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Justin Yao, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator Justin graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Psychology. He then earned his Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior in the lab of John Middlebrooks at UC Irvine and pursued postdoctoral training in the lab of Dan Sanes at New York University. He recently joined Rutgers University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and the Brain Health Institute.
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Madeline Berns
PhD Student Madeline graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, she is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology through the Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience program at Rutgers. She is especially excited to apply auditory research in the Yao Lab to study mental illness through bioinformatic and computational approaches. When she isn’t in the lab, she enjoys watching movies and making digital art.
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Genesis Nunez
Sr Laboratory Assistant Genesis is a recent Rutgers University alumnus who graduated with a Biological Sciences major and a Psychology minor. She works as a full-time Laboratory Assistant at the Yao Lab and as a part-time Clinical Care Technician at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Genesis looks forward to spending her free time looking into Neuroscience master’s programs to continue her academic career with the ultimate goal of pursuing a medical degree. Her inspiration for Neuroscience comes from her interests in brain function and the development of new technologies in the medical field. Enthusiastic about working at the Yao Lab, she is excited to learn about the effects of hearing loss on cognitive functions.
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Xingeng ("Shane") Zhang
Computer Scientist Shane is a recent graduate of Rutgers University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a specialization in Machine Learning. He currently works as a Machine Learning and Data Analysis Specialist in the Yao Lab. With a passion for utilizing AI to simplify research and improve everyday life, Shane plans to pursue a Ph.D. in AI in the future. He also enjoys engaging in philosophical discussions and finds solace in thought-provoking books and movies. |
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Anindita Chavan
Computer Scientist Anindita recently earned her Master of Science in Computer Science with a specialization in Machine Learning from Rutgers University. She currently works as a Machine Learning Researcher in the Yao Lab. She is passionate about research that lies at the intersection of Neuroscience and AI, and plans to pursue a PhD in this field in the future. Outside research, Anindita loves going on hikes, solving sudoku and painting. She is also a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur and will jump at the idea of having coffee, any time of the day. |
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Divyanjali Raskonda
Undergraduate Research Assistant Divyanjali is pursuing a Cell Biology and Neuroscience major with a Cognitive Science minor at Rutgers University. She is interested in continuing research post-graduation and is currently on the pre-med track. Previously, she participated in plant pathology research in the Acimovic Lab at Cornell University, understanding the diseases that impact the growth of apples. Outside of research, Divya enjoys art, singing, and reading.
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Prisha Patel
Undergraduate Research Assistant Prisha is a second year student pursuing a Cell Biology and Neuroscience major with a Psychology minor at Rutgers University, as part of the Arts and Sciences Honors Program. She is interested in learning about the neural circuits that integrate sensory information and is very excited to join the lab. After graduation, Prisha hopes to attend medical school. Outside of the lab, she enjoys experimenting with coffee, dancing, and volunteering as an EMT. |
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Chase Hintelmann
MD candidate Chase is an M.D. candidate at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School class of 2026. He graduated with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Johns Hopkins University in 2021. Over the course of his undergraduate career, he worked in a dermatology research lab focusing on skin and hair follicle regeneration following wounding. He is excited to work alongside Dr. Yao and the other members of the lab as he expands on his research and clinical interests in the field of otolaryngology. |
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