Lab Members
Christoph Anacker, PhD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Anacker received his PhD in 2011 at King’s College London in the UK, where he established a novel human hippocampal stem cell model to study the effects of stress hormones and antidepressants on hippocampal neurogenesis in vitro. He then completed postdoctoral training at McGill University in Montreal, where he studied the neural circuits underlying stress vulnerability, as well as epigenetic effects of early life influences on brain function. He then continued his postdoctoral training at Columbia University in New York, where he discovered that adult hippocampal neurogenesis can confer stress resilience by inhibiting neural activity of the ventral dentate gyrus. Dr. Anacker started his lab in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University in 2019, where he studies the neural circuits and molecular mechanisms underlying stress susceptibility and resilience. His lab combines transgenic mouse models, in vivo brain imaging, optogenetic techniques, and molecular approaches, to study how stress at different stages of development causes psychiatric disorders. The goal of this research is to find new ways to target these mechanisms so that we can develop novel treatments and preventive strategies for psychiatric disorders.
Maryam Hasantash, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Maryam is a postdoctoral scholar in the lab. She received her Ph.D. in System Neuroscience from the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM) in Tehran, Iran. In her graduate work under supervision of Dr. Arash Afraz, she studied the neural basis of color vision. She then joined the Conway lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and continued her research on color memory and its interaction with human face recognition. Maryam joined the Anacker lab in 2019, where her research focuses on neural circuitry underlying cognitive flexibility and stress resilience. She uses in vivo calcium imaging in freely moving mice to investigate the functional role of ventral hippocampus – orbitofrontal cortex projections for cognitive flexibility, stress coping, and resilience.
Lauren Malave, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Lauren received her Ph.D. in Biology, Neuroscience from the City University of New York (CUNY). During her graduate studies, she worked in Andreas Kottmann’s lab at CUNY School of Medicine. There, she found a novel link between a dopamine neuron signaling factor, Sonic Hedgehog, and L-Dopa Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinson’s Disease. Lauren joined the Anacker lab in the fall of 2021 and will be investigating the impact of early life stress on neural circuitry and behavior in adulthood. When she is not in the lab, Lauren enjoys playing and watching soccer, hanging out with friends, and being outside in nature.
Rory Thompson
Research Assistant
Rory graduated from Vassar College in 2023 with a B.A. in both Neuroscience and Behavior and Cognitive Science. At Vassar, Roryinvestigated the role of medial prefrontal cortex astrocytes in spatial working memory and how the ketogenic diet affects hippocampal formation astrocytes in aged rats. She is currently a research assistant in Dr. Christoph Anacker’s lab, where she studies the impacts of early life adversity (ELA) on brain functioning and behavior. More specifically, Rory is examining how ELA alters the neural circuitry involved in fear learning and whether this impairment can be reversed with increased serotonin levels. When she is not in the lab, Rory enjoys dancing at BDC, reading, walking around the city, and snuggling with her cat.
Rushell Dixon
Graduate Student
Rushell graduated from Amherst College in 2015 with a B.A. in Neuroscience, where she studied the effects of chronic caffeine consumption during adolescence. Rushell became a graduate student in the Columbia Neurobiology and Behavior program in 2018 where she works in the lab of Dr. Christoph Anacker. Currently, she is studying the neurobiological mechanisms of early life stress induced behavioral and biological impairments. Outside of lab she enjoys gaming, practicing yoga, and reading the latest bestsellers.
John Bickle
Research Assistant
John graduated from Columbia University in 2021, where he received his B.A. in Biology. He is currently a research assistant in the Anacker lab, where he is exploring the long-lasting effects of early life adversity (ELA) on brain function and behavior in mice. Specifically, he is studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which ELA causes persistent neurobiological and behavioral abnormalities into adulthood and old age, as well as how these effects are potentially transmitted intergenerationally. He is also exploring how these deficits can be rescued through genetic manipulations targeting the dentate gyrus. In his free time, John likes to practice the trumpet, play golf, and explore New York City.
Yifei Li
Research Assistant
Yifei graduated from Columbia University in 2022 with a MA in Biotechnology, where she studied modern aspects of biotechnology with a particular emphasis on approaches used in the neurobiological industries. She started as a volunteer and is currently a research assistant in the Anacker lab, where she is exploring the role of Hippocampus-Orbitofrontal Cortex neural circuitry for Cognitive flexibility in mice. Yifei is working to understand the fundamental and clinically important topic of which brain circuits govern cognitive flexibility and how chronic stress affects these circuits. We believe that understanding such may very possibly lead to innovative treatments or prevention measures for mental diseases defined by reduced cognitive flexibility. In her downtime, Yifei enjoys hip-hop dancing, reading the latest scientific research discoveries, and shopping.
Hannah Ramsey
Undergraduate Researcher
Hannah is a sophomore at Barnard College currently studying neuroscience and behavior as well as medical humanities. In the Anacker Lab, she is working alongside Dr. Lauren Malave to explore how the experience of early life adversity (ELA) affects the development of serotonergic pathways responsible for stress-related affective behavior in adulthood. She is particularly interested in researching how molecular mechanisms of stress in adulthood are epigenetically transmitted to subsequent generations and why certain populations demonstrate enhanced psychological resilience to both the direct and intergenerational effects of ELA. Outside of the lab, Hannah enjoys going on long walks in Riverside Park, listening to podcasts, reading historical fiction, and writing poetry.
Camilla Foglesong
Undergraduate Researcher
Camilla is a sophomore at Columbia College studying Psychology. In the Anacker Lab, she is working alongside Dr. Lauren Malave to investigate early life adversity and the role serotonin plays in stress vulnerability and how it affects fear overgeneralization. In her free time, Camilla enjoys exploring the city, running, spending time outside, and reading.
Lamiya Rahman
Undergraduate Researcher
Lamiya is a junior at Columbia University, where she is majoring in Biology. In the Anacker Lab, she is currently working with Dr. Lauren Malave in understanding the effects of early life adversity on serotonin activity and its impact on behavior in adulthood. In her free time, Lamiya likes to spend time with her family and friends, read science fiction books, and walk around the city.
Kate Slavashevich
Department Administrator
Nicki Amin
Department Lab Manager / Administrative Assistant
Lab Alumni
Eva Sher - Research Assistant
Ryan Shores - Research Assistant
David Gérard - Graduate Student
Viviana Evans - Undergraduate Researcher
Ben Yuan - Undergraduate Researcher
Leila Tejani - Undergraduate Researcher
Serena Wu - Research Assistant
Eduardo Campos - Fulbright Scholar
Arielle Emile - High School Student