Our Team

Christopher L. Cunningham, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor/Principal Investigator

I grew up in Alaska, where I was continually awed and intrigued by the elegance of the natural world. My journey in science has been shaped by the influences of many supportive mentors. I received my B.S. in Biology from Brigham Young University-Idaho, where Dr. Sidney Palmer and Dr. Clair Eckersell first piqued my interest in neuroscience. My first major research experiences were as an undergraduate in the lab of Dr. Bryan Mackenzie at the University of Cincinnati. From the first time I set foot in the lab, I was hooked, which led me to pursue a career in scientific research. I went on to obtain my Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of California, Davis in the lab of Dr. Stephen Noctor, studying the development of the cerebral cortex. Dr. Noctor is an incredible scientist and mentor, and left a unique impact on my scientific perspective. After finishing my Ph.D., I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Ulrich Muller at The Scripps Research Institute and Johns Hopkins University, where I discovered my keen interests in the auditory system. I was extremely fortunate to work with Dr. Muller, who has incredible creativity, passion, and drive. In 2021, I started my lab at the University of Pittsburgh. I feel extremely excited and humbled to have the opportunity to run my own research lab. It is so fulfilling to channel my passion for the natural world into my life’s work! I have been inspired, motivated and guided by many great scientists during my career, and I am committed to doing my best to mentoring the next generation of scientists. Outside of the lab, I love to spend time with my family exploring Pittsburgh, hiking, running, fishing, and watching football (go Niners!).

Alicia Frank, B.S., M.P.P.M.

Lab Manager

Raised in a small town in western Pennsylvania, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences from Penn State University and a Master’s of Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh. While at Penn State, I became interested in research while working in a dairy nutrition lab. After graduation, I worked as a large animal research surgical technician at Children’s Hospital of Boston followed by a brief stint as an emergency and intensive care veterinary technician at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital, where I confirmed that I preferred the research side of animal care and not the clinical side. I returned to Pittsburgh and basic research as a technician for the Department of Surgery and a lab manager for the Center for Critical Care Nephrology in the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Pitt. In my off hours, I volunteer with Kahlua, my therapy dog, at our local public library and at universities and colleges in the area as well as crocheting and quilting.

Julia Lewis, B.S.

Research Technician

Born and raised in Ohio, I came to Pittsburgh in 2015. I received my B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019. My first research experience was as an undergraduate working in the lab of Dr. Alan Sved where I studied behavioral neuroscience and the neuropharmacology of nicotine. I then spent a summer studying auditory neuroscience at the Institute of Neuroscience of Castilla y León in Salamanca, Spain under the mentorship of Dr. Douglas Oliver. After graduation, I spent time abroad working as an au pair. I came back to Pittsburgh to gain clinical research experience in the field of Geriatric Neuropsychology looking at cognition in individuals with mood disorders. I have now transitioned back to basic science research where I hope to refine my interests in the auditory system and continue on to a graduate degree. I like to spend my off hours cooking and baking. When I am not in the lab, you can find me walking around my neighborhood in the East End of Pittsburgh or taking care of my betta fish, Radish.

Abigail Sanders, B.S.

Research Technician

I grew up about an hour outside of Pittsburgh, in a small town that had only one stoplight and a graduating class of 70. After moving to Pittsburgh, I received my B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Chatham University. During my undergrad, I discovered my love for Neuroscience after accidentally enrolling in the class. In my Junior and Senior year at Chatham, I was fortunate enough to work with Dr. Ethan Block on my capstone project where I studied the effects of autism spectrum-related mutations on dopaminergic signaling in the C. elegans model. Following undergrad, I was most interested in hitting the ground running and gaining some additional research experience, which is how I ended up working with the Cunningham Lab. Eventually, I hope to pursue Graduate school for Genetic counseling, where I could continue working in the research setting. Aside from Neuroscience or anything biology-related, I also love to spend time with my family, play video games, paint, and cook.

Gabriela Itzetl Medina Ruiz, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

I grew up in Mexico City, a huge city surrounded by amazing natural landscapes. I practiced scuba diving in high school, which motivated me to get my BA in biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). I did my dissertation on Plant Biotechnology and later I studied for a master's degree in Biochemical Sciences at the Institute of Biotechnology with Dr. Patricia León, an excellent researcher. Following that, I worked as a lab technician at the Institute of Biology in UNAM, and I was involved in Neurosciences. I was fortunate enough to obtain my Ph.D. in Neurosciences with Dr. Julio Morán, who is an amazing mentor. During my research, I learned about the role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in the regulation of neuronal growth. It was fascinating to discover that ROS are important for actin polymerization in cerebellar granule neurons. I also learned cutting-edge microscopy techniques that I would like to apply to the study of the auditory system. I am excited to move to Pittsburgh and work with an amazing team. In my free time, I like to swim, run, and attend talks with my book club online.

