Our lab philosophy is to do work that is both rigorous and creative. We also seek to maintain a safe work environment with a healthy worklife balance.
Mission & Goals
We seek to understand how the brain decides which actions it performs from moment to moment. This involves conducting basic science and experiments and, where necessary, developing new tools.
I graduated from Smith College with a degree in Neuroscience and Statistical and Data Science. Currently, I’m a graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Emory University. I came from a prairie vole lab and a marmoset lab with a background focus in behavior, physiology, and data analysis. Currently, I’m interested in studying the underlying mechanism of neuromodulation in rodent behavior with molecular and computational approaches.Outside of lab I’m interested in exploring different restaurants, watching standup comedy, and singing karaoke.
Strange but true: I wrote and acted in a musical about hair loss and Trichotillomania for drama class in high school
Jingyang is a Machine Learning PhD student at Georgia Tech. He received his BS in Computer Science from Georgia Tech in 2023. He has broad interests in machine learning and computational neuroscience, and is particularly passionate about developing ML modeling approaches to understand how the brain controls behavior. Outside of research, Jingyang loves hiking and traveling.
Strange but true: Jingyang once booked a flight to London, ON for his UK trip.
I graduated from Johns Hopkins University and majored in philosophy. I then turned from philosophy to…motor coding in the songbird and neural engineering! I completed my PhD in Computational Neuroscience with Timothy Gardner at Boston University (now at the University of Oregon). Next, I found myself studying the humble laboratory mouse in the labs of Sandeep Robert Datta and Bernardo Sabatini at Harvard Medical School for my post-doc.
Strange but true: I like old French movies so much I got “FIN” tattooed on my back even though I speak zero French.
My name is Tiernon and I am a Machine Learning PhD student at Georgia Tech through the BME home department. I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2021 with a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Mathematics. In 2023, I completed my M.S. in Statistics and Data Science at Yale University. I have participated in a diverse set of research prior to joining the Marko Lab ranging from predicting the popularity of memes to building a processing pipeline of scRNA-seq data from human brain samples. My research experience with biological data has influenced me to leverage my background in computation to solve prevalent problems in neuroscience. My broad research goals are to develop models of human brain behavior. Outside of my studies, I enjoy going to concerts, watching movies, cooking, playing guitar, and taking photos with my film camera.
Strange but true: Years ago, I made a short film called “Truck Dynasty” about two brothers who find out that their mother is a truck.
Hi! My name is Lisette and I’m a graduate student in the Neuroscience PhD program at Emory University. I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2021 with a double major in Psychology & Romance Studies (Italian) and a minor in Neuroscience. After college, I joined the lab of Geoffrey Schoenbaum at the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a post-baccalaureate fellow. Using in vivo electrophysiology, we examined the neural circuits mediating associative learning and decision-making, and how alterations in those circuits contribute to maladaptive behaviors in neuropsychiatric disorders. I plan to continue exploring how the brain controls behavior in grad school. Outside of lab, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, working out, going on walks along the BeltLine, and watching Formula 1.
Strange but true: I don’t think any movie made before 2010 is good…
Amartya completed his Bachelor of Engineering majoring in Biotechnology from the University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. He then joined the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India, where he worked with Prof. Vidita Vaidya exploring the role of perturbed GPCR signaling during early life and serotonergic psychedelics in programming adult anxiodepressive behaviors. In 2019, he was awarded the Indo-US Khorana Scholarship. Amartya joined the MarkoLab in 2024. Currently, he is interested in understanding how psychedelics can potentially influence motor function in mice.
When not juggling pipettes and somersaulting between experiments, he volunteers for non-profit organizations and participates in scientific outreach. In 2020, he, along with his peers, established an international trainee-led neuroscience initiative – Project Encephalon – which keeps diversity and inclusion in its foundational principles and is committed to providing opportunities and resources to new trainees. Apart from science, he enjoys traveling, exploring hidden food joints, dancing, hiking, flying planes on flight simulator, and swimming.
Strange but true: Amartya can virtually fly an airplane!
I am a lab technician in Georgia Tech’s Biomedical Engineering Department. I am interested in exploring the use of optogenetics to induce behaviors, as well as the development of new biosensors to track calcium and dopamine levels within cells. In the future, I plan to obtain my PhD and pursue research. Outside of the lab, I like to create nature ink drawings and crochet.
Strange but true: I’ve been keeping a diary since I started elementary school. Ten years ago, I wrote, “I hope to be a scientist when I grow up.” Each day I get closer to making that come true!
Hi, my name is Sydney Nabhan and I’m currently a 4th year Biomedical Engineering major at Georgia Tech. I am also getting a minor in Health and Medical Sciences. I am hoping to be a doctor or physician assistant (PA) one day. I am on the exec board for the Pre-PA club. Outside of academics I like to watch volleyball and sitcoms.
Strange but true: My middle school and high school were both Fine Arts Academies. I was an orchestra major and played the viola.
Zemirah Sconiers
Undergraduate research assistant (Georgia Tech)
Zemirah Sconiers
Undergraduate research assistant (Georgia Tech)
Zemirah Sconiers is a Biomedical Engineering undergraduate at Georgia Tech and Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Marko Lab. In the future, she aspires to be a physician who advocates for equitable care. Outside of academics, she loves baking, decorating cakes, and crocheting.
