People

We strive to build a team of motivated young scientists from diverse backgrounds to make discoveries and challenge established dogmas.

Principal Investigator

Munir Gunes Kutlu, PhD

Gunes got his Ph.D. at Duke University under Dr. Nestor Schmajuk’s mentorship. During this time, he was trained as a computational neuroscientist developing neural network models in order to understand the theoretical principles of learning and memory. Following his graduation in 2013, he joined Dr. Tom Gould’s laboratory at Temple University as a Post-Doctoral Fellow. There he studied behavioral, neural and molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of nicotine exposure on acquisition, extinction, and recovery of fear memories. In 2017, Gunes joined Dr. Erin Calipari's lab at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine as a Research Instructor, where he studied dopaminergic mechanisms underlying reward and aversive learning. Dr. Kutlu joined Rowan-Virtua SOM as an assistant professor of neuroscience in 2023 and moved his lab to Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in 2024.

email: gunes.kutlu@temple.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Our Team

Oyku completed her Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Master’s in Neuroscience in Istanbul, Turkey. During her Master’s, she worked with Dr. Deniz Atasoy on neural circuitry of appetite by using cutting edge technologies such as chemogenetics-optogenetics. In 2018, she has been awarded with Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)-ITN fellowship and started to work on neurodevelopmental effects of metal exposure with Dr. Gemma Calamandrei in Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health) in Rome, Italy. During her MSCA-ITN fellowship, she carried out the in vivo part of the NEUROSOME project. Oyku received her PhD on Pharmacology & Toxicology from Sapienza University of Rome in 2022.

Oyku Dinckol
PhD

Post-doctoral Fellow

Bhumi Patel
PhD

Post-doctoral Fellow

Bhumi received her B.A. in Neuroscience from Holy Family University in 2018, before pursuing a master's degree in Drug Discovery and Development at Drexel University in the Pharmacology and Physiology Department, where she joined Dr. Andréia Mortensen's lab. During her time in the Mortensen's lab, her thesis research focused on the role of glutamate transporters in neuroprotection following in vitro stroke and in behavioral responses to cocaine. In 2020, Bhumi continued her academic journey by joining the PhD program at Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences at Rowan University, Stratford, NJ. Her current research project in Dr. Jessica Loweth's lab explores the impact of sex differences and the estrous cycle on the incubation of cue-induced oxycodone craving. Bhumi is set to defend her thesis in April 2025, earning a Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology and Neuroscience.

Noah obtained his Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Stockton University in 2020. During that time, he worked under Dr. Nathaniel Hartman for his research in mTOR pathway activation and its role in neural stem cell development using techniques such as cell culturing, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and confocal microscopy. In 2022 he earned his Master's degree in Biomedical Science from Rowan Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Noah Wenger
MS

Lab Manager/Technician

Aryanna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Translational Biomedical Sciences from Rowan University in 2024. In the Summer of 2021, she received a URISE fellowship (T34) and joined Dr. Sebastian Vega’s lab. While in the Vega lab, she focused on developing antimicrobial peptide screening to design custom bactericidal hydrogels aimed at combating Staphylococcus aureus, in collaboration with Cooper Medical School.

Aryanna Copling
BS

Graduate Student

AmaRa Pedreros Montes is a senior at Temple University, where she is majoring in Psychology and minoring in cognitive neuroscience. She is particularly interested in gaining a hands-on perspective of the neural mechanisms behind behavior and a deeper understanding of computational neuroscience. In her spare time, AmaRa enjoys crafting, hiking, and playing with her cats.

AmaRa Pederos-Montes

BRIDGE Program

Scholar

Lucy is a junior at Temple University, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Biology. They joined the lab in April 2025 to explore how research on the behavioral aspects of neuroscience can inform the development of new medicinal and therapeutic agents. After completing their undergraduate studies, Lucy plans to pursue a career in medicine and research.

Lucy Martin

CST Summer Program Scholar

Michael Abramov is a senior Biology major at Temple University with a strong interest in neuroscience and translational research. He is currently gaining hands-on experience in Dr. Kutlu’s lab as he prepares to apply to medical school. Michael’s long-term goal is to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, combining clinical care with research to improve patient outcomes.

Michael Abramov

Undergraduate

Assistant

Jocelyn is currently a second-year undergraduate student at Temple University, pursuing a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. With a strong passion for neuroscience and medicine, she is committed to deepening my understanding of the brain and its clinical applications.

Jocelyn
Wentz

Undergraduate

Assistant

Ezechiel is an undergraduate student at Temple University, where he studies neuroscience with a clinical psychology minor and is on the pre-med track. He plans to pursue a career in the medical field while contributing to neurology research.