-
Jong Rho, M.D.
Professor/Principal Investigator
Dr. Rho is the Division Chief of Neurology at the Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, and is a Professor of Neurosciences, Pediatrics and Pharmacology at the UC San Diego School of Medicine..
His clinical expertise is in general pediatric neurology and pediatric epilepsy, with an emphasis on pharmacological therapies and metabolic approaches toward epilepsy treatment, such as the ketogenic diet. His main research interests are the mechanisms underlying the anti-seizure and neuroprotective effects of the ketogenic diet and its clinical variants.
-
Jeffrey Smith, B.S.
Developmental Neurosciences Program Manager
Jeff has nearly 20 years of laboratory set-up and management experience at UCSD. He brings a wealth of experience to manage multiple basic-translational laboratories, and numerous operational, regulatory and budgetary complexities within a diverse, multi-institutional collaborative research environment. In his spare time, Jeff loves exploring local craft breweries, flying, motorcycles, and escaping to his cabin out of town.
-
Jaehyouk Choi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Choi received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). He joined the Rho Lab in December 2021 as a seasoned cellular electrophysiologist. His previous studies focused on ion channels in the hippocampus with an emphasis on learning and memory, neuronal excitability & GABAergic regulation in epilepsy, and neuron-glia interactions. His goal is to achieve a better understanding of fundamental brain mechanisms that could possibly lead to better neurological therapies. In his free time you can find Jae running at Pacific Beach or participating in local San Diego marathons.
-
Srija Pamujula, B.S.
Lab Assistant
Srija Pamujula graduated from UCSD with a B.S. in Neurobiology. She is interested in many areas of neuroscience including epileptogenesis. She intends to pursue a career in medicine focusing on Neuroscience. Apart from being in lab, she hopes to work as an EMT in order to further her interest in EMS in the near future. In her free time, Srija loves to paint, cook and dance.
-
Ananya Achanta
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ananya Achanta is a sophomore at UCSD who is pursuing a B.S. in Neurobiology. She is interested in neuroscience and the impact of metabolism on autism and epilepsy. Ananya wants to pursue an M.D/Ph.D to pursue her passions in research and clinical work. Outside of school and research, Ananya likes to play the piano, read, and explore beaches in San Diego.
-
Hamza Thange
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hamza is a third year Human Biology major at UCSD. He is currently working on multiple epilepsy projects in the lab. After graduation, he hopes to attend medical school. In his free time, he likes to learn languages and read fantasy/scifi.
-
Hayley Calnon
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Hayley Calnon is a third year undergraduate at UCSD pursuing a B.S in Cognitive Science with a Specialization in Neuroscience. She is interested in many different areas of Neuroscience. After graduation, she intends to pursue a career in medicine, specifically Neurology. In her free time, Hayley likes to read, cook, and spend time at the beach.
Associated Faculty & Researchers
-
Melissa Campbell, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Residence
Dr. Campbell is a new Assistant Professor in the department of Neurosciences at UCSD health, in the Division of Pediatric Neurology. Dr. Campbell is passionate about helping both neurons and people achieve their full potential. When she’s not in the lab, Melissa loves gardening, baking, biking, and enjoying nature with her husband (also a scientist) and young daughter (exploring her options).
Campbell Lab Website
-
Yujie Cao, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Yujie is a Postdoctoral Fellow who is currently conducting research in Melissa Campbell's laboratory. He received his Ph.D. from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, where he focused on microtubule organization and intracellular transport during neuronal development. In his current position, Yujie's research focuses primarily on interneuron differentiation. Beyond his work in the lab, he has a passion for electronic music, photography, and video games.
-
Matthew Shtrahman, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Matt received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan. He returned to his hometown to obtain his MD and PhD degrees at the University of Pittsburgh, where he did his thesis work with Dr. Xiao-lun Wu in the Department of Physics. He completed his residency training and clinical neurophysiology fellowship in the Department of Neurology at UCLA. Matt went on to do his postdoctoral training in the labs of Dr. Tom Otis at UCLA and Dr. Fred Gage at the Salk Institute before joining the faculty of the Department of Neurosciences at UCSD in 2016.
Shtrahman Lab Website