Girgenti Lab

Meet our team

Principal Investigator

My research over the past 8 years has focused on postmortem studies of human brain in PTSD and related complex behavioral disorders. I’m a molecular neuroscientist interested in functional genomics and big data approaches to understanding molecular signatures of neuropsychiatric disease. I live on a horse farm in southwest Connecticut with my wife and two kids.

Google Scholar

Research Scientists

Mario Skarica, MD

Associate Research Scientist

Alexa-Nicole Leverington

Research Associate

As a research associate I am a jack-of-all-trades, but most of the projects I have been involved with investigate Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I perform molecular and behavioral studies and am learning more about genomics. When I have free time I like to hike, snowboard, rock climb, play guitar, and the list goes on.

Postdocs

Jiawei Wang, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate

I apply computational analysis to multiomics data of psychiatric disorders to elucidate their molecular mechanisms, especially MDD and PTSD. Outside of work, I enjoy playing squash and getting close to the nature.

Xiaoke Duan, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate

I use bioinformatics approaches to analyze PTSD samples, with a focus on ATAC and Hi-C data. My research aims to explore chromatin accessibility and 3D genome organization to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying PTSD.

Xiaoqiang Shi, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate

I use computational methods to investigate the genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders by integrating multi-omics data. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and playing basketball.

PhD Students

John Lee Soto-Vargas

PhD Candidate

Netanya Dennis

PhD Candidate

I am interested in the effect of stress and PTSD on the Central and Peripheral nervous system using genetics and pharmacology. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, trying new foods, knitting and traveling.

Jaywon Lee

PhD Candidate

I’m interested in characterizing epigenetic modifications in postmortem human brains at single-cell resolution to identify regulatory changes associated with neuropsychiatric disease. Outside the lab, I enjoy fishing, reading, and spending time with my family.

Angela To

PhD Candidate

I’m fascinated by how the brain and immune system interact, and in the Girgenti lab I study how stress and PTSD influence those connections. Outside the lab, I enjoy pottery, knitting, baking, and spending time outdoors.