STAFF SCIENTIST / LAB MANAGER

Dr. Melvin M. Bonilla completed his Ph.D. in 2014 from the Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology at UNR. His graduate research focused on sexual selection, sperm competition, and epigenetic regulation. His research interest can be divided into two main interests: 1) The effects that ecological and stochastic process can have on phenotypes. 2) The underlying genetic and epigenetic variation that contributes to evolutionary innovation.

He accepted a post-doctoral position in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard School of Public Health, to explore the role that environmental processes can have on epigenetic regulations. During this time, he expanded his molecular toolbox, developing and optimizing many NGS workflows.

In 2017, Melvin joined the Shubin Lab at The University of Chicago to work on evolutionary development in sharks and skates. He was promoted to senior scientist and lab manger allowing him to be involved in various research interest using a wide range of taxa to explore questions highlighting key evolutionary transitions in tetrapod.

Melvin joined The Groman Lab in January of 2024, and is interested in integrating molecular techniques to better understand the underlying mechanism that link neurodevelopment, decision-making, and addiction susceptibility.

mmbonilla@uchicago.edu

RESEARCHER

Stefanie graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2020 with a B.S. in Animal Science and a B.A. in German Studies. After graduating into the COVID pandemic and realizing her interest in the fields of neuroscience and psychology, she joined the Translational Neuroengineering Lab as a research technician in July 2022. There, she assisted a team targeting phase-locked stimulation to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) based on oscillations in the prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) cortices, with the goal of modulating both maladaptive avoidance and excessive reward-seeking. Looking for a change of scenery, as well as research that more directly related to her interests, she joined the Groman Lab and moved to Chicago in November 2023.

Her research interests include the biological embedding of stress in early childhood, as well as various risk or resiliency factors during this time that influence the development of substance use disorder and other psychiatric disorders in adulthood. These are very broad subject areas, so she looks to further specify a research topic in either a Neuroscience or Clinical Psychology graduate program!

In her free time, she loves running, watching Dimension 20, spending time with friends, and cuddling her cat, Sebastian.

Stefanie.Simpson@bsd.uchicago.edu

RESEARCHER
Marcini completed her B.S in Neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2019 where she worked on Dr. Maki’s Women’s Mental Health Research Program, investigating the mercurial gut microbiome and dynamic mental health changes throughout pregnancy and after delivery. Her research continued at the University of Chicago’s Comprehensive Cancer Center where she worked with a team researching novel, antigen-specific T-cell therapies in ovarian cancer, specifically working to identify and engineer HLA class-specific T cell receptors. Marcini enthusiastically joined the Groman Lab in 2024 largely due to both taking a deeper dive into her field of interest, Neuroscience, as well as for the lab’s culture: inherent integrity, respect, and individual development, values that align with hers. Marcini’s current interests include the systems and underlying neural circuits of learning during development as well as the deterioration of memory. She adores and spends the majority of her free time with her quintessential ‘Big Fat Greek’ family. Otherwise, you can find her enjoying time spent volunteering as a CASA of Cook County, reading, fishing, hiking, camping, hanging out with her silly English bulldog, Ramona, and automotive restoration.

Marcini.Bakis@bsd.uchicago.edu

RESEARCHER

Shawn graduated from Knox College, Illinois with a B.S in Psychology in 2023. His research experience spans across different domains with a focus on the classification and assessment of Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. He ha experience with sex research where he studied the bidirectional relationship between sexual disgust and sexual arousal in the face of a disgusting stimulus experimentally. His current interests include understanding the association between drug rewards and natural rewards and delineating the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind drug-seeking behaviors. He aims for a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to studying the brain and behavior and hence, pleased to be part of the Groman Lab.

Nice neuroscience books and iced coffee would interest Shawn the most. He also cooks and/or sings to relax (minus the cleaning).

shawnl@uchicago.edu

RESEARCHER

Taysha graduated from the University of Chicago in 2024 with a B.S in Neuroscience and minor in Visual Arts. She worked under Dr. Rosenberg’s Cognition Attention and Brain lab investigating the relationship between sustained attention fluctuations and memory formation. Her research continued with studying the effects of caffeine use on adolescent cognitive behavior. Seeking to get more experience with animal labs and a general deeper look into the field of behavioral neuroscience she joined the Groman lab in June of 2024. Her research interests include the neurological pathways underlying decision making and related behavior during adolescence, and potential implications for rehabilitation programs. Outside of the lab she enjoys spending time with friends, baking, and making art!

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Stirling is a second year undergraduate at the University of Chicago majoring in neuroscience while being on the pre med track. He was born and raised in Hawaii. His research interests are neurological diseases andI he is a part of the football team at UChicago.

ssakashita@uchicago.edu

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

Olly is an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, studying Neuroscience and Economics. In his spare time, he loves music / concerts, running, Aston Villa and traveling! He is from Birmingham, UK, but loving life out here in the US!

oliverclarke@uchicago.edu