MEET OUR TEAM
Members at Hruska Lab are made up of talented scientists from a wide variety backgrounds. What unites us is an undying passion for learning and discovery.
MARTIN HRUSKA, PHD
Team leader
Martin is the devoted group leader who is passionate about synapses and imaging. He is enthusiastic about mentoring students and post-docs. Martin earned his PhD from the University of Vermont and did his post-doc at UPenn and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Martin loves all things outdoors - skiing, hiking, camping and is currently thinking about getting into mountain biking. Being at WVU allows me to combine cutting edge neuroscience research with my love of outdoors. Join my group if this lifestyle appeals to you!
JAMES SCRIPTER, B.S.
Neuroscience Graduate Student
James is originally from West Springfield, MA. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from Westfield State University. After he graduated he was accepted into the NIH Post-baccalaureate program working in Dr. Susan Wray’s Lab looking at the development of the GnRH neurons in the olfactory system. James then came to West Virginia University to work towards his Ph.D. in neuroscience. He joined Dr. Martin Hruska’s lab looking at how synapses are affected in Alzheimer’s disease. He is currently determining the impact of A-beta on the nanoscale organization of dendritic spines. Outside of the lab, James enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and biking.
YEASMIN AKTER, M.S.
Neurosceince Graduate Student
Yeasmin is from Bangladesh, a beautifully green south-Asian country. She has completed her B.S. and M.S. in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering from Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. After completing her M.S., she was admitted to the Neuroscience Ph.D. program at the WVU and joined Dr. Martin Hruska's lab. She is keenly interested in studying the brain, how it changes in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Her Ph.D. research focuses on the role of synapse organizing molecules in Alzheimer's disease. Yeasmin loves spending time with family, cooking, visiting new places, and hiking outside the lab.
I enjoy being a part of a very diverse group of people here in Dr. Hruska's lab. We are all interested in learning about each other's cultures and embracing our differences. If you are interested in learning about the complex mechanisms of brain communication through synapses in health and disease using state-of-the-art approaches, come join us in the Hruska lab. Let's have some fun together with Brain Science!!!
AUTUMN SHIELDS
WVU Undergraduate Student
(Neuroscience Major)
Autumn Shields is an undergraduate neuroscience student with a minor in psychology from Southern West Virginia. They are passionate about understanding how neurological conditions and diseases affect the brain, with academic interests spanning neurodegenerative diseases, mental health and illness, brain imaging, and cognitive behavioral neuroscience. They hope to pursue graduate studies and contribute to the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and mental health through research. Outside the lab, Autumn enjoys listening to music and reading. They also enjoy spending time outdoors, painting, cooking, and relaxing with their cat, Joji.
NATHAN TAYLOR
WVU Undergraduate Student
(Neuroscience Major)
Nathan grew up in Bellefonte, PA. He is currently pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience with an
emphasis in cellular and molecular neuroscience, along with a minor in Statistics. Passionate about advancing the field of neuroscience, he plans to continue research into graduate school. He is especially interested in neurogenetics and degenerative brain diseases. He hopes to better understand the mechanisms underlying certain neurodegenerative diseases and the potential biomarkers associated. Outside the lab and classroom, Nathan enjoys hiking, cooking, movie nights with friends, and staying active.
Lab alumni
Grace Jones, MS
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Technician
Victoria Shifflett
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WVU Neuroscience undergraduate
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Currently in the WVU PhD Neuroscience program
Lindsay Morais
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West Liberty University undergraduate
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Currently in the WVU PhD Neuroscience program
Heath Beam
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WVU Neuroscience undergraduate​
Yssabela Ma Mikh Cabuyao
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WVU Neuroscience undergraduate​