Present and Former Hohmann Lab Members
Andrea Hohmann, Ph.D.
Meet Dr. Hohmann! Dr. Hohmann got her Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. at Brown University. At Indiana University, she is a Linda and Jack Gill Chair of Neuroscience and Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences. You can read more about Dr. Hohmann’s work and interests in the About page!
Phone: 812-856-0672
Email: hohmanna@indiana.edu
Websites: https://gillcenter.indiana.edu/profiles/faculty-profiles/hohmann.html http://psych.indiana.edu/faculty/hohmanna.php
Yvonne Lai, Ph.D.
Yvonne is a Senior Scientist with the lab. Yvonne is also a co-founder of company Anagin and serves as their vice president of Clinical Biology.
Contact: yylai@indiana.edu
Idaira Oliva, Ph.D.
Idaira is a Research Scientist with the Hohmann Lab. She received her PhD from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain, where she studied the role of astrocytes in the dopamine release during ischemia. Then, she did a postdoctoral training at the University of Texas at San Antonio researching dopamine release and dopamine related behaviors during cocaine self-administration. At Hohmann lab she will investigate the role of cannabinoids on opiate reward using self-administration, conditioned place preference and in vivo voltammetry.
Contact: iolivap@iu.edu
Carlos Alves Jesus, Ph.D.
Carlos Henrique Alves Jesus is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab. He has recently earned his PhD in pharmacology from the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, where he studied the effect of CBD in multiple neuropathic pain models. Carlos’ primary research interest is to investigate the effects of cannabinoids and their mechanisms in chronic pain, as well as potential sex differences in response to cannabinoid treatment. Outside of the lab, Carlos enjoys baking, hiking and watching Korean dramas on TV. He is also an avid volleyball enthusiast and enjoys playing and watching it.
Contact: chalvesj@iu.edu
Luana Assis Ferreira, Ph.D.
Luana Assis Ferreira is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Health Sciences from Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Brazil. She has experience with animal pain models and her research has focused on drug interactions. Luanas’ research interest is to investigate different therapies for cancer pain avoiding opioid abuse. Outside the lab, Luana loves to travel and snorkel, and also enjoys visiting museums and biking.
Contact: ludeassi@iu.edu
Current Graduate Students
Taylor Woodward
Taylor is a 5th year graduate student in the Hohmann lab interested in neural mechanisms of addiction. After receiving a BS in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University, where he worked in a lab studying the cellular mechanisms of addiction and reward, he spent 2 years as a technician at the UC-Denver studying neuronal excitability in various brain regions. His dissertation projects focuses on the role of the endocannabinoid system in stress processing and opioid reinforcement.
While he isn’t doing science, he enjoys searching for great hole-in-the-wall restaurants with his wife and playing with his children in addition to playing guitar and writing songs.
Contact: tjwoodwa@iu.edu
Kelsey Guenther
Kelsey received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph, majoring in Biology with a minor in Neuroscience. While in undergraduate studies Kelsey completed a research project under the supervision of Dr. Linda Parker examining the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) to reduce nausea in an animal model. Kelsey continued working under the supervision of Dr. Parker while completing a Master’s of Psychology in the Neuroscience and Applied Cognitive Science program at the University of Guelph, where she conducted research examining the ability of cocaine related cues to elicit a negative affective state in an animal model. Kelsey is currently in her fourth year of study at Indiana University, pursuing a dual major PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Neuroscience. Kelsey’s primary research interest is understanding how the cannabinoid system functions, specifically how manipulating the endocannabinoid system can have an influence on nociception.
Contact: kguenth@iu.edu
Jonah Wirt
Jonah is a 2nd year graduate student with the Hohmann Lab and 2019 graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.S. in Psychology. Jonah’s main interest is the interplay between pain and addiction. In the Hohmann Lab he performs opioid self-administration research involving endocannabinoid system manipulations, and also performs neuropathic pain testing in rodent models. Jonah also studies how manipulating the endocannabinoid system can result in downstream effects that lead to anxiety and locomotor changes.
In his spare time, Jonah likes to cook, run, write music, and spend time outdoors.
Contact: jlwirt@iu.edu
Joshua Watkins
Joshua is a PhD student in the lab, and holds a Bachelor of Science from Aquinas College, with majors in Biology and Psychology. Josh’s primary research interest is in the interaction between synthetic cannabinoid molecules and the respiratory system, with the ultimate goal of understanding clinical observations of cannabinoid-induced respiratory depression and developing effective reversal agents. Other interests include the crosstalk between the endocannabinoid and opioid systems, and how the endocannabinoid system can be leveraged to improve existing pharmacological tools used to combat opioid addiction and overdose.
Outside of science, Josh enjoys cooking, camping, birdwatching, and musical theater.
