Meet the Research Team

Maria J Galazo, PhD

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Cell and Molecular Biology & Tulane Brain Institute

Maria is from Madrid, Spain. After obtaining her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Autonoma University of Madrid, she moved to the US and became Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University and then Postdoctoral Researcher at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT.

Maria is broadly interested in understanding the interplay between mechanisms acting at the genetic, cellular, and network levels regulating neural circuit formation and the emergence of brain functions. 

Outside of the lab, she enjoys New Orleans food, long walks in Audubon Park, hanging out with her cats, and loves building stuff. She volunteers at Zeus animal shelter whenever possible.

Vivianne is originally from northern California, but in 2004, she and her family moved to French-speaking Switzerland, where they still live today. Vivianne holds a B.A. in psychology from Bard College in upstate New York and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In 2013, while at Georgetown, she was the recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award, and after beginning her postdoctoral work at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 2019, Vivianne was awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship, which she brought to Tulane in 2022.

Vivianne's research asks fundamental questions about the developing mammalian brain. In particular, she works to understand how it is influenced by cells that originate outside the brain, such as those that make up blood vessels and the immune system. Through this lens, Vivianne investigates two foundational processes: neurogenesis and myelination. Vivianne is a microscopy enthusiast and is always looking for ways to implement new techniques or retrofit and leverage old ones to make the invisible visible.

When she is not in lab, Vivianne enjoys fitness, escape rooms and all manner of mind-twisting puzzles, going on adventures with her husband and two children, and singing

Rajan is from Nepal. Rajan came to the State in 2016 and earned his bachelor’s in 2019 in molecular biology from McNeese State University, Lake Charles. After his graduation, he worked at Witt lab, LSUHSC, Shreveport in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology working on alpha-synuclein interactions with yeast and recombinant human Snx3 associated to retromer mediated retrograde recycling. He joined Tulane CMB PhD program in 2020 and Meadows and Galazo lab in 2021. He is also a Meadows Lab team member. He is being co-mentored and trained by Dr. Meadows and Dr. Galazo to study the molecular mechanisms that regulates cortical neurogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. In his free time, he enjoys working out, walking in Audubon Park, travelling, and listening to music. 

Favorite piece of lab equipment: Stereotaxic Apparatus 

Favorite place at Tulane: Lab Bench 

Han is from Xi’an, China. After graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.S. in Neuroscience, he enrolled in the Master’s program in Tulane Brain Instituted at 2016 and later joined the Ph.D Program at 2018. Since join Dr. Galazo’s lab in 2019, Han has been working on several projects that involved in characterization of corticothalamic neurons in deep cortical layers, investigating the mechanism of cortical neuron identity development, and implication on rodent working memory after manipulating cortical neuronal activities. In his free time, Han spends time to explore the city of New Orleans, road tripping, playing guitar and painting miniatures. 

Abbi is from Shreveport, LA, and joined the Galazo lab in 2019 as an undergraduate researcher. After graduating in 2022 with a B.S. in neuroscience, she became a Lab Technician. One year later, she was promoted to Lab Supervisor. Abbi is interested in the development and organization of the brain, especially in the context of sleep, memory, and attention. Outside of the lab, she organizes with New Orleans Renters’ Rights Assembly, fosters cats through Tomato Foster Club, and enjoys reading, watching movies, and baking.

Eshaan Tandon, Class of 2025

I am from Shreveport; Louisiana and I am a neuroscience major and psychology minor in the Honors program. I am planning to go to medical school and I am interested in becoming a cardiologist. I am graduating in 2025 and I am involved in ACEing Autism, India Association of Tulane, Peer Tutoring, and The Foundation for The International Medical Relief of Children. I enjoy playing tennis, reading mystery books, and playing violin. 

Isabella Kulstad, Class of 2025

Salutations! My name is Isabella Kulstad, and I am a second year from Stafford, Virginia! I major in both Neuroscience and Mathematics, with a minor in Philosophy in the Honors program. Following graduation in 2025, I intend to pursue a PhD in a computational/molecular neuroscience track, with hopes of continuing my research career in academia. Outside of the lab, I work with the Tulane SynBio research group, participate in math research surrounding Landen Transformations, serve as a resident advisor, and am involved in Math Club, Astronomy Club, Cookies and Code, and Ultimate Frisbee! Outside of my activities, I love to dance, read, and code! 

Mary Lorino, Class of 2024

My name is Mary Lorino, and I am a junior from Birmingham, Alabama. I am majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Cell and Molecular Biology. Following graduation in 2024, I hope to pursue an MD-PhD. I am interested in becoming a neurologist as well as continuing my research career in neuroscience. Outside of the lab, I am a teaching assistant for General Chemistry and participate (virtually) in my research that I began this past summer at the University of Chicago. I am also involved with the Research Ambassadors, the Tulane SynBio research group, and Tulane’s Global Brigades chapter. In my free time, I like to go on walks and try new restaurants in New Orleans!