School of Medicine
Showing 1-61 of 61 Results
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Maira Tafolla
Postdoctoral Scholar, Psychiatry
BioMaira Tafolla, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral scholar working under the supervision of Dr. Somer Bishop in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Tafolla is interested in diagnosis and treatment of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. She received her Ph.D. in Human Development and Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2025. Dr. Tafolla has a wide range of research interests related to individuals with developmental conditions that include treatment of individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities, assessment of bilingual individuals, better understanding of caregiver mental health and well-being, and facilitators and barriers to service access for families who are underrepresented. She has published various articles on several of these topics. Dr. Tafolla is bilingual and is a certified ADOS-2 trainer in both Spanish and English.
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Niloofar Taheri
Postdoctoral Scholar, Psychiatry
BioDr. Niloofar Taheri is a postdoctoral researcher (MD, Inv) in the Mignot Lab at Stanford University, where she conducts research in sleep medicine and neuroimmunology. Her work has been recognized with Gold Medals at international invention competitions, including the IFIA Members’ Competition for developing a novel diagnostic and therapeutic approach to neurodegenerative disorders, and the 2025 American Innovation Exhibition (AIIE) in San Diego, where she received a Gold Medal and Special Prize for designing a medication to improve the treatment of brain metastases in breast cancer. Most recently, she won a Gold Medal at the 2025 Kaohsiung International Invention & Design Expo (KIDE), for a patent on a novel diagnostic method for the early detection of major depressive disorder (MDD).
She brings experience in clinical practice, co-founding an autoimmune society, and developing wet-lab models. She is also a verified peer reviewer for psychiatry and neuroscience journals. -
Moe Takenoshita
Postdoctoral Scholar, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
BioI’m a clinician‑scientist with expertise in perioperative care and maternal health, bridging evidence-based medicine, equity, and implementation science.
I’m currently taking a leading role in a multicenter, longitudinal NIH‑funded study with Stanford University’s Department of Anesthesiology—aimed at improving maternal outcomes. In addition, I lead multiple international research studies in maternal care, with research experience both in the United Kingdom and the United States, giving me valuable cross‑system insights.
I’m passionate about translating clinical passion into tangible impact, ensuring that technological solutions are designed with the patients' and their communities in mind. If you’re working in perioperative medicine, global maternal health, or translational medicine, let’s connect to explore collaborative opportunities. -
Tadashi Takeuchi
Postdoctoral Scholar, Microbiology and Immunology
BioDr. Tadashi Takeuchi is a physician-scientist and postdoctoral scholar in the Sonnenburg Laboratory at Stanford University. He earned his MD and PhD from Keio University, Japan, and completed his residency training in internal medicine and his diabetology fellowship at St. Luke’s International Hospital, Japan. Throughout his training, he has studied host–microbe interactions in the intestine with a focus on the influence of dietary nutrients. His PhD studies with Hiroshi Ohno, MD, PhD, at RIKEN IMS, Japan, focused on the impact of dietary short-chain fatty acids on intestinal immunity, culminating in a first-author publication in Nature. Leveraging his expertise in diabetology, he also investigated host–microbe interactions in metabolic disease during his PhD, ranging from mechanistic studies to human multi-omics, resulting in multiple first-author publications in Nature and Cell Metabolism. At Stanford, Dr. Takeuchi integrates clinical training, immunology, computational multi-omics, and bacterial genetics to develop strategies that establish robust, diet-guided colonization by therapeutic commensals. His long-term goal is to translate these insights into microbiome-based interventions for human diseases. His work has been recognized with the NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independent Award and Stanford School of Medicine Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, among multiple early-career awards.
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Sakura Tanaka
Postdoctoral Scholar, Psychiatry
BioDr. Tanaka is a postdoctoral scholar advised by Dr. Nirao Shah in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. She received her PhD in Marine and Estuarine Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2022. After transitioning from aquaculture science to neuroscience, she now studies how reproductive states reshape the neural circuits that govern the body's behavioral and physiological demands, integrating molecular biology, bioinformatics, neuroscience, and reproductive biology.
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Azusa Terasaki
Postdoctoral Scholar, Pathology
BioAzusa Terasaki, MD, PhD, is a Postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on tumor immunology and cancer metabolism, with a particular interest in mitochondrial transfer between cancer and immune cells and its role in immune suppression and metastasis.