Contact: watkinjm@iu.edu
Paniz Azizi
Paniz is a 1st year graduate student. She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tehran, majoring in Biology. She is pursuing a dual major Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and Neuroscience. While in undergraduate studies, she completed a research project about the role of endocannabinoids in cognition and studied the endocannabinoid system and their signaling pathways in our body. Paniz’s primary interest is the neuropharmacology of addiction and pain and the molecular-based endocannabinoids interplay.
Dancing, fashion, and designing are some of her hobbies in her spare time.
Contact: pazizi@iu.edu
Current Staff
Emily Fender Sizemore
Emily Fender Sizemore is the current lab manager for the Hohmann Lab. She graduated from IU in 2020 with majors in Neuroscience and Biology, certificate in Animal Behavior, and minors in Psychology and Scientific Skills and Research Integrity. Her research interests are in the role of CB2 in neuropathic pain. Outside of the lab, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and baking.
Contact: efender@iu.edu
John Hainline
John Hainline is a laboratory technician from Indiana University. After previously working in a developmental neuroscience lab and a Covid Surveillance testing lab, John joins the Hohmann lab to better understand the interplay between endocannabinoid receptors and nociceptive pain, for the goal of advancing novel therapeutic research. When not in the lab, John enjoys studying music composition, rainy days, and taking care of cats.
Contact: jhainlin@iu.edu
Undergraduate Researchers
Hasaan Kazi
Hasaan is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience and enrolled in the Liberal Arts and Management Program (LAMP). Outside of the lab he is a part of various organizations including STEM Outreach and 21st Century Leadership. In addition to school he also enjoys snowboarding and traveling.
Contact: hkazi@iu.edu
Ada Port
Ada is a Senior Undergraduate at Indiana University majoring in Molecular Life Sciences with a minor in Psychology. She is passionate about developing a better understanding of chronic pain and novel treatment options. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, cooking, and cuddling with her cat, Piglet.
Contact: adrport@iu.edu
Mikey Dempsey
Mikey is a second-year undergraduate at IU majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Social Science in Medicine. Recently he has been assisting with projects related to neuropathic pain. Outside of the lab, Mikey enjoys movies, skiing, and trying new foods.
Contact: mwdempse@iu.edu
Rachel Hahn
Rachel is a second-year undergraduate at IU majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Psychology and English. She is mainly interested in the mechanisms of addiction and respiratory depression induced by opioids. Outside of the lab, Rachel enjoys hiking, stargazing, writing, and exploring any bookstore she finds.
Contact: hahnra@iu.edu
Former Lab Members
Will O’Connor
Will is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and enrolled in the Clinical Science certificate program. In the lab, Will investigates CB2 attenuation of respiratory depression with the use of whole body plethysmography equipment. Outside of the lab, Will enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with his cat Truffles.
Fezaan Kazi
Fez is a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Medical Sciences. In the lab, he’s been working with behavioral measures of anhedonia and allodynia in mouse models. In addition to working in the Hohmann Lab, Fez is a member of the secretariat of the Indiana University Model UN Conference. Outside of school, he enjoys photography, flying, and cooking.
Fez is currently attending Indiana University Medical School
Sarah Stockman
Sarah Stockman is a fourth year student at IU, majoring in Psychology with minors in Spanish and Business. In the Hohmann lab, Sarah investigates nociceptive processing through allosteric modulation on the CB1 receptor, as well as NAPE-PLD as a mechanism in pain relief. Sarah also serves as the Vice President of Psi Chi honors fraternity on campus.
Sarah graduated in 2022 and is working with Johnson and Johnson.
Vishakh Iyer, M.S., Ph.D.
Vishakh Iyer is a visiting research associate in the lab having recently earned a PhD. in Neural Science and Psychology from the Program in Neuroscience and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at IU Bloomington. Before beginning his PhD., Vishakh completed his B.Tech. in Bioinformatics from the Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil University in India, then earned his MS. in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas and subsequently worked as a Research Technologist at the Penn State College of Medicine, studying preclinical models of Parkinson’s Disease. His primary research focus in the Hohmann Lab is testing the impact of novel endocannabinoid-based approaches on the unwanted side-effects of commonly prescribed opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl. He is currently studying the effects of CB1 allosteric modulators on opioid mediated reward and unwanted side-effects. In his free time, Vishakh enjoys reading detective fiction and historical novels. He also loves cooking and enjoys making cocktails. He is an avid soccer fan and actively follows his team, Arsenal F.C.
Ailing Li, Ph.D.
Ailing is a research associate within the Hohmann Lab. She is working on projects elucidating mechanisms of chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain in electrophysiological mechanisms in the spinal dorsal horn for nociceptive processing and therapeutic effects of CB2 agonists in different pain models. Ailing received her Ph.D. degree from University of Texas at Arlington in 2014 and did her postdoctoral training from 2014 Aug. to 2016 Feb. at University of Cincinnati before joining Hohmann’s lab. Her hobbies include billiards, yoga, watching movies!
