Team

Maria Mavrikaki is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and a Principal Investigator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). She studied Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Crete in Greece, EU, from 2003 to 2011. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida (Butler Lab) from 2012 to 2014, where she used genetic mouse models to demonstrate a role for the Melanocortin-3 receptor (Mc3r) in food motivation. She then pursued a postdoctoral fellowship and instructorship at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School (Chartoff Laboratory) from 2014 to 2019, where she studied neurobiological mechanisms of opioid addiction and demonstrated a role for microRNAs in opioid addiction-like and stress-related behaviors. She joined BIDMC in 2019 as an Instructor in Dr. Slack's Laboratory, where she initiated studies showing that severe COVID-19 is associated with accelerated brain aging. In September 2023, she was awarded an independent R01 grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to study molecular mechanisms underlying brain aging and accelerated brain aging. The ultimate goal of her ongoing research is to identify therapeutics to delay or reverse brain aging, as well as to develop treatments for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

Dr. Mavrikaki enjoys spending her free time with her loved ones and has a passion for cooking, hiking, traveling, and discovering new experiences and places.

Anupama did her Ph.D. in cell and molecular neurosciences from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India. Before joining the Mavrikaki lab in January 2024, she worked as a Postdoctoral fellow at Yale University. Her research focuses on understanding neuron and glia interactions particularly in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. In the Mavrikaki lab she is working on understanding the spatial organization of human frontal cortex using spatial transcriptomics approaches. 

Irais obtained her master's degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) in Mexico City, where she also completed her PhD in Molecular Neurobiology. During her PhD, her project focused on studying a neuroinflammation rat model. Currently, she is interested in studying the mechanisms of brain aging and the different pathways related to this process.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her rabbit, cooking, and dancing. Additionally, she loves finding places where she can enjoy a good cup of coffee.

Jane graduated from Muhlenberg College in May 2024 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Philosophy. She is interested in the biological mechanisms of behavior, particularly aggression and maladaptive behaviors like substance abuse. She aspires to pursue a PhD in neurobiological sciences that allows her to explore how the biology of the brain facilitates these behaviors. Jane is currently contributing to exploring the molecular mechanisms of brain aging and is excited about upcoming research on the neurobiological mechanisms of opioid use disorder.

Outside of the lab, Jane enjoys exercising, drawing, and playing the guitar.  

Masiel currently attends Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York, where she is pursuing an Associate in Health Sciences and will be graduating in Fall 2025. Her research experience includes investigating how pro-inflammatory cytokines are differently regulated by STAT3 in trained innate immunity. Her interests lie in understanding how the brain processes speech and language, particularly how these processes are affected in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as uncovering the molecular and biological mechanisms that underlie the condition. In Masiel’s summer rotation, she will be working on a mini project that will contribute to the larger opioid use disorder research of the lab.

Outside of the lab, Masiel enjoys hiking, traveling, and trying out restaurants.

Kristina recently graduated from Queensborough Community College and is continuing her studies in Biotechnology at the City College of New York. With a background in molecular biology and bioinformatics, her research experience spans projects investigating sensory pathways in Hydra, the functional properties of intrinsically disordered CAHS proteins in tardigrades, and comparative gene analysis. Her scientific interests lie at the intersection of virology, microbiology, and the molecular basis of disease, particularly in understanding pathogenicity and host-pathogen interactions. In her summer rotation, she will contribute to a mini-project aligned with Dr. Mavrikaki lab’s broader investigation into the neurobiological mechanisms of opioid use disorder.

Outside the lab, Kristina enjoys writing, baking, and hiking.

Jarvis Savage is a rising college senior at Duke University who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Biomedical Engineering and a double major in Chemistry. He is interested in biotechnology, especially cellular and protein engineering, and hopes to attend graduate school. 

In his spare time Jarvis likes to read and go for walks.

Vedant is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, studying Physiology and Neurobiology, and is also on the pre-med track. His interests are primarily in neurological disorders and the biological mechanisms underlying addiction.