Dr. Terasaki received her medical degree and PhD in Japan, where she completed her surgical training and is a board-certified surgeon with additional certifications as a breast specialist and in cancer therapy. During her clinical career, she developed a strong interest in translational research that bridges fundamental discoveries and patient care.
Her current work investigates how cancer cells reprogram immune cells through organelle transfer, integrating imaging, flow cytometry, and multi-omic approaches to uncover novel mechanisms of tumor–immune interaction. Her goal is to identify new therapeutic targets and biomarkers to improve cancer treatment outcomes. -
Imran Thobani
Postdoctoral Scholar, Ophthalmology
BioDr. Imran Thobani is a postdoctoral scholar in Ophthalmology co-advised by Dan Yamins and Andreas Tolias as part of the Enigma project. He is interested in building large-scale predictive models of the brain that he thinks will be useful for both scientific insights and downstream biomedical applications. He did his PhD at Stanford, where he was trained in both philosophy of neuroscience and computational neuroscience, applying this training to develop better methods for comparing artificial neural network models to the brain.
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Antonio Tomasso
Postdoctoral Scholar, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
BioAntonio Tomasso is an NWO Rubicon Postdoctoral Scholar. As part of his MSc in Medical Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, he explored the immunomodulatory and neurotrophic roles of neural stem cells (NSCs) following spinal cord injury. As a Research Assistant at Karolinska Institute, he delved into the signaling pathways required for NSC activation and migration after spinal cord injury, and the limited regenerative abilities of mouse and human heart.
During his PhD, he investigated the molecular mechanisms of tissue regeneration in planarians, axolotls and spiny mice. He conducted research as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Kentucky and the Hubrecht Institute.
His research demonstrated that MAPK/ERK signaling acts as a molecular switch between regeneration and fibrosis in adult mammals and can be activated to stimulate a regenerative response, including new hair follicle formation, in scarring wounds.
He contributed to a pioneering study showing that spiny mice can recover heart function after infarct through enhanced angiogenesis, ECM remodeling and epicardium regeneration. He also played a key role in spatial transcriptomic studies that defined regenerative and fibrotic gene signatures in spiny mice, laboratory mice and gerbils.
He earned a PhD cum laude in Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine.
He has been awarded an NWO Dutch Research Council Rubicon Postdoctoral grant to conduct research on the molecular drivers of fibroblast activation in wound healing and organ fibrosis.
His ultimate research aim is to crack the code of tissue regeneration and rejuvenation, reversing organ scarring and preventing fibrosis in injuries and pathological conditions, through the identification of therapeutic targets for enhanced tissue repair and functional recovery.
Driven by his innate curiosity and passion for science, he loves tackling new challenges, thinking outside the box, and building interdisciplinary collaborations to push forward the boundaries of knowledge.
His career goal is to serve as a group leader, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone can thrive, achieve their goals and leave a lasting impact through community-building and scientific discoveries for the benefit of humankind. -
Matheus Tonholo Ikedo
Postdoctoral Scholar, Radiology
BioMatheus Tonholo Ikedo is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Department of Radiology, where he conducts research under the guidance of Dr. Bruno P. Soares. His academic interests lie at the intersection of pediatric neuroradiology and artificial intelligence, specifically focusing on how AI-driven tools can optimize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostics and improve healthcare delivery for neuropediatric patients.
A Brazilian-trained physician, Matheus earned his medical degree from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and completed his Radiology residency at the University of São Paulo (USP), where he was recognized with the Guerbet-InRad Best Resident Award in his final year. -
Diana Tordoff
Instructor, Obstetrics & Gynecology - General
BioDiana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH is an epidemiologist with expertise in LGBTQ+ health equity and gynecological health research. Dr. Tordoff completed her PhD and MPH in Epidemiology at the University of Washington and received a BA with honors in Mathematics from Vassar College. She is also an affiliated researcher with The PRIDE Study (pridestudy.org), where she recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship. Her current research focuses on the impact of exogenous hormones (gender affirming hormones and menopause hormone therapy) on sexual and gynecological health. Her research interests include sexual and reproductive health, menopause, the vaginal microbiome, molecular epidemiology, intersectionality, and community-engaged research methods.
