![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
---|

Benjamin D. Auerbach
Principal Investigator
Ben Auerbach is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also a full-time member of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology.
Dr. Auerbach received his Ph.D. in neuroscience at MIT, where he studied mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in Fragile X syndrome and related neurodevelopmental disorders. He did his postdoctoral training at the Center for Hearing and Deafness at the University at Buffalo, where he investigated the neural circuits mechanisms underlying auditory perceptual disorders associated with hearing loss.
Team Members

Xiaopeng Liu
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Xiaopeng is currently investigating central auditory pathology in rodent models of autism and hearing disorders.
Dr. Xiaopeng Liu earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China in Heifi and had 4+ years of post-graduate research training at the Center for Hearing and Deafness at the University at Buffalo.

Shang Ma
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Shang’s long term career goal is to understand the mechanisms underlying thalamocortical neural dynamics during sensory perception in health and pathological conditions. Currently she is investigating the contribution of thalamocortical network to auditory processing deficits in Fragile X Syndrome.
Shang completed her Ph.D. training with Dr. Karl Kandler at University of Pittsburgh. In her free time, she likes to sing, write and watch suspense/horror/sci-fi/psychological thriller movies.

Walker Gauthier
Graduate Student in Neuroscience
Walker is planning to work on the relationship between long range frontal cortical circuits and local auditory circuits and how this relationship is altered with Fragile X syndrome. Along this line of inquiry, he would like to explore this framework developmentally. He is also interested in Ultrasonic Vocalizations of rats and how their verbal communication and social adaptions are altered with Fragile X syndrome.
Walker has a B.S. in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University.

Manasi Inamdar
Graduate Student in Molecular & Cellular Biology
Manasi’s current work in lab is focused on investigating the molecular links between inhibitory interneuron dysfunction and circuit hyperexcitability in genetically distinct rat models of autism. She is planning to work on identifying convergent or divergent molecular changes underlying the pathophysiology of Fragile X Syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.
Manasi has a M.S. in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from University of Texas at Dallas.

Haichao Wang
Graduate Student in Neuroscience
Haichao is working on electrophysiology studies and behavior assaying.
Haichao graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2023 with a major in Biochemistry. He will is a masters student in Bioengineering.
Noelle James
Lab Manager & Postdoc
Noelle's current work in the lab is on behavioral assaying and measuring auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) for hearing sensitivity.
Dr. Noelle James earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She majored in Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis.

Movviz Ahmed
Technician
With research experience in neuromechanics and neurogenesis in the mechanical engineering department, Movviz wants to expand his interests and explore more subfields of neuroscience in the Auerbach lab. As a research technician, he hopes to oversee the behavior lab and learn new protocols to further his ability as an independent researcher.
Movviz graduated with a Bachelors in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December 2024. He plans to attend MD/PhD school in the fall 2026 with a focus in neuroscience.
Undergraduate Researchers

Adeleine Cheng
Psychology & MCB '28

Ali Alhaj
MCB & Math '25

Andy Ma
MCB '28

Arjun Vaidya
Physics '25

Aya Moller
MCB '26

Brandon Kim
MCB '26

Burhan Nizamuddin
Brain & Cognitive Science '25
Cameron Killam
Brain & Cognitive Science '26

Cyrus Fallah
Biochemistry '26

Ethan Hong
Neurosciene '26

Guowei Zhang
Psychology '25

Harika Matukumalli
MCB '26

Imad Mohiuddin
Psychology '25
Katherine Donovan
MCB ' 26
Kyndal Smolenski
Neuroscience '26

Lesly Liu
Psychology & Statistics '27

Mahi Patel
MCB '26

Mahum Rauf
Biochemistry '26

Olivia Shang
Psychology & Statistics '26

Rachel Qui
Neuroscience '25

Rose Olvera
Neurosciene '26

Steven Rhee
Math '28

Tirth Patel
Biochemistry '25

Xander Cue
Neuroscience '25
Former Lab Members
Daniel Legowski
Technician

Daniel graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2024 with a Bachelor’s in Integrative Biology and a minor in Bioengineering. He is set to graduate with his Master’s in Integrative Biology in December of 2024.
Liz Soellner
Undergraduate

Neuroscience & Sociology '24
Anand Vellara
Technician

Masters '24
Andrew Jo
Undergraduate

Molecular & Cellular Biology '24
Swapnil Kumar
High School

High School
Harry Kennedy
Undergraduate

Neuroscience '28
Zaria George
Technician

Zaria graduated from the University of Illinois in December 2022 with a major in Molecular & Cellular Biology and a concentration in Neuroscience. She worked as a technician in 2023.
Peter Sun
Technician

Peter Sun graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara in 2023 with a major in Biochemistry.
Sarika Kumar
Undergraduate

Molecular & Cellular Biology '24
Natalie Natiello
Undergraduate

Molecular & Cellular Biology '24
Mason Mitchell
Undergraduate

Molecular & Cellular Biology '24
Luna Morales
High School

High School
Laurel Hart
Undergraduate

Molecular & Cellular Biology '24
Gebran Hammoud
Undergraduate

Math '26
Ella Sciortino
Undergraduate

Psychology & Behavioral Neuroscience '24
Michael Chai
Undergraduate

Molecular & Cellular Biology '24
Komal Kaur
Undergraduate

Molecular & Cellular Biology '23
Omar Khan
Undergraduate

Biochemistry '23
Minor in Psychology
Alysia Principata
Undergraduate

Psychology '23
Vrushhabh Patel
Undergraduate
Computer Science & Chemistry, '24
Joseph Salerno
Undergraduate
Molecular & Cellular Biology '23
Gabe Predescu
Undergraduate

Psychology '25
Amritha Kumar
Undergraduate

Psychology '22