Cliff Ragsdale
Principal Investigator
CRagsdale@uchicago.edu
He/His
Cliff is a Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago. He also has appointments in the Committees on Neurobiology, Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology, and Evolutionary Biology. He received his S.B. and Ph.D. from MIT. His doctoral research concerned the systems circuitry of the mammalian basal ganglia, but he switched to the molecular biology of amphibian limb regeneration for his postdoctoral studies in London. His laboratory at Chicago has for many years studied the development of the chick midbrain with in vivo gene manipulation. Recently its research focus has shifted to important but understudied topics in evolutionary neurobiology, in particular with cephalopods.
Cassady Olson
Graduate Student
OlsonCS@uchicago.edu
She/Her
Cassady is a fourth year PhD Student in Computational Neuroscience studying octopus arm motor control. She received a B.A. in Neuroscience and Mathematics from Colgate University in 2018. Her work focuses on describing the structure of the control circuitry and musculature of the octopus arm. She also investigates how the geometry of the arm restricts its movement. Outside of lab, she works to build a supportive and inclusive community in the neuroscience graduate programs. She also enjoys hiking and exploring new places, and maintains an extensive plant collection.
Grace Schulz
Graduate Student
NGSchulz@uchicago.edu
She/Her
Grace is a fifth year PhD Candidate in Development, Regeneration and Stem Cell Biology working on octopus arm regeneration. She received a B.A in History and a B.S. in Biology from Northeastern University in 2017. Her work aims to characterize the widespread capacity for regeneration in the octopus arm, which includes the massive axial nerve cord, morphologically complex suckers, and all the elements of the adaptive coloration system. Outside of the lab, she is a disability advocate, and works toward diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM with several groups on campus. She also plays intramural soccer and runs marathons to counteract her baking addiction.
Cassie Manrique
Undergraduate
She/Her
Cassie is a fourth year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in biology with research honors. Her work focuses on using a combination of computational and wet-lab techniques to study octopus gene expression during regeneration.
Caroline Miller
Undergraduate
She/Her
Caroline is a third year in the college studying neuroscience and psychology.
Thea Applebaum Licht
Undergraduate
She/Her
Thea is a third year studying biological sciences. She is interested in research science and science communication.