Our Team

Kyungji joined VPP in July 2024. She received her BPE degree with a major in Sport Science and MS degree in Kinesiology from Pusan National University. She then continued her education at Georgetown University, where she earned a second MS degree in Integrative Neuroscience in 2024 under the mentorship of Dr. Ella Striem-Amit at the Sensory and Motor Plasticity Lab. Kyungji’s long-term research goal is to bridge global medical disparities by developing at-home neurological rehabilitation programs that are accessible worldwide. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing the piano, watching baseball games, and practicing Taekwondo, a Korean martial art. 

Beth is a PhD student in the IPN. She earned her bachelors in cognitive neuroscience and product design from Carnegie Mellon in 2020. She then completed a postbac fellowship with Chris Baker in the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition at the NIH before joining Stanford in the Fall of 2022 where she worked with Kalanit Grill-Spector in the Vision and Perception Neuroscience Lab and completed her MA. Beth is interested in the relationship between structure, organization, and function that facilitates perceptual processing and scaffolds neuroplasticity in the brain. Outside of the lab, she enjoys thrifting, sewing, figure skating, and traveling with friends. 

Aashvi Bist is an undergraduate student in the School of Health majoring in Human Science, on the pre-medical track. Passionate about health equity, Aashvi is excited to further her understanding of neuroplasticity to help improve patient outcomes and increase accessibility to neurorehabilitative care. Outside of the lab, Aashvi enjoys sketching portraits, hiking with friends, and traveling to new cities. 

Jamieson Park is an undergraduate student in the School of Health as a Human Science major with a minor in Theology & Religious Studies. Jamieson has aspirations to go to medical school in the future with interests in surgical procedures along with clinical research as a whole.n Outside of the lab, he enjoys drinking and making tea and coffee, playing piano, and photography.

Sara Melese is a junior at Georgetown University majoring in Human Science and minoring in Disability Studies. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Ethiopian roots, she is passionate about pharmacology and human physiology. At Georgetown, she was a research assistant in the DeCandia Lab where she co-designed a project surveying microorganisms comprising host-associated and environmental microbiomes. She is excited to explore brain plasticity and hopes to apply this knowledge to better grasp the pathology of neural disorders affecting those with physical disabilities along with potential future therapeutics.

Annika Elstrom is a sophomore in the School of Health studying Human Science. Annika plans on attending medical school in the future and is excited to learn how our studies at the VPP lab can apply to medical care. Outside of the lab, Annika enjoys going for runs, exploring DC, and trying out new restaurants and coffee shops. 

Emma Gatewood is a senior studying Human Science with a minor in Global Health in Georgetown’s School of Health. Emma is excited to be working on a project focused on visual screening for posterior cortical atrophy to better understand the disease's epidemiology. She is interested in pursuing her masters in public health and has professional aspirations to bring innovative health solutions to developing countries. Outside of the lab, Emma enjoys playing field hockey, is on the board of the Georgetown chapter of National Alzheimer’s Buddies, and spending time outdoors.