Francesca Dino
BA- Research Services Senior Professional
Francesca Dino is a Research Services Senior Professional for the University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center. She graduated from the University of Denver with degrees in Biology and Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience. Francesca works directly under Dr. Peter Pressman coordinating his studies focused on Frontotemporal dementias, Primary Progressive Aphasia, and nonverbal communication deficits in neurodegenerative disease. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in neuroscience where she can combine her love of computers and the brain. In her spare time, Francesca enjoys exploring Colorado's outdoors, reading a good book, and playing the French horn.
Jane Brusilovsky
BA - Computational Linguistics Graduate Researcher
Jane Brusilovsky is a graduate student researcher at the CSAND lab. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Cognitive Science with concentrations in linguistics and computational approaches to neuroscience and cognition. Her research interests include 3D medical visualization and computational linguistics. Jane conducts data analysis and programs various experiments for the lab. She plans on working in the medical technology industry after graduating from the Modern Human Anatomy Master's program. Outside of the CSAND lab, she also conducts 3D medical visualization research in the Inworks Lab and enjoys digital art.
Boston Gubler
BS - Student Research Assistant
Boston Gubler is a second-year medical student at the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz. He completed his undergraduate at Utah Valley University. Although new to the research world, Boston is excited about his current project of assisting Dr. Pressman with the creation of an extensive database that will allow for insights into many topics. Boston’s research interests are wide-ranging, but he is eager to learn all he can about the process of performing careful, helpful research.
Michelle Stocker
BA - Clinical Trial Research and Communications Professional
Michelle Stocker is the Clinical Trial Research and Communications Professional for the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center. In this role, she organizes community presentations that promote education on healthy brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia research. She helps with media inquiries, manages the Center’s websites and Facebook Page, study recruitment, and other communications and community outreach related responsibilities. Michelle is also a coordinator for the CU Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center’s clinical drug trials on Sargramostim and Biogen’s EMERGE study, and does cognitive testing for the observational studies. She graduated from Elon University in North Carolina in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and Neuroscience and Biology minors. Her research interests focus on memory and learning across the lifespan, and she completed her undergraduate thesis on healthy older adult memory. In the winter, you can find Michelle skiing in the mountains, and in the summer she likes to camp, hike, go white water rafting, and play pick-up games of volleyball.
Natalie Lopez-Esquibel
BS - Clinical Research Recruitment Specialist and Coordinator
Natalie Lopez-Esquibel, BS, joined the team as a Clinical Research Recruitment Specialist and Coordinator in August 2019. She graduated from Regis University in spring 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience. She is the recruitment specialist for the CU Alzheimer's and Cognition Center, helping recruit new participants to their various studies. She also coordinates several studies and facilitates recruitment efforts for observational studies and clinical trials in several other subspecialties within the Neurology department, including Neuropalliative Care, Movement Disorders, and Epilepsy. She plans to apply to graduate programs in psychology to extend her capabilities in research and her impact on people living with neurodegenerative dementias.
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Recruitment Email: [email protected]
Office: 303-724-4644
Education
BS, Regis University
Erin Weinhold
BA - Research Services Professional
Erin Weinhold, BA, joined the University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center in November 2021. Her role as a Professional Research Assistant involves research coordination and neuropsychological testing for several studies, including a clinical drug trial on Sargramostim. Erin graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, and double-minored in Spanish and Gender and Health. Her research values include patient-centered care with an emphasis on the mind-body connection.
Ellie Carter
BA - Research Services Professional
After graduating from Macalester College in 2018 with a BA in Neuroscience, Ellie worked in the Neuronal Injury Program at CU Anschutz studying cognitive outcomes of traumatic brain injury and stroke in preclinical models. She then made the transition to clinical research, joining the Neurology team in November 2021 as a Research Services Professional. Ellie works with the NeuroBehavior group as a coordinator and rater on studies of neurodegenerative diseases, like frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, in addition to working on studies of vascular dementia following stroke. Ellie is interested in pursuing neuropsychology and loves the chance to learn more about the brain every day. Outside of work, Ellie spends time volunteering as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for Denver Child Advocates, learning to play tennis, reading with her book club, and exploring the great outdoors.
Nelly Sólorzano
BS - Research Services Professional
Nelly Solórzano joins the Neurology department as a professional research assistant. She is the coordinator for two of the CU Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center’s clinical drug trials. Previously, Nelly worked with the Denver Research Institute and the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System conducting research with US veterans. She is interested in aging related research topics. Outside of work, she enjoys walking, yoga, and true crime podcasts.