Our Team

Principal Investigator

George Mountoufaris Ph.D.

The PI

George.Mountoufaris@utsouthwestern.edu

Postdoctoral Researchers

Shilpi Singh

Postdoctoral Researcher

I am a neuroscientist passionate about understanding how information is represented in the brain and how internal and external cues shape goal-directed behavior. My research journey has taken me from studying sensory neural circuits in insects to investigating synaptic function, plasticity, and neurodegeneration in mammalian models. I enjoy combining electrophysiology, behavioral approaches, and histological methods to explore how changes at the cellular and synaptic levels affect nervous system function in health and disease.

Outside the lab, I enjoy reading historical and science fiction and experimenting in the kitchen—where the results are occasionally more experimental than edible!"

Lab Technicians

Andrea Escobar Martinez

Research Assistant I

Andrea.EscobarMartinez@UTSouthwestern.edu

I recently graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. My interest in this field stems from a strong passion for math and science and a desire to contribute to healthcare. My graduate research focused on breast cancer models and the molecular mechanisms underlying disease progression, which fueled my interest in using molecular approaches to better understand biological systems and disease.

In my free time, I enjoy staying active by working out, swimming, and going on hikes. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting in the kitchen to recreate some of my favorite foods.

Lindsay Fleitman

Research Technician II

I am a recent graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a minor in Computer Science. I participated in the cellular neuroscience Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) as a freshman. That same year, I began my undergraduate research with the Justin Kumar lab focused on the developmental effects of gene knockdown in the Drosophila melanogaster eye. I enjoyed investigating the details of various genetic mutations and their consequences on cellular processes, and I continued with this work until my graduation. My passion for neuroscience lies in exploring the molecular and cellular bases of neurocircuitry and its impact on behavior. Outside of academia, I enjoy cooking, hiking, and playing with my adorable orange cat.

Interns/Volunteers

Josephine Allred

SURF Undergraduate student

Josephine.Allred@UTSouthwestern.edu

I am an undergraduate student entering my senior year studying applied and computational mathematics at Brigham Young University. I am interested in pursuing work at the intersection of mathematics, computing, and biologically meaningful applications, with a particular passion for neuroscience. I hope to use mathematical and computational approaches to contribute to understanding and treating the mind. After graduation, I am considering graduate study in neuroscience or a career in biotechnology. Outside of academics, I love spending time outdoors. I enjoy rock climbing, camping, skateboarding, and watching the sunset. I also love music and play the violin.

Juan Ramirez

Undergraduate student

I'm a senior Biology student at UT Arlington with a strong interest in understanding how genetic differences can shape something as complex as behavior. I've always been drawn to molecular biology and neuroscience, and I’m interested in how foundational biology can help us better understand brain function and, more broadly, human health and disease. In my free time, I bake and watch a lot of movies. I love seeing stories come to life on screen, and I always end up thinking about them way after they're over, the characters, the visuals, why it stuck with me.