The Team

Connor Wander, PhD, is a Research Scientist at Deciduous Therapeutics, Inc and a recent graduate from the Pharmacology Department at UNC Chapel Hill.  As a co-mentored student between the Cohen and Song Labs at UNC, Connor studied glial biology, adult neurogenesis, and inhibitory neural networks in Alzheimer’s Disease.  His other scientific interests include the interactions between the environment, genetics, and nutrition in neurodegenerative diseases.  Connor and Julian founded SFS with the idea of connecting people directly with scientists.

Outside of the lab, Connor enjoys hobbies such as graphic design, balcony gardening, gaming, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, paintball and caring for his bearded dragons.

Education

PhD in Pharmacology

UNC Chapel Hill 2021

B.S. In Biology and Biochemistry — Chemistry Minor

Virginia Tech 2014

Connor Wander’s Publications

• Corpora amylacea are associated with tau burden and cognitive status in Alzheimer's disease
• The neurogenic niche in Alzheimer's disease
• Neuropeptides Modulate Local Astrocytes to Regulate Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells
• The Accumulation of Tau-Immunoreactive Hippocampal Granules and Corpora Amylacea Implicates Reactive Glia in Tau Pathogenesis during Aging
• A unique tau conformation generated by an acetylation-mimic substitution modulates P301S-dependent tau pathology and hyperphosphorylation
• Acetylation-induced TDP-43 pathology is suppressed by an HSF1-dependent chaperone program
• A Dual Pathogenic Mechanism Links Tau Acetylation to Sporadic Tauopathy

Gallery

Julian Dallmeier is currently a Neuroscience Master student at the University of Navarra in Spain. He is completing his thesis at the CIMA and the Clinica de Navarra in Neurophysiology. He did his undergrad in Exercise Science and Physiology and has an avid passion for maximizing physical and mental performance. Julian is a polyglot whose research interests’ span from fields related to lifehacking (Nootropics, memory, physical performance) to health related categories such as concussions and the gut-brain axis.

Education

Exercise Science and Physiology at the University of South Carloina

Gallery

Giulia is our Manager of Science communication and she deals with public relations and
general management of social media. She completed her Master in Marketing in Spain and her
Bachelor degree in Communication at the University of Padua, Italy. Giulia has a strong cross-
cultural adaptation and loves challenges. Her dream is, one day, to work in a project to save
the oceans from plastic.

Jake Knight is a writer with a wide range of interests including science, business, history, science fiction and fantasy, metaphysics, religion, and the Bible. His continuing study of life and its interconnections have taken him from explorations in the woods to travel to other countries to spiritual and inward searching. Along the way, he received his undergraduate degree in commerce and a minor in religious studies from the University of Virginia, and took classes in theology and Italian at other institutions. Of most importance to him, though, is not his academic studies but his observation of and participation in life.

His particular idea is this: that all of life connects and is interdependent. That all those of earnest desire and belief in good and for good are looking at/ entering the same house by different entrances.

This includes science. He is keenly interested in the discoveries and perspectives science brings to a fuller understanding, and experience of, life. Especially science having to do with neurology and perception. His job on the team is to ask questions, and help make the science understandable to the non-formally science trained.

Books

7 Ways to Think and Feel Better

www.amazon.com/dp/B00L7CSV38

Deciding What You Want

www.amazon.com/dp/B00JLT2EXC

Website

www.LukeyoutheU.com

Munish Nidadavolu is currently a junior in Apex High with aspirations to become an astrophysicist. Outside of school, he enjoys playing and watching basketball, gaming, superhero movies, astronomy & astrophotography, and music.

Munish has worked on the following projects:

What is COVID-19?

Priya Chilukuri is a junior at Apex High School. Priya loves solving problems and challenges. Outside of work, Priya enjoys hobbies such as reading, and drawing in her sketchbook while watching YouTube. She also enjoys spending time in nature.

Priya has worked on the following projects:

Flattening the Curve