Maria J Galazo, PhD
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Cell and Molecular Biology & Tulane Brain Institute
Belle Kantor
Lab Research Technician
Maria is from Madrid, Spain. After obtaining her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Autonoma University of Madrid, she moved to the US and became Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University and then Postdoctoral Researcher at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT.Maria is broadly interested in understanding the interplay between mechanisms acting at the genetic, cellular, and network levels regulating neural circuit formation and the emergence of brain functions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys New Orleans food, long walks in Audubon Park, hanging out with her cats, and loves building stuff. She volunteers at Zeus animal shelter whenever possible.Belle is originally from Westport, Connecticut, and joined the lab in 2024. After graduating in 2024 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology she became a technician. She intends to go to medical school with the hopes of becoming a pediatrician and continuing research in neurodevelopment. Outside of the lab Belle enjoys reading, cooking and baking, as well as, running or walking in Audubon Park.
Ayesha obtained both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She majored in Zoology and then went on to obtain a master’s in Genetics and Molecular Biology. During her master’s, she conducted a mitochondrial genome study of an economically important fish of Bangladesh. She moved to Tulane University in 2024 to pursue a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology and later joined Galazo lab in summer, 2025. Her work is a continuation of former PhD student Rajan KC’s project where is investigating the role of a transcription co-regulator in the development of a corticothalamic neurons as well as their synaptic maturation and how it might be relevant to NDD. Besides work, she likes to explore the city of New Orleans and eat good food.
Syed received his B.S. in Biology from University of Houston in 2022. After graduation, he studied the role of ferroptosis in vascular dementia at UTHealth-Houston before moving to Tulane University for his Ph.D. in Neuroscience. For his Ph.D., he is studying how developmentally reprogrammed corticothalamic neurons affect fine motor function in mice.
Outside work, he loves working out, learning to play different musical instruments, watching Arsenal games, and listening to music.
Masters Researchers
PhD Students
2nd year PhD student
2nd year PhD student
Dylan Ratner, Class of 2026
Originally from Western Massachusetts, Dylan Ratner is a senior at Tulane University, who was recently accepted and joined the Neuroscience Masters Program. Their academic focus is on psychology and cognitive science, with a keen interest in neuroscience. In the Galazo Lab, Dylan performs daily animal handling and motor function assessments on mice, both pre- and post-optogenetic device implantation. Beyond the Galazo Lab, Dylan collaborates with Dr. Richard Bedlack at Duke University, contributing to ALSUntangled publications and exploring alternative treatments for ALS. Outside the lab, Dylan enjoys activities like playing frisbee, reading, and crafting.
Michaela is originally from Hendersonville, North Carolina and obtained her B.S. in Biology from Duke University. She is currently a masters student in the Neuroscience program at Tulane and joined the Galazo Lab in Fall 2025. Her work in the lab focuses on neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier permeability in a heterozygous Zmiz1 knockout mouse model. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time outdoors.
Undergraduate Researchers
Sam is a senior from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor in Spanish. In the Galazo lab, Sam is involved with the ZMIZ1 project, which involves conducting developmental and motor assessments of mice. She is currently working on analyzing the three chamber test results of the Zmiz1-heterozygous mice and comparing those to the behavioral results Zmiz1-cKO mice and control mice. After graduating, Sam plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. Outside of the lab, she enjoys going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and playing trumpet in the marching band!
