My research interests lie in the fields of computational cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and behavioral genetics. Recently, I have started to fit neural network models (with very few free parameters) to behavioral, genetic, and neuropsycholgical data. These models provide theories on how genes and brain diseases might affect neural processes. In collaboration with hospitals in NYC and members of the Gluck lab, I also conduct parallel empirical studies on patients with schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease to test model predictions.

Jessie Simon
E-mail: jessie.simon@gmail.com

My primary interests lie in the study of adult development and cognitive aging. In particular, I study the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying age-related differences in learning and decision-making. My research involves various behavioral and genetic techniques in populations ranging from healthy younger and older adults to patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Itamar Lerner
E-mail: itamar.lerner@gmail.com

My main scientific interests focus on combining neural network modeling with human behavioral experimentation in uncovering the mechanisms which contribute to cognition, from basic functions such as learning and memory to higher cognitive functions involving linguistic processing, semantics and associative thinking. I am particularly interested in the special role that sleep plays in enhancing cognitive functions of various levels of complexity, from simple pair-associates learning to gist extraction and insight. Lately, with our sleep research group in the Gluck lab, I have started to develop theoretical network models of sleep addressing some of the main relevant findings in literature, as well as running novel human experiments in sleep using mobile technologies which allow long-term monitoring in home environments.

Mohammad Mustafa Herzallah
(BNS 3rd Year; Including Al-Quds Lab Weekly Precis)
E-mail:mohammad.m.herzallah@gmail.com

My name is Mohammad Mustafa Herzallah. I received my M.D. degree from the school of Medicine at Al-Quds University/Palestine in 2009. I started working under Dr. Gluck and Dr. Misk in June 2008. My research is focused on detecting cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease and depression using learning tasks based on computational models of the neuronal circuitry (basal ganglia and hippocampus). I aspire to learn more about the relationship between Parkinson's disease and depression through studying the cognitive function in patients, animal models, and computational models.

Joman Natsheh
(BNS 2nd Year; Al-Quds Genetic Project)
E-mail: jomannatsheh@gmail.com

I graduated from Al-Quds University Medical School in June 2011 with an M.D. degree. I've worked at Al-Quds Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (ACNL) at Al-Quds Medical School (since 2009) on studying the cognitive correlates of Major Depressive Disorder among the people of Palestine. I am interested in Behavioral Genetics and the related psychiatric and neurological disorders. I will be working majorly on the Genetics project in the Gluck lab. I hope my work would improve my research skills and track record to help me in my intended future specialty in Pediatric Neurology.

Sue Peters
(BNS 2nd Year; Primarily in Benasich Lab)
E-mail:sp@suepeters.com

I am a PhD student in the Behavioral and Neural Science program at Rutgers, with B.S. in Computer Science, and an extensive background in business and mobile computing technology.  I am most interested in studying learning and memory mechanisms in the human brain. My aim is to collaborate on the development of both animal and human models of neuropsychiatric disease, while contributing to the growing knowledgebase of learning and memory constructs.  As of now, I look forward to a postgraduate life working in research and translational neuroscience, most likely in the areas of emotional processing, learning and memory, affective computing, and contributing toward a better overall understanding of emotional intelligence.

Iman Jashanmal
(BNS 1st Year)
E-mail: email@email.com

Yinghua Liu
(BNS 1st Year)
E-mail: email@email.com

Jeremy Gonzalez
(BNS 1st Year)
E-mail: jeremy.g.gonzalez@gmail.com

I am a first year graduate student of Rutgers University at The Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience. My interests involve understanding the biological basis of cognitive processes involved in learning, memory, and attention, as well as the impairment of these processes in neruopsychological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, PTSD, mood, and psychotic disorders.

As Research Coordinator in the Gluck lab, I am responsible for the compliance of all documentation regarding human subject testing. I also help recruit subjects, maintain files on subjects/experiments, monitor the status of grants and collaborate on fundraising campaigns. I have an Admin. background, having worked in a variety fields including business, cultural and diplomatic in New York and in France.

My name is Mousa Hamad and I am a 2nd Year Albert Dorman Honors College Undergrad/Junior in New Jersey Institute of Technology currently Pursuing a BA in Biology as well as an MBA.My ultimate goal is to pursue an MD post graduation. I currently work for the Passaic County Sheriff Department of Emergency Medical Care. I am the Vice President of the Muslim Student Association in NJIT, as well as President of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. My goals at the Gluck Lab are to help in research as well as help raise funds for the Rutgers/Al-Quds University Brain Research Exchange Program. I will spend my summer in Al-Quds University in Abu-Dis helping with the crucial research taking place.

I am a sophomore majoring in Biology at the Honors college at Rutgers University. As of now, this is my first undergraduate research position and I will be working on the genetics project with Drs. Natsheh and Simon (and interns Josh Kest and Ravi Soujitra) to conduct a study on the effects of aging in the African-American community and others in Newark. From this experience I hope to develop many of the research and analytical skills that I currently lack and also gain valuable knowledge of the intricate relationship between genes and cognition.

I am currently a sophomore in Rutgers-Newark. Majoring in psychology and double-minoring in business and computer science, I hope to pursue either a PhD in clinical psychology or a MD and continue in psychiatry. I have volunteered at the learning and decision-making lab in the psychology department. I joined the Gluck lab because the research is more geared towards my interest - actual clinical applications. I also plan on doing a senior thesis for the honors college.

I am currently a sophomore double majoring in Biology and Philosophy at the Rutgers-Newark Honors College. Some of my extracurricular activities include being a sophomore senator in the student government and the internal affairs committee. Outside of school, my volunteer work varies from privately tutoring students in calculus and chemistry to volunteering in the emergency department at The University Hospital. By being a part of the Gluck lab research team, I am hoping to explore current research interests and develop a better understanding of the relationship between genetics and cognition & memory. My post graduation goals consist of using the skills and experiences I develop in the Gluck lab to explore future research interests as I pursue career in medicine.

I am currently a senior in the Albert Dorman Honors College in the New Jersey Institute of Technology. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in both Biology and Chemistry. My ultimate goal is to pursue an MD after the completion of my undergraduate coursework. My extracurricular activities consist of serving as the student president for the Albert Dorman Honors College Student Council, volunteering in the Hackensack University Hospital Emergency Department, working as an EMT for a private transport company in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and working as a TA in Passaic County Community College. By joining the Gluck Lab research team I hope to further expand my knowledge and experience in behavioral and clinical neuroscience studies. During my time in the lab I hope to work on current projects and then be able to work on my own senior project and thesis.

I am the owner of the web design firm Façade Interactive and have been developing websites and web applications for 12 years in the New York City area. I have extensive experience in web technologies, database creation and online applications. I have used this knowledge to create/edit GluckLab Online for over 4 years.