.
When she is not in class or the lab, she enjoys traveling with friends, playing the guitar, and doing puzzles.
Elma Frias
PhD Candidate - BMS
Elma earned her bachelors degree from the University of California Riverside. She is most involved understanding the effects of closed head injury and spine dynamics.
When she escapes the lab, she enjoys cycling throughout the Bay Area, spending time with family and friends, and re-reading the Adventures of Sherlock Homes.
Katie Grue
Staff Research Associate/Lab Manager
Katie earned her bachelors degree from Kalamazoo College and her masters from Texas Tech University. She is invovlved the traumatic brain injury projects, but is most focused on the NASA work.
Katie can be found swimming in the Bay, spending time with her nieces and nephews, and hiking trails throughout the Bay Area.
Karen Krukowski PhD
Specialist
Karen earned her bachelors degree from Miami University and her PhD at Loyola University of Chicago. Karen’s neuroinflammation interests span across traumatic brain injury, ISRIB effects, and our NASA work.
If you’re looking for Karen outside the lab she loves to explore the greater Bay Area through food and wine – and share all San Francisco has to offer with her daughter.
*Karen is beginning an Assistant Professor position at Denver University in 2021 – we are sad to see her go, but excited to share in her new adventure!
Amber Nolan MD/PhD
Pathology Fellow/Postdoctoral Scholar
Amber attended the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate and continued on to The University of Chicago to earn her MD/PhD. She joined UCSF as an anatomic pathology resident and completed both a fellowship in surgical pathology and neuropathology throughout her tenure. Amber is focused on chronic injury in frontal cortical circuits.
Outside of the lab Amber enjoys cooking new and exciting foods, and running through the Redwoods.
*Amber is beginning an Assistant Professor position at Washington University – she will be missed, but we are proud to see what she will accomplish!
Maria Serena (Nena) Paladini PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Nena earned her bachelors degree and PhD from the University of Milan. She joined the Rosi lab during her PhD as a visiting student and her current focus is sex differences in cognition after repeated traumatic brain injury.
Nena can be found enjoying all the food San Francisco has to offer and exploring new outdoor spaces every weekend.
Kira Rienecker PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Kira earned her PhD in the Wellcome Trust Program at Cardiff University and her bachelor's degrees from UC Davis. She joins the Rosi lab from a postdoctoral position at UC Merced. Kira is most involved in our space radiation and combined space stressors studies with NASA.
Outside of lab, she can be found hanging from aerial circus implements, lifting, drawing, and telling her dog he is a Good Boy.
Alumni
Lily Akrapongpisak
Research Associate, Alkahest Inc
Summer Student 2019
McKenna Becker
Working in science writing
Staff Research Associate 2018-2020
Karim Belarbi PhD
Associate Professor University of Lille, France
Postdoctoral Scholar 2009-2012
Zoe Boosalis
Undergraduate Student, UC Berkeley
Summer Student 2019
David Chen
UC Berkeley graduate, applying to medical school
Student Researcher 2018-2020
Austin Chou PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, UCSF
PhD Candidate, Neuroscience 2015-2019
Edward Elizarraras MS
Student, UC David
Staff Research Associate 2018-2019
Sonali Gupta
Undergraduate Student, University of Wisconsin
Summer Student 2017
Aaron Halvorsen
Neurobiology PhD Student, Duke University
Summer Student 2019
SRTP Student
Timothy Jopson
Operations Manager, Chartbooster
Lab Manager/ Staff Research Associate 2010-2017
Mackenzie Koenig-Zanoff
Undergraduate Student, University of Delaware
Summer Student 2018, 2019
Josh M. Morganti PhD
Assistant Professor of Neuro-science, University of Kentucky
Postdoctoral Scholar 2011-2016
Hathsita Nimmagadda
High School Student, Lynbrook High School
Summer Student 2019, 2020
John Pietrykowski
Medical Student, UC San Diego
Student Researcher 2016-2018
Lara-Kristi Riparip
Masters Student ETH and UZH in Neural Systems and Computation
Staff Research Associate 2014-2017
Kristen Sacramento
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Student, Samuel Merritt University
Student Reseacher 2016-2017