Zhili Xu, Ph.D.
Zhili is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Indiana University with our lab. She got her Ph.D. at University of Rochester in Biology working on RNA and Biochemistry.
Xiaoyan Lin, Ph.D.
Xiaoyan was a research associate in the lab. She has been working to identify the roles of Cannabinoid CB2 receptors in modulating the neuropathic pain. Another project she is working on is the interaction of opioid and CB2 agonist in paclitaxel induced neuropathic pain model. Besides these she also studies the role of CB2 agonists in inhibiting cancer pain in breast cancer animal model. Xiaoyan received her Ph.D. from the Cancer Institute at Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Immunology. She enjoys reading, hiking and spending time with families and friends.
Carmen Zavala
Carmen Zavala is a former laboratory technician and Indiana University graduate who majored in Neuroscience and minored in Biology and Spanish. In the Hohmann lab, Carmen investigated endocannabinoid-opioid peptide system interaction with a focus on the CB2 receptor and its effects on opioid-induced respiratory depression and withdrawal. Carmen also works for the Office of the Vice President for Research where she assists with Indiana University's Grand Challenge Initiative: Responding to the Addictions Crisis. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, exercising, and playing guitar.
Romario Pacheco
Romario is a Biologist from Mackenzie University. At the Hohmann Lab, his goal is to investigate nociceptive processing using modulators of CB1 receptor allosteric sites, and to exploit transgenic models available for the study of the endocannabinoid system. Romario is interested in how affective disorders impact brain behavior systems and the interplay between neuropathic pain and addiction. Romario uses bimolecular approaches to answer important scientific questions and is a valuable asset to the Hohmann Lab team as he is the main point person for immunohistochemistry studies.
In his free time, Romario participates in show choir, cooking, yoga, and volunteer acting.
Shahin Saberi
Shahin graduated from Indiana University with majors in Neuroscience and Biology. In the Hohmann Lab, he worked with novel protein-protein interaction inhibitors to evaluate their effects on opioid-based reward and studies the antinociceptive properties of cannabinoid CB1 allosteric modulators. In addition to working in the Hohmann Lab, Shahin was the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the IU Journal of Undergraduate Research. His favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption and his favorite musical artist is Young the Giant. Congratulations to Shahin for being accepted to Harvard University Medical School’s Class of 2020!
Gabriela Rajic
Gabi finished her undergraduate BS degree at IU in Psychology and Neuroscience in 2018. She worked with the lab for two years before joining the lab full-time as a visiting research associate. For the past three years in the Hohmann lab she has worked on projects with both rats and mice monitoring opioid tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, quantifying immunohistochemistry labels in spinal cord as well as in vivo behavioral tests like measuring mechanical and cold allodynia using von Frey and acetone tests. She has also gained a lot of experience with ex vivo techniques including perfusions, dissections, cryo-sectioning, and processing tissue for immunohistochemistry, mass spectrometry, rtPCR and flow cytometry. She enjoys yoga, cooking, and traveling during her free time.
Ana Carla Dos Santos Thomaz
Ana is a former graduate student in the dual major Program in Neuroscience and Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology. She received her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from UFABC in Brazil, while also serving as a technician in a microbiology lab. Ana's main research focus is on the gut-brain-axis and the role that gut microbiota play in opioid addiction. She is also interested in the role of CB2 receptors in opioid analgesic and side effects. In her free time, she enjoys taking photos, cooking and watching movies.
Richard Slivicki, Ph.D.
Richard is a former Ph.D. student with our lab who is now working as a Postdoctoral scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis.
Sonali Mali
Sonali studied Neuroscience at IU and researched in the lab during her undergraduate career. She graduated and is now pursuing graduate studies at Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at UC Berkeley.
Wan-Hung (Joy) Lee, Ph.D.
Joy was a former Ph.D. graduate student in our lab who studied Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. She is currently working in Indianapolis at Anagin as a Research Scientist.
Megan Huibregtse
Megan was an undergraduate researcher in the lab who got a BS in Neuroscience. She is currently getting her Ph.D. in Kinesiology at Indiana University. Megan contributed to three papers with the Hohmann lab during her time here. She also rode in the woman’s Little 500 at IU.
Lawrence Carey, M.S.
Larry was a Neuroscience and Psychological and Brain Sciences Ph.D. student in our lab. Before coming to IU, Larry got his undergraduate degree in Psychology and masters degree in Experimental Psychology at Northern Michigan University. Larry's research interests involve cannabinoid pharmacology, the development of novel analgesic drugs and neuro-immune interactions in the genesis of pathological pain. Larry enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time outdoors.
Liting Deng, Ph.D.
Former Graduate Researcher in the lab who completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Biochemistry, is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.
Josee Guindon, M.S., Ph.D., DVM
Josee was a research associate and assistant scientist with the Hohmann Lab. She is currently an assistant professor in pharmacology at Texas Tech University.