Emily Bunnell, Research Assistant

I am from Portland, Oregon, and earned my BA in Neuroscience with honors from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where I was also a member of the Pomona-Pitzer volleyball team. I joined the Raber Lab as an intern in the summer of 2023 and have since transitioned to a Research Assistant role. I plan to attend a graduate program in the near future to pursue a career focused on elucidating the pathological mechanisms and alterations underlying psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Outside of research, I enjoy watching movies, painting, and thrifting!

Ricardo Cardoso Cassilhas, PhD

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Education and the Graduate Program in Health Sciences (PPGCS) at the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM) in Diamantina, Brazil. I hold both a Master’s and a PhD in Psychobiology from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), where I also completed postdoctoral research, as well as at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, focusing on the effects of atmospheric pollution on the aging brain and cognition.
My research and teaching are guided by a continual pursuit of balance and integrity – values I strive to embody in both science and life, seeking to do everything fairly and perfectly. I am deeply passionate about understanding how physical exercise and other lifestyle interventions influence brain function and health, particularly in the aging process, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic or mental disorders. By integrating exercise physiology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, I aim to uncover how these interventions can promote resilience in the aging and diseased brain.
I am thrilled to collaborate with the Raber Lab, where I look forward to advancing my expertise in translational neuroscience through cuƫing-edge behavioral models and genetic biomarker research, while contributing my exercise physiology perspective to ongoing projects on cognitive resilience and brain health. This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity for mutual learning and growth in our shared pursuit of scientific excellence.
Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, watching movies, and playing video games. I also practice strength training and kung fu as part of my own journey toward harmony of body and mind.

Lesley Everett, M.D., Ph.D.

I am a physician-scientist with a basic research program and complementary clinical practice focused on rare inherited retinal diseases and gene therapy at the OHSU Casey Eye Institute. I have specific clinical and research interests in neuro-ophthalmic disorders resulting from genetic defects in vascular development, including a rare disease known as microcephaly and chorioretinopathy (MCCRP). Building upon my training in human-genetics, epidemiology, and ophthalmology, my ultimate goal is to establish an inter-disciplinary research program aimed at improving our understanding of the vascular development of the retina and brain. To this end, I am fortunate to have critical mentorship from Dr. Raber and other colleagues in neuroscience and neurodevelopment at OHSU in order to define the neurologic phenotype(s) of our novel MCCRP mouse models.

Benjamin Matei, Medical Student

I am from Germany and currently studying medicine in Salzburg, Austria. Part of my studies include a research trimester which has to be concluded with a diploma thesis. I am especially interested in behavioral neuroscience and how behavior in general is altered by different factors like our environment our diet and genetics. While looking for a potential topic to conduct my research on, I stumbled over a publication from Professor Raber on the gut microbiome and its relation to neurological behavior via the gut-brain-axis. I contacted the Raber Lab and was granted the opportunity to take part in their research. I am truly excited and very grateful to learn how to conduct research and looking forward to being part of this team.
Besides my studies, I love going hiking, eating out at a good restaurant and travelling with my wife. I enjoy reading books, listening to music and playing board games.

Abigail O’Niel, Graduate Student Researcher

I grew up in Montana and moved to the PNW to pursue higher education at Washington State University Vancouver. I completed a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with minors in both Spanish and Biology in 2022. I worked with Jacob as a research assistant for 2 years before matriculating into the graduate program in the fall of 2024. Under a co-mentorship with Drs. Jacob Raber and Elizabeth Moss, I aim to investigate the relationship between olfactory function and Alzheimer’s disease risk, with a particular focus on how genetic susceptibility modulates early olfactory deficits. When I’m not studying, I enjoy thrift shopping, fashion sewing, taking dance classes, and hanging out with my 5-lb Netherland Dwarf bunny.

Michelle Palumbo, Postdoctoral Fellow

I'm originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and I received by BS from the University of California, Davis and my MS from Northwestern University. My PhD is from Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience at OHSU. As a postdoc I'm excited to work on delivering novel gene therapy tools across the blood-brain barrier for neurodegenerative diseases. In my free time I love to hike, backpack, and travel.