Lab Members
Director:
Karin Schon, Ph.D. (email Prof. Schon)
Dr. Schon is an Associate Professor at the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine where she is the director of the Brain Plasticity and Neuroimaging Laboratory. She also holds appointments with the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Center for Memory and Brain, and the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs for Neuroscience. She received her Ph.D. in 2005 and did her postdoctoral research with Prof. Chantal Stern at the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the Center for Memory and Brain. Her research focuses on brain plasticity, cognitive neuroscience of memory and aging and uses functional and structural MRI, exercise physiology, and behavioral methods, as well as biomarker assays.
Post-Doctoral Associates:
Matthew Dunne, PhD (email Matt)
Matt is a postdoctoral associate in the Brain Plasticity & Neuroimaging Lab. He received his PhD in Neuroscience through the Graduate Program for Neuroscience at Boston University. He carried out his graduate work in the Cognitive Neuroimaging Lab with Dr. Chantal Stern where his focus was on using model based techniques in conjunction with fMRI to study neural signatures of navigation in humans. More specifically, his work focused on population tuning of egocentric and allocentric bearing and distance. Matt is also an expert in hippocampal subfield segmentation and attended the 2023 Hippocampal Subfields Group retreat at Universidad de Castilla-LaMancha in Albacete, Spain. Before beginning graduate school, Matt previously worked with Dr. Karin Schon investigating the effects of exercise on brain function and structure. He wants to leverage this prior experience with a new focus on underrepresented populations in research, specifically the intersection of racial stress, exercise and brain health. In his free time, Matt loves to play trivia, bake gluten-free food and read sci-fi and fantasy novels.
Study Coordinators, Research Assistants, and Lab Managers:
Study Coordinator – Ina Hoti
Ina graduated from Boston College in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology and a concentration in Physiology. Since the Summer of 2022, she has worked as a Research Assistant for Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials at the Boston University School of Medicine. In February 2025, she joined the Racism and Brain Aging Project as a Study Coordinator. Outside of the lab, Ina loves vintage fashion, antique collecting, and Pilates!
Undergraduate Students:
Taylor Bolan
Taylor is in her 2nd year as an undergraduate at Boston University currently pursuing a major in Psychology on a pre-health track. She has aspirations of becoming a world renowned psychiatrist, or neuropsychiatrist, making the Schon Lab the perfect place to explore her interests. She has an interest in the relationship between the mind, brain, and body, how they all affect one another, and all things involving mental or neurological illness/impairments. In her free time, she enjoys reading psychological thrillers and suspense novels
Shanique Crossdale
Shanique is a 3rd-year undergraduate at Boston University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Originally from the Caribbean island of Jamaica, she harbors a deep-seated ambition to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and to promote awareness. She aspires to contribute to psychological research through her future profession within the field. Shanique’s hobbies and interests include exploring different cultures and music, journaling, East-Asian dramas, and reading. She also enjoys working out at the gym.
Tiwalola Daramola
Tiwa is in her 3rd year as an undergraduate at Boston University currently pursuing a major in Biology with a minor in Psychology. Tiwa is particularly interested in understanding the effects of psychosocial stress on brain plasticity and cognitive function. She plans to attend medical school and focus in pediatrics. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and playing basketball.
Wahaaj Farah
Wahaaj is a junior at Boston University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science. With experience in clinical research and mental health work, he is passionate about advancing knowledge in healthcare and fostering impactful change. Outside of academics, Wahaaj enjoys activities like watching Netflix dramas such as Dubai Bling and Young, Famous & African. He also is interested in keeping right with his fitness journey and exploring innovative ideas for cultural and entrepreneurial ventures.
Lab Alumni:
Tatianna Parker
Rafiyat Adenlola, B.S.
Michael Rosario, B.S., Ph.D. (email Michael)
Razan Alotaibi, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. (email Razan)
Samantha Davis
Arjun Batra (STaRS’22)
Shiraz Mumtaz
Stephanie Gonzalez-Gil
Shantalle Martinez (STaRS’21)
Reyna Gariepy (STaRS’20)
Rachel Nauer Wehr, Ph.D. (email Rachel; LinkIn with Rachel)
Kathryn Kern Jamison, Ph.D. (email Katie)
Andrew Whiteman, B.A.
Corey Kronman, M.S.
Natalie Cherry B.A.
Victoria Gomez B.A.
Benjamin Coleman B.A.
Alexander Delgado B.A.
José Romo Corrales B.A.
Natalia Lopez B.S.
Michelle Sibol
Diana Abbas
Andrea Heard, B.A.
Andrew Goss, B.S., M.S.
Andres Velez Lopez, B.S., M.S.
Yongho Christopher Jo, B.S., M.S.
Sarah Savoy
Olivia Lanman, B.A.
Natalia Torres, B.A., M.S.
Madeline Brendle
Samantha Muyalde
Reagan Katulege
Jan Stasinski, M.A.
Matthew Dunne, B.A.
Nicolle De Siqueira, M.S.
Zachary Croll-Nesbeth
Marina Richie, B.A., M.A.
Sheba Antony
Amara Ayoub, M.S.
Karim Hussain Ismat, M.S.
Last updated: 7/11/2024