Meet Our Team
Murali Prakriya, PhD
NUIN Director
Dr. Murali Prakriya is the Magerstadt Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. His laboratory has pioneered studies of cellular calcium signaling mechanisms and their roles in human disease. Dr. Prakriya has trained more than a dozen PhD and MD/PhD students, including three NUIN students, and currently mentors three additional NUIN students. His contributions to teaching and mentorship have been recognized with two Dean’s Teaching Awards.
Contact Me:
- 312-503-7503
- Chicago: Tarry 5-733
Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, PhD
Associate Director, Evanston Campus
Yevgenia (Genia) Kozorovitskiy, the Irving M. Klotz Professor of Neurobiology and Neuroscience, serves as the Associate Director in Evanston. She directs/co-directs a Great Experiments NUIN class, and she has previously served on the NUIN Advisory Committee, and on the Qualifying Exam Committee. She has graduated three NUIN students and currently mentors three others. Genia’s lab is broadly interested in mechanisms of neuroplasticity and neuromodulation.
Contact Me:
- 847-467-0475
- Evanston: Pancoe 2-409
Gordon Shepherd, MD, PhD
Associate Director, Chicago Campus
Gordon Shepherd, Professor of Neuroscience, serves as the Associate Director, Chicago Campus. He previously served as instructor and director of the Motor Systems module of the NUIN Fundamentals of Neuroscience core class and of the Cortical Circuits elective class, and has taught in other NUIN classes. He has supervised five NUIN students. His lab studies the synaptic circuits of motor cortex and their roles in dexterity and disease.
Contact Me:
- 312-503-5596
- Ward Building, 5-120
Jena Pitman-Leung, PhD
Associate Director
Jena Pitman-Leung is a NUIN Alum (2007 graduate) who worked as a Drosophila neurobiologist, sleep and career development consultant, and academic administrator at Brandeis University before coming to NU. Please refer to Jena for:
- Program activities and budget
- Advising: Rotations and laboratory questions/concerns
- Student groups
- TGS and NUIN policies, NUIN Handbook
- NUIN Curriculum
- TA assignments
- If you’re not sure who to ask
Zoom Office hours are Monday, 3:00-4:00pm
Contact Me:
- Evanston: 847-467-4246
Chicago: 312-503-4308
- Evanston: Hogan 2-171
Chicago: Ward 1-330
Liorimar Ramos-Medina, PhD
Assistant Director, NUIN Sponsored Programs
Liorimar Ramos Medina is a behavioral neuroscientist and educator based in Chicago, IL. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University, where she investigated the role of the endocannabinoid 2‑Arachidonoylglycerol in learning and extinction of contextual fear in Sachin Patel’s lab. In addition, Liorimar is deeply passionate about science education and community outreach. She has taught at multiple academic levels, co‑led the Northwestern University Brain Awareness Organization (NUBAO) and directed curricular development for the NeuroBoricuas’ project in Puerto Rico during her M.Ed. studies. Her combined expertise in research and education reflects her commitment to fostering enriching and team-driven scientific environments. In her spare time, Liorimar enjoys reading, dancing and picnics by the lake.
Please refer to Liorimar for:
- NUIN Administered T32 information, applications, appointments, etc.
- NRSA application assistance
Contact Me:
- (312) 503-1873
- Chicago: Morton 1-645
EV: Hogan 2-095
Melissa Moore, BS
Senior Program Coordinator
Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Universidad Autónoma del Caribe in Colombia. She joined NUIN in November of 2021 and has since been developing her project management skills, earning a certificate in Essentials of Project Management from Northwestern.
Please refer to Melissa for:
- Classes and registration
- Rotation requirements
- Milestone and related paperwork including committee meetings, seminar requirement, graduation planning etc
- GSTS data entry
- Student funding inquiries
Zoom office hours: TBD
Contact Me:
- 312-503-2742
- Chicago: Morton 1-645
EV: Hogan 2-095
Ethan Matthews, BS
Financial Coordinator
The Financial Coordinator manages:
- Budget and expense tracking (NUIN, NUIN administered T32, PREP)
- Reimbursements, invoices, and contracts
- Awards, including thesis proposal awards, travel awards, NTF
- Charges on student accounts
Zoom office hours: TBD
Contact Me:
- 847-491-5033
- EV: Hogan 2-171
Chicago: Morton 1-645
Ciara Bates, BFA
Program Assistant
Please refer to the Program Assistant for:
- Room/Zoom booking, including classrooms
- Website questions
- Listservs
- NUIN@
- General inquiries
Contact Me:
- 312-503-4300
- Chicago: Morton 1-645
EV: Hogan 2-171