Our Team
We are collaborative and close-knit, and our research is elevated
by our diversity of experiences, talents, and curiosity.
David Ehrlich, Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Contact: dehrlich@wisc.edu
Publications on PubMed. Mentors on NeuroTree.
David studied neuroscience at Brown University before earning his PhD researching neural development at Emory University. As a fellow at New York University, Columbia University, and the Hospital for Sick Children, he studied how neural circuits encode learning and control behaviors like balancing, foraging, and swimming. His neuroscience lab is in the Integrative Biology Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Efrén Álvarez Salvado, Lab Manager
Contact: alvarezsalva@wisc.edu
During his PhD in Alicante (Spain) and a fellowship at New York University, Efrén developed a passion for animal behavior and programming. Before coming to Madison, he consulted and lectured about science communication and graphic design. Now he uses his broad experience to make sure experiments run smoothly and the lab is a welcoming place. He is always in for plants, donuts, board games, and walks.
Kamila Mizerska, Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact: mizerska@wisc.edu
Kamila earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Instituto de Neurociencias in Alicante, Spain and pursued postdoctoral training at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York investigating how Dry Eye disease affects corneal nerve structure and function. Before coming to Madison she researched at the Polish Center for Technology Development and the biopharmaceutical sector. She is interested in how motor skills can be acquired quickly and effectively and her research focuses on how cerebellar neurons drive motor learning. She is a homebody who loves practicing yoga, reading sci-fi and progressive books, and biking. She also serves on the University Apartments Assembly.
Ruohong (Chris) Wang, PhD Student
Contact: rwang434@wisc.edu
Chris grew up in Beijing, China, and completed her undergraduate degrees at UW-Madison in Molecular biology, Neurobiology, and Psychology. During her college years, she studied neuroscience in the labs of Florian Engert and Chang Qiang. Chris is fascinated by systems neuroscience and zebrafish biology, and her PhD research focuses on neural circuitry underlying sensorimotor function. During her free time, she likes to make delicious food, walk around Madison, and chat with family and friends.
Anne Weerda, PhD Student
Contact: weerda@wisc.edu
After working in the fields of education and natural science museums, Anne joins the lab with an undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Northwestern University, and a masters from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy. She uses data from the lab and field to get a better understanding of how early neurological and physiological development interact with ecological factors to influence survival in larval fish. She has three bright and vibrant children that keep her busy outside of the lab and enjoys playing and listening to many kinds of music.
Nick Milicic, PhD Student
Contact: nmilicic@wisc.edu
Nick is a recent graduate of UW-Madison, where he studied Molecular Biology and Music. Between long hours studying and practicing euphonium, he is an avid video gamer and musicophile. Nick’s is interested in the origins of complex behavior and his PhD research focuses on genetic regulation of cerebellar development and motor control.
Allia Lin, Undergraduate Researcher
Allia was awarded an Honors Summer Apprenticeship and an Undergraduate Summer Research Award to study zebrafish locomotion and biomechanics. She is a junior in the College of Letters and Science Honors program studying zoology. Allia enjoys painting and doing photography, and loves to watch sitcoms or Marvel movies in her free time.
Julia DiSano, Undergraduate Researcher
Contact: disano@wisc.edu
Julia is a senior studying Neurobiology and Spanish in the College of Letters and Science Honors Program. She is supported by a Wisconsin Hilldale Fellowship to study the effects of neural activity on inputs and outputs of the cerebellum. Outside of her studies, Julia enjoys a nice run along the lakeshore and supporting the badgers at sporting events.
Katelyn Young, Undergraduate Researcher
Contact: kmyoung22@wisc.edu
Katie is a senior studying Neurobiology in the College of Letters and Science Honors Program. Her research on development in zebrafish models of neurodevelopmental disease is supported by a Senior Summer Honors Thesis Award. Outside of her studies, Katie enjoys reading, playing violin, and hanging out at the terrace.
Sania Jain, Undergraduate Researcher
Contact: sania.jain@wisc.edu
Sania is a sophomore majoring in neurobiology and psychology. In the lab, she is investigating swimming development in a zebrafish model of neurodevelopmental disease. Outside of her studies, she is an avid reader who enjoys dancing and can be found petting dogs on the Lakeshore path.
Kartar Vig, Undergraduate Researcher
Contact: kvig2@wisc.edu
Kartar is a sophomore studying Neurobiology in the College of Letters and Sciences with a certificate in 3D studio art. In the lab, he studies how sensorimotor abilities mature in zebrafish larvae. Outside of his studies, he enjoys swimming, running, and being outdoors.
Michael Wu, Undergraduate Researcher
Contact: mwu259@wisc.edu
Michael is a junior studying Neurobiology and Piano Performance in the College of Letters and Science Honors Program. In the lab, he is investigating the maturation of sensorimotor function in zebrafish larvae using machine learning. Outside of academics, Michael enjoys traveling, working out, and eating out at Chipotle.
Abby Cichocki, Undergraduate Researcher
Contact: acichocki@wisc.edu
Abby is a freshman studying Neurobiology with a certificate in Athletic Healthcare in the College of Letters and Science. Within the lab, Abby studies how maturation of sensorimotor abilities of zebrafish influence their survival in early development. In her free time, Abby loves everything active and outside—like canoeing, skiing, and gymnastics—along with watching Marvel movies.
Vincent Chen, Undergraduate Researcher
Contact: vpchen@wisc.edu
Vincent is a sophomore studying Neurobiology and Computer Science in the College of Letters and Science with a certificate in German. In the lab, his studies investigate the function of the olivocerebellar system in coordinated movement. In his free time Vincent loves creative writing and playing and composing music, and he is a hobbyist video game developer.
Lab Alumni
Rodrigo Zúñiga Mouret, Technician (now at Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.)
Olivia O’Brien, Undergraduate Researcher
Isaac Krahn, Undergraduate Researcher (now at Wisconsin School of Business)
Harshee Sai Yarlagadda, Undergraduate Researcher
Ronak Dua, Undergraduate Researcher