Amy Monasterio (she/her/hers)
PhD Student
Amy is interested in studying basic mechanisms of memory formation and storage, specifically in the hippocampus. Her research is focused on characterizing the population activity of putative memory-bearing or 'engram' cells across learning. She utilizes novel techniques in multi-photon calcium imaging in combination with activity-dependent genetic tagging strategies and mouse behavior. She is also interested in applying novel imaging techniques to understand the hippocampal circuit such as three-photon imaging. Her scientific passion would be to build upon our understanding of how memory formation and storage evolves across the lifespan and during natural cognitive decline in aging. She hopes to bridge levels of understanding ranging from genes to cell physiology and behavior in her future research endeavours.
Outside of the lab, Amy enjoys volleyball, hot yoga and tennis. She is also involved with BUs Underrepresented Grad Student Organization (UGSO) & the BU SACNAS chapter.
Fun Facts
What is your favorite brain region and why?
Hippocampus, because of its circuitry, but willing to branch out to associated mtl cortices. Soft spot for olfactory cortex.
What was the last lab-related nightmare you had?
Not the most recent nightmare, but the most memorable one was that the two-photon laser had escaped and was bouncing around the room.
What are your favorite lab tools?
Microscopes of all shapes and sizes.
What's your go-to lunch spot?
Nud Pob consistently.