Laura Marinos, B.S.

Graduate Student, CNUP Program

I received my B.S. in Biology, as well as minors in Chemistry and Biochemistry, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During my time as an undergraduate my interest in neuroscience was fostered by Dr. Christina Ruby, where we studied the effects of caffeine and alcohol on the circadian rhythm of mice utilizing behavioral assays. Following my time as an undergraduate I chose to gain more experience in a neuroscience lab, which brought me to working as a lab technician under Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos at the University of Pittsburgh. Given my experience with behavior, I helped to develop a model to assess tinnitus in mice and published a first author manuscript where we support the findings that the drug, developed by Tzounopoulos et al., can mitigate tinnitus following noise exposure. Currently, I am a graduate student in the CNUP where I am being co-mentored by both Dr. Cunningham and Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos. Apart from my time spent doing experiments, I like to go to concerts, play video games, and embroider.

Abby Carney, M.S.

Ph.D. Candidate, CBMP Program

I grew up in rural Kansas and attended Wichita State University for my undergraduate and master's degrees where I discovered my love of protein biochemistry. I worked with Dr. Moriah Beck on palladin, an actin-associated protein involved in cancer metastasis, and Dr. George Bousfield on the glycoforms of follicle-stimulating hormone and how they change with age. I'm excited to apply this knowledge to the trafficking of proteins involved in mechanotransduction of the auditory system as a part of the CBMP program. Outside of the lab, I love to garden, play board games, and listen to music.

Stuti Panchal

Undergraduate Researcher

I grew up in New Jersey and am now an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. I am majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and French. I have always been very interested in neuroscience and the biology of the brain. After taking my first neuroscience core class at Pitt, I became fascinated with the sensory systems, leading me to join the Cunningham Lab to study the auditory system. In my free time, I love to spend time with my friends and host game nights, binge TV shows, listen to music, and go on hikes.

Brandon Bizup, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

I grew up in northeastern PA, wandering around the rivers and forests in the Poconos. I came to the University of Pittsburgh to study neuroscience for my undergrad degree, and I fell in love with the city and haven’t left since. I was introduced to research in the lab of Dr. Anthony Grace, where I studied the function of dopamine neurons in animal models of psychiatric disorders. The first time I saw a live recording of a dopamine neuron was the moment I was absolutely hooked by research. I stayed at Pitt for my PhD in the lab of Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos, which was my first experience with auditory neuroscience. In my time in the Tzounopoulos lab, I studied the role of vesicular zinc in the brain and the cochlea. As a part of my thesis work, we discovered that the cochlea contains vesicular zinc, and that loud noise exposure causes a dysregulation of this zinc which contributes to the pathophysiology of noise-induced hearing loss. Now, I’m excited to join the Cunningham lab and to explore what is possible in using gene therapy to treat deafness. If I’m not taking pretty pictures on the microscope (or doing science), I’m probably out hiking with my pup, Willow, playing soccer, climbing, playing video games, or tinkering with woodworking.

Samantha Andrews

Undergraduate Researcher

I was raised in Massachusetts and am now an undergraduate student studying neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. I am minoring in chemistry and history while pursuing the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine certificate. Learning about the biology of the nervous system is very fascinating to me and I’m excited to be studying the auditory system in the Cunningham Lab. I hope to one day attend medical school and continue research. In my free time I enjoy running, crocheting, and reading.

In and around the lab

Alicia, Kahlua and Iceburgh — Alicia, Honorary Lab Member Kahlua, and Iceburgh

Two honorary Cunningham lab members exploring a nearby stream — Exploring a nearby stream

LAB ALUMNI

Neil Shah—Undergraduate, Biology. 2021-22. Current position: Undergraduate, University of Pittsburgh

Brian Chew, M.S.—Rotating Graduate Student, CMP graduate program 2023. Current Position: PhD student, Kaufman Lab, University of Pittsburgh

Sakeena Badrane—Undergraduate, Neuroscience—2021-23. Current position: Undergraduate, University of Pittsburgh

Jessica Mackowski, B.S.—Undergraduate, Neuroscience—2022-24. Current position: Neurodiagnostic Technician, Duke University

Ellison Armitage—Summer Undergraduate—2024. Current position: Undergraduate, University of Vermont.

Tracy Cheng, M.D.—Resident, Otolaryngology—2022-24. Current Position: Otology-Neurotology Fellow, Alan Cheng Lab, Stanford University