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Hulya Torun
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioHulya Torun is a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford Neurology and Neurological Sciences, continuing her specialization in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering. Her focus involves brain aging & neurodegeneration and diagnostic technologies for the accurate detection of brain tumors and diseases. Hulya is dedicated to making significant contributions to medicine through translational research using engineering techniques and artificial intelligence. Notably, she has been selected as Stanford Representative for a Pediatric Brain Tumor Fellowship Application, a finalist for the Stanford Biodesign MEDTech Spectrum Grant, and the recipient of the Stanford Cancer Institute Mikitani Cancer Research Grant as a Co-PI, OPTICA Zuegel Scholarship, ISEV 2024 International Researcher Award, 1st place in KUIMPACT 2023 Patent Competition, SNO 2023 International Outreach Scholar Award, 3rd place in KUIMPACT 2021 Patent Competition, and SPIE Student Travel Grant, underscoring her commitment to impactful translational research through innovation.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Hulya actively engages in mentorship programs, notably serving as a mentor in the Stanford Canary CREST Program, supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where she guides undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, she holds the esteemed position of President of Stanford Optical Society after her former position as the Co-Chair of the Stanford University Photonics Retreat (SUPR 2024), showcasing her leadership capabilities within the academic community. Her multidimensional engagement, strong research acumen, and dedication to advancing healthcare technology underscore her potential as a future leader in the realm of neuroengineering. Outside of her research endeavors, Hulya is an avid participant in professional extracurricular activities such as dancing and volleyball, reflecting her well-rounded approach to personal and professional development. -
Ngan (Phoebe) Tran
Postdoctoral Scholar, Endocrinology and Metabolism
BioNgan (Phoebe) Tran, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Translational Genomics of Diabetes Lab led by Dr. Anna Gloyn. She received her PhD in Clinical and Translational Science from Mayo Clinic, where she studied how mitochondrial genetics and dysfunction contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. Her doctoral research combined short- and novel long-read sequencing, clinical phenotyping, and functional approaches to investigate early-onset Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, mitochondrial quality control, and mitochondrial variation across healthy brain aging.
She is broadly interested in how genetic variation shapes mitochondrial function and how these effects translate into cellular and disease phenotypes. In the Gloyn Lab, she is extending this interest into metabolic disease by integrating human genetics with functional and metabolic studies. Her long-term research interests lie at the intersection of mitochondrial biology, functional genomics, and translational medicine, with the goal of connecting human genetic discoveries to mechanisms that may ultimately inform therapeutic strategies. -
Artem A. Trotsyuk, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar, Genetics
BioDr. Artem A. Trotsyuk is an AI Fellow in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University and an AI Special Projects Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He earned his PhD in Bioengineering and a Master’s in Computer Science with an AI specialization at Stanford, under the supervision of Dr. Geoffrey Gurtner in the Department of Surgery. He was co-advised by Dr. Zhenan Bao (Chemical Engineering), Dr. Russ Altman (Bioengineering and Medicine), and Dr. Michael Snyder (Genetics). His doctoral research focused on developing a smart bandage that integrates a closed-loop AI processing system for wound sensing and therapeutic delivery. His current work centers on evaluating AI tools in biomedicine, as well as special projects related to security, intent capture, and persona modeling.
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Lev Tsypin
Postdoctoral Scholar, Pathology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am working with Botryococcus braunii, a species of freshwater microscopic algae. This organism is unique among plants in that it secretes copious amounts of oil that is chemically analogous to petroleum. This organism may be the key to developing a cheap and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, but we do not yet have the tools to engineer or optimize its oil production. My work aims to bridge this gap.
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Xun Tu
Postdoctoral Scholar, Psychiatry
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsAs a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Erin Gibson’s lab, I am integrating my expertise in molecular signaling and systems neuroscience to study the role of OPCs in sleep. My interest in sleep has been further reinforced by observing the dramatic shifts in sleep architecture across developmental stages as a new parent, highlighting the necessity of sleep for neural refinement. My current research uses in vivo calcium imaging and closed-loop optogenetics to determine how OPC-neuron communication coordinates hippocampal sharp-wave ripples. By characterizing how aging blunts OPC responsiveness to sleep, I aim to identify novel strategies to preserve memory and promote healthy cognitive aging.
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Carolyn Turcotte
Postdoctoral Scholar, Developmental Biology
BioCarolyn Turcotte is a postdoctoral fellow in the Villeneuve lab that studies meiotic homolog pairing using an interspecies hybrid model system. She earned her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she worked in Jeff Sekelsky's lab and studied spontaneous meiotic nondisjunction in Drosophila.
