People

Principal Investigator

Annie Vogel Ciernia, Ph.D.  (she/her)

Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
annie.ciernia@ubc.ca

My overall research interest is in understanding epigenetic mechanisms of transcriptional regulation involved in brain plasticity and neurodevelopmental disorders. I have a broad background in neurobiology and behavioural neuroscience as well as epigenetics and neurodevelopmental disorders. My graduate work in Dr. Marcelo Wood’s laboratory at UC Irvine focused on examining the role of a neuron-specific nucleosome remodeling complex in regulating transcription subserving long-term memory formation. My postdoctoral work under Dr. Janine LaSalle at UC Davis focused on understanding how DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility impact gene expression in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). I have extensive experience in animal behavior, molecular neuroscience, bioinformatics and systems biology approaches for interpreting epigenomes. I was co-mentored in the Autism Training Program at the UC Davis MIND Institute by Dr. Jacqueline Crawley, an expert in animal models and behaviours related to neurodevelopment and ASD, and Dr. Paul Ashwood, an expert in ASD neuro-immunology. My current research focus is on understanding how early-life perturbations to the epigenome alter microglia-neuron interactions in the developing brain and lead to life-long changes in cellular function and behaviour.

2014-2019           Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Autism Research Training Program
University of California, Davis
Mentors: Dr. Janine LaSalle, Dr. Jacqueline Crawley, Dr. Paul Ashwood

2008-2014           Ph.D., Neurobiology & Behaviour
University of California, Irvine
Mentor: Marcelo Wood
Dissertation: The role of a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism in long-term memory formation synaptic plasticity, and gene expression

2004-2008           Bachelor of Science, Majors Biotechnology and Psychology, Minor Chemistry

North Dakota State University
Honors Thesis Psychology: Orienting to Predictive Arrow, Gaze, and Symbol Cues
Mentor: Dr. Chris Friesen
Honors Thesis Biotechnology: The Role of Attachment Protein TRAP in Cryptosporidium Infection
Mentor: Dr. John McEvoy

Ciernia_2023CV

 

Graduate Students

Jennifer Kim, MSc (she/her)
PhD Student Neuroscience

My research interests lie in understanding how environmental stressors shape epigenetic modifications in the nervous system to alter gene expression and mediate behavioural responses. I am especially interested in examining the long-term impacts of depression-induced neuroinflammation on nervous system function and development. When I’m not in the lab, I am either cozied up in a blanket watching a comedy show or out and about exploring a new part of town.

 

Morgan Towriss (she/her)

PhD Student Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

My research interests are studying the underlying mechanisms of innate immune memory in Microglia. I am very interested in how chronic exposure to immune agonists can cause microglia to enter a tolerant state and produce anti-inflammatory cytokines upon later immune stimulus. My intentions are to grow the understanding of how microglia mediate neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative states. When I am not in lab, I am probably at home drinking too much coffee and reading my favourite books.

 

Lhyanne Soto (she/her)
PhD Student Neuroscience
My research interests center on investigating microglial dysfunction in immune responses. I am particularly excited to explore the mechanistic consequences of epigenetic regulation in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Beyond the lab, I love playing volleyball and badminton competitively, enjoy backcountry camping in the summer, snowboarding during the colder seasons, and indulging in year-round sessions of Magic: The Gathering.

 

Hitasha Bajaj (she/her)

MSc Student Neuroscience

My research interests involve understanding the impacts of early life stress on local glucocorticoid regulation and gene expression in the brain. I am especially interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the negative effects of early life stress and would like to further investigate the role microglia play in local glucocorticoid synthesis. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy going hiking and spending time with friends and family.

 

Vivien Dang (she/her)

MSc student Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

My research interest involves epigenetics and how it relates to human diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders or cancer. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies at home or cafe hopping around Downtown.

 

John Ni (he/him)

Co-supervised MSc student Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

I’m currently engaged in structural studies of and surrounding the neuronal BAF complex and its role in neurodevelopment. All things food-related, such as finding and making new dishes, bring me joy.

 

Postdoctoral Fellows

Megan Rowland, Ph.D.  (she/her)

Postdoctoral Fellow Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

My research interests involve investigating how epigenetic gene regulation contributes to normal development. I am particularly interested in understanding how perturbation of gene regulatory networks lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. By understanding how chromatin remodelers influence normal brain development, I hope to contribute to laying the groundwork for therapeutic development to treat neurological disorders. Outside of the lab you’ll find me hiking a trail with my dog, playing board games with friends or reading a space opera.

 

Jordan Hamden, Ph.D. (he/him)

Postdoctoral Fellow Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Jordan is particularly interested in integrative biology, the goal of his current research is to understand the mechanisms linking gut health to the endocrine and immune systems and brain aging. Outside of the lab, Jordan spends most of his free time outdoors including activates like: traveling, biking, hiking, and playing any and all kinds of sports.

 

Staff

Nadine Plett (she/her)

Lab Manager

My research interests are in big data analysis and it’s applications to neuroscience. I get to explore our North Shore mountains trail running and I coach men’s volleyball at Capilano University.

 

Undergraduate Students

Jatin Choudhary (he/him)

Undergraduate Researcher

My research interests involve understanding the relationship between gut inflammation and neurological disorders such as ASD. My other interests outside of the lab include weightlifting, hiking and watching hockey.

 

Ching Zhang (she/her)

Undergraduate student researcher

My research interests broadly involve molecular biomarkers in neurological outcomes. Specifically biomarkers relating to stress or immune hormones, and how early life stress can have a lasting impact on how we respond to it later on. Outside of the lab, you can find me down at the beach exploring tide pools, raising many plant babies in my apartment, or cafe hopping downtown.

 

 

Brian Deng (he/him)
Undergraduate Directed Studies
My research interests include understanding the relationship between gene regulation and actin polymerization in neurological disorders like ASD. I enjoy backpacking in BC, reading fiction novels, and playing with my cat Romee.

 

Cosette Koltek (she/her)
Undergraduate WorkLearn Student
My research interests include understanding the molecular basis of neural circuitry and plasticity, and how epigenetic mechanisms regulate gene expression during brain development. Outside of the lab, you can find me in the backcountry skiing, hiking, or paddling!

 

Shreya Gandhi (she/her)
Undergraduate Directed Studies Student

My research interests include understanding how the gut microbiome impacts microglial development and function. Outside of the lab, I love to read and listen to music on walks in Pacific Spirit Park.

 

Gurkirat Singh Nijjar

Undergraduate Work-Learn Student

I’m passionate about neurobiology, specifically regarding opioid addiction and neonatal opioid exposure. In the Ciernia lab, I am involved in investigating the ‘two-hit’ hypothesis, exploring how perinatal infections might contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders when combined with later-life stressors like recreational drug use. Outside school, I love to go on walks and I’m actively involved with Team SOUDA, dedicated to raising awareness about the drug toxicity crisis.

 

Stephanie Spencer

Previously: Undergraduate Directed Studies Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2022-2023

Laura Meleady

Previously: MSc student BMB

Currently: Medical student Memorial University of Newfoundland

Vince Bacarac

Previously: Directed Studies Honours Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Currently: STEM CELL Technician

Hayden Scott

Previously: Undergraduate researcher

Currently: Undergraduate UBC student

Kenza Zobaidi

Previously: Undergraduate researcher

Currently: Undergraduate SFU

Sana Arora 

Previously: Behavioural Neuroscience Undergraduate Researcher

Currently: Co-op student UBC

Kateryna Voznyuk 

Previously: Behavioural Neuroscience Undergraduate Researcher

Jana JaJarmi

Previously: Undergraduate Directed Studies Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2021-2022

Currently: Graduate Student UBC

Kit Lee

Previously: Lab Manager & Research Assistant

Brianna Bristow

Previously: Undergraduate Directed Studies Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2019-2020

Currently: Graduate student Cembrowski lab, UBC

John Shin

Previously: Science Co-Op student 2020

Currently: Finishing Undergraduate degree in Computer Science

Kalya Judson

Previously: Undergraduate Directed Studies Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2019-2020

Research Assistant 2020-2021

Currently: Research Assistant, Greenblatt lab, UBC

Tess Osborne

Previously: Undergraduate Directed Studies Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2020-201

Currently: MSc Student, Jan lab, UBC

Daniel Wong

Previously: Undergraduate Honours Directed Studies Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2020-201

Currently: Graduate student Cornell University

Sarah Wissmann

Previously: Undergraduate RA 2020-2021

Currently: Undergraduate Directed Studies, UBC

Jessie Chai

Previously: Undergraduate NSERC URSA 2020-2021

Currently: UBC medical student

Michelle Lu

Previously: Undergraduate Directed Studies Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2020-201

Currently: graduate student UBC-O

Sophia Gu

Previously: Undergraduate researcher 2020

Currently: UBC Co-Op student

Baria Choudry

Previously: Undergraduate researcher 2020

Currently: graduating spring 2022

Brandon Wong

Previously: Science Co-Op student 2021

Currently: STEM CELL Technician

Justin Jao

Previously: Undergraduate researcher 2019-2021

Currently: completing computer science undergraduate

Mark Sgro

Previously: Undergraduate Work-Learn student 2021

Currently: completing undergraduate