Laboratory Members

Jennifer Dulin, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Jennifer Dulin has been researching in the field of spinal cord injury since 2008. She received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and performed her postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Diego. Jen is a native Texan and an Aggie (’05), and she is proud to have returned to Texas A&M as a faculty member in the Department of Biology.

Google Scholar Link

Prakruthi Amar Kumar

Graduate Student

Prakruthi is a Ph.D. student in the Dulin Lab. She received a Master’s degree in Microbiology from St. Joseph’s College, India in May 2016 and has worked for 2 years as Associate Research Scientist in the Microbiology and Molecular biology team at BUGWORKS Research India Pvt Ltd. Prakruthi's project is aimed at understanding hyperactivity of pain neurons in the injured nervous system, and working to regulate/silence the activity of these neurons to promote functional recovery post spinal cord injury. Prakruthi is also an Indian Classical vocalist and has performed at many concerts in India. During her free time, she enjoys singing, playing Badminton and reading novels.

Gabrielle Dampf

Graduate Student

Gabe is a PhD student in the Dulin laboratory. She received her BS in Biology from Baylor University, then an MS in Biomedical Sciences. Her research in the Dulin lab investigates the functional and synaptic integration of NPCs in the recovery of the forelimb motor circuitry post SCