Ipshita Zutshi, PhD
Principal Investigator
Ipshita grew up in New Delhi, India. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego, where she worked with Stefan Leutgeb on circuit implementations of spatial tuning in the hippocampal–entorhinal network. She then joined György Buzsáki’s lab at New York University School of Medicine for her postdoctoral work, investigating how hippocampal activity reflects behavioral goals. She is a Simons Foundation Transition to Independence Fellow, the recipient of the 2025 Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award, and a 2025 finalist for the Blavatnik Regional Award for Young Scientists. Ipshita is fascinated by how the brain extracts features of the world to guide even the simplest behaviors. She hopes, over her lifetime, to uncover at least a few of the principles that make this possible.
Outside the lab, Ipshita enjoys yoga, reading fiction, and exploring new cuisines. These days, she’s also happily navigating the adventures of parenthood with her baby girl.
ARNALDO FERREIRA GOMES DA SILVA, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Arnaldo is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Zutshi Lab. After his PhD at Aix-Marseille University studying inhibitory network development and ripple oscillations using extracellular electrophysiology, he moved to Columbia University where he developed expertise in calcium imaging by performing simultaneous recordings of in vivo two-photon calcium imaging and high-density flexible-electrode electrophysiology.
He now brings together both techniques to explore a new passion: the neural mechanisms behind decision-making. How does the brain convert sensory inputs and internal states into choices? This is the question driving his current research. Outside the lab, he is an enthusiastic sports fan and anime lover.
ESKARLETH LOPEZ GONZALEZ
Graduate Student
Eskarleth, who goes by Skar, is a graduate student in the Zutshi Lab! She is from California where she graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular and Biology (B.S) and Psychology (B.A). During her time in Santa Cruz she explored research by studying astroviruses with Dr. Valerie Cortez’s lab. To gain more Neuroscience research experience she left California and joined Dr. Kara Marshall’s lab at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Now following her passion she joined the Zutshi lab to study the “moment to moment” activity that occurs during decision making and how these can be altered in neuropsychiatric disorders. In her free time she enjoys exploring the outdoors, arts and crafts and anime!
Hilary WHITTIER ORMES
Research Assistant
Hilary is fascinated by how the brain constructs experience, particularly the ways neural representations of time shape memory, attention, and cognition. Originally from Texas, Hilary earned a BS in broadcast journalism from TCU before working as a television reporter at stations across the country, including New York City. Eventually, she gave in to the persistent urge to study the brain, earning a master’s degree in psychology with a focus on neuroscience from Columbia University. While there, she conducted research on visual attention and multimedia learning using eye tracking and completed her thesis exploring temporal perception. Outside the lab, Hilary enjoys reading science fiction and spending time with her family and toddler daughter, whose current obsession is dolphins.
ROSHELLE GUNGON
Undergraduate student
Roshelle (Shelly) was born and raised in New Jersey and grew up in South Brunswick Township with her Filipino parents. She is a current undergraduate student in SEBS at Rutgers University and plans to major in Biotechnology with a focus on research. Her main research interests are in understanding what causes different stimulations within the hippocampus, as well as understanding their meaning and how they change. Later on, she wants to explore more into Biopharmaceuticals and how to create more effective/biologically compatible treatments. In her free time, she enjoys playing electric guitar and singing in her band, as well as hanging out with her friends.
Ruvanthika Sivaprakasini Veerasikku
Undergraduate student
Ruvanthika was born in India and moved to the United States as a baby, growing up in Edison, New Jersey. She is currently an undergraduate student at Rutgers University majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and minoring in Philosophy on a Pre-Med track. Her research interests focus on how entorhinal and hippocampal circuits encode memory, and how intrinsic neuronal properties contribute to spatial learning and cognitive function. In the future, she hopes to explore how disruptions in these mechanisms contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. In her free time, Ruvanthika enjoys reading and drawing. She also loves trying new experiences, such as snowboarding and learning Mandarin, and is always looking to pick up new skills.