Rose got started in science studying the roles of ATP binding cassette transporters in sea urchin embryogenesis with Dr. Amro Hamdoun at Scripps Institution of Oceanography during undergraduate at UC San Diego. Rose channeled this love of transmembrane proteins and cellular physiology into a Ph.D. with Diana Bautista at UC Berkeley, where they worked on itch and pain transduction mechanisms in peripheral sensory neurons. As a Helen Hay Whitney and later K99 fellow with Ardem Patapoutian at Scripps Research, Rose asked how mechanical force sensing via PIEZO ion channels contributes to animal behavior and physiology. She became a kidney biologist “by accident”, the happiest one yet, and now acknowledges it is the best organ. While simultaneously thinking about how DRG neurons and kidneys talk to each other, Rose enjoys yoga, cat parenthood, music, spa day, and spending time in nature.

@rose-hill.bsky.social

Janelle is a current Neuroscience PhD student at Stanford University, currently wrapping up her thesis work studying astrocytes in chronic pain. Prior to grad school, she earned her B.S. in Biology at California State University, San Bernardino, where she studied alligator locomotion and eggshells. She is thrilled to be entering the interoception field and beginning her postdoctoral work in the Hill Lab in Summer 2025! Outside of lab, Janelle enjoys teaching, reading, and being silly with her toddler.

@sili-j.bsky.social

I will be graduating with honors from Lewis & Clark College, earning a double major in Biology and Psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience. As part of my undergraduate research thesis under Dr. Tamily Weissman-Unni, I used in vivo Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) in zebrafish to investigate the impact of combined phosphorylation at multiple residues on alpha-synuclein protein aggregation. I additionally measured alpha-synuclein protein mobility at various developmental stages within the same neuron to explore how aggregation progresses between neurons over time. I have a deep admiration for scientific research and the complexities of neurons and their mechanisms. Outside of science, I love creating art with my family, going on outdoor adventures with friends, and snowboarding.