Current members

Yahaira Naaldijk, PhD

Research Associate

Dr. Yahaira Naaldijk completed her PhD at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Germany, in the field of stem cell cryopreservation. In parallel, she investigated the use of stem cells as a therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, Dr. Naaldijk is a Research Associate in the Department of Anesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey. Under the mentorship of Dr. Sabine Hilfiker, PhD, her research focuses on the role of LRKK2 in Parkinson’s disease. This research has substantial clinical implications as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Prior to joining the Hilfiker Lab, Dr. Naaldijk served as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Chemistry at University of Sao Paulo under the supervision of Alexander Henning Ulrich, PhD and then as a Research Associate at Rutgers University under Pranela Rameshwar, PhD. Throughout her career, Dr. Naaldijk has published extensively across the fields of stem cell cryopreservation, purinergic signaling in psychiatric disorders, and neurodegenerative disease.

Likes: running, watching SciFi, listening to gothic music, going to bars and restaurants, traveling, meeting new people

Leandro da Costa Clementino, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate

Dr. Leandro Clementino completed his PhD at the São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil, in the biotechnology applied to drug discovery field under the supervision of Dr. Marcia Graminha, with 6 months of training in the laboratory of Dr. Andrew Thomas, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), working on calcium signaling in malaria parasites. In parallel, he investigated the potential of using antarctic macroalgae as a source of secondary metabolites as new scaffolds for anti-parasitic drugs. Currently, Dr. Clementino is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Anesthesiology at Rutgers NJMS. Under the joint mentorship of Dr. Sabine Hilfiker and Dr. Andrew Thomas, his research aims to elucidate whether modulating lysosomal calcium channels is beneficial for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Before joining the Hilfiker lab, Dr. Clementino served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Biology Institute at the University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, under the supervision of Dr. Fabio Trindade Costa. Throughout his career, Dr. Clementino has focused on drug discovery studies including antimalarials, anti-leishmanials, cysteine protease, and natural products.

Likes: Crossfit, running, watching SciFi, meeting new people, hiking, exploring new places, going to bars, traveling.

Besma Brahmia

PhD student

Besma grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Cellular Biology and Neuroscience from Rutgers University. She is interested in the cell biology and histology of the nervous system, and has previous research experience in neuroimmunology. She would like to pursue a career in academic research focusing on neurodegenerative diseases. 

Likes: knitting, reading manga, gardening

Jose Castro Vildosola

PhD Student

Jose grew up in Mexico City, Mexico. He obtained his bachelor's in biotechnology engineering from Technologico de Monterrey Campus Ciudad de Mexico, and a master's in biology from Rutgers Camden. He is interested in neurodegenerative disorders and their underlying molecular and cell biological mechanisms, and he has prior experience in behavioral neuroscience and medical genetics.

Likes: Sports, Videogames, Working out, Fantasy books, Cooking.

Disha Soni

Master’s Thesis Student

Disha was born and raised in India where she completed her Bachelor's in Biotechnology. She then pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in Bioinformatics before starting her Master's in Biomedical Sciences at Rutgers. Her research interests lie in neuroscience, immunology, and molecular biology, with a strong fascination for brain-related disorders.

Likes: Latin Dancing, Playing Wordle, Working out at the gym.

Miriam Tawfiles

Undergraduate Student

Miriam was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. She is currently working towards obtaining her bachelor's degree in Biomolecular Sciences with a Minor in Neuroscience and Math at NYU. Her favorite subjects are chemistry and math, and she is interested in the study of neurodegenerative diseases.

Likes: Reading, journaling, listening to music, knitting, watching movies 

Past members:

Rachel Fasiczka (2019-2024), PhD student

Shivani Gover (2024), PhD rotation student

Michelle Frank (2024), PhD rotation student

Peter Fusco (2023), Anesthesia Research Fellowship (FAER MSARF) student

James Muldowney (2023), PhD rotation student

Samhita Bapat (2023), PhD rotation student

Madison Downs (2023), MD/PhD rotation student

Ghata Nandi (2022), PhD rotation student

Rollanda Bernardin (2023), Master’s student

Emily Cooper (2021), PhD rotation student

Humza Farrukh (2021), MD with Distinction in Research student

Andrew Ordille (2021), Anesthesia Research Fellowship (FAER MSARF) student

Ayma Malik (2021), PhD rotation student

Peter Cho (2021), Master´s student

Oleta Sandiford (2020), PhD rotation student

Sara Law (2020), Master´s student

Jannat Begum (2020), Northeast Regional Alliance (NERA) MedPrep Scholar