Interns
Ria Aggarwal
My name is Ria Aggarwal, and I am a senior at Westview High School in Portland, Oregon, and will attend the University of Washington this fall. I have always been passionate about science and math, especially in Neuroscience, genetics, and biomedical research. I joined the Raber Lab to continue enhancing my knowledge and interest in neurodegenerative disorders and biomedical research, and I am very grateful for this exciting opportunity. Outside the lab, I am a competitive athlete in Taekwondo and train with the US National Coach, along with leading OHSU Science Ambassadors and Protection of Animal Welfare and Safety (PAWS). You can find me tackling a new book series or a new Lego project in my spare time.
Jaden Bell
I recently graduated from Washington State University’s Vancouver campus with my bachelor’s in biology, and am currently taking a gap year to attain further experience in research and clinical work before applying to a nursing program. I am eager to work in the Raber Lab to grow my knowledge of neuroscience and to develop my skillset in the field of research. Prior to this opportunity, I volunteered in a cardiovascular physiology lab that assessed how environmental stressors impacted different fish species’ performance. Aside from school, I enjoy going to the gym, running, reading, and walking my dogs during my free time.
Mitali Chaudhari
My name is Mitali Chaudhari and I am a sophomore at Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, doing bharatanatyam classical dance, and playing the piano. I have always been passionate about science and wanted to pursue a career in that field for as long as I can remember. I have been involved in several activities, including lego robotics, HOSA, science olympiad, and science fairs, which have helped me diversify my knowledge in STEM. As a current high school student, I am looking forward to interning at Raber Labs to enhance my knowledge on biomedical research. This experience provides me with valuable insight on modern research applications to solve real-world problems. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.
Sophie Feng
My name is Sophie Feng and I am a rising senior at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, CA. After high school, I plan to pursue cognitive science on the pre-med track. I am passionate about neuroscience and improving treatment for neurological disorders. I am interning at The Raber Lab to gain hands-on experience and to learn more about behavioral neuroscience and research methodology. At school, I am the captain of the speech team and a varsity swimmer. In my free time, I enjoy drawing, community service, running an art business, and spending time with my family.
Montzerrat Pantoja
My name is Montzerrat Pantoja. I am a 4th year student at Washington State University Vancouver pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology. I am thrilled to be working with the Raber Lab and getting involved in the quantitative research process, as well as expanding my knowledge in neuroscience. My long-term goal is to pursue a career in biostatistics and improve public health through data analysis. In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, watching Marvel movies, and playing videogames on my Nintendo Switch. I lived in Guadalajara, Mexico for most of my elementary and middle school years so now I love visiting during breaks.
Elia Ramacciotti
I was born in a small town called Forestville, California, but I spent a lot of my childhood in Grants Pass, Oregon. I began attending Linfield University in fall of 2021 as a biology major, with minors in neuroscience and psychology. Through my time at Linfield, I have fallen in love with various aspects of science, including the genetics and environmental factors behind behavior and neurodivergent brains. Through working in an elder care facility, I became extremely interested in the older brain and how age effects thought process and memory. My academic advisor alerted me of a research opportunity at OHSU and I found the work done in the Raber lab fascinating. I fortunately was given the opportunity to participate in the research. Outside of the lab, my hobbies include swimming, playing board/card games, and SCUBA diving.
Naomi Robinson
I am currently a sophomore at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. My academic interests revolve around the intricate connections between genetic techniques in animals and their implications for understanding human neurological diseases. Additionally, I'm intrigued by interactions between environmental toxins and behavioral outcomes. Beyond academics, I serve as a Red Cross blood donor ambassador and contribute to FEMA's regional youth preparedness council. In my free time, I enjoy diving into fiction novels, running track and field, and spending time with friends. I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to work in the Raber Lab.
Elizabeth Saltonstall
I'm originally from Northern California and am currently in Portland doing an undergraduate degree in Psychology at Lewis and Clark College. I've recently discovered my interest in Neuroscience and have decided to minor in it. This has led me to pursue research experience in the field of Neuroscience and I am very thankful for my opportunity to work in the Raber Lab. My short term goal is to learn about how neuroscience research is conducted and my long term goal is to get a PhD and conduct my own research someday. In my free time, you can catch me going on walks in the woods or sitting at a coffee shop in town.
Aubrey Welburn
I am from Southern Oregon, and currently attend the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon, pursuing my undergraduate degree in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry. The complexity of the brain has always fascinated me, especially the vast amount we don’t know. I am especially interested in neurodevelopmental disabilities and have a large interest in how genetics and environment affect occurrences of different neurological conditions. In the future, I hope to become a physician-scientist and am excited to work in the Raber Lab through B-BRITE and gain valuable neuroscience research experience. Outside of academics I enjoy jewelry fabrication, hiking, traveling, and being a part of a book club.
Eric Yoon
I was born in South Korea and immigrated to the US when I was 9 years old, moving from California to Oregon in 2010 and graduating from Oregon State University in 2020. I was privileged to study the psychosocial development of adolescents during my undergraduate years, which established my initial interest in behavioral science. Furthermore, I was motivated to deepen my understanding of behavioral neuroscience by studying medicine and aspire to become a physician who understands the pathomechanism of neurologic diseases in a clinical setting. Outside of school and research, I enjoy hiking, cooking, playing guitar, watching movies, and going to the gym during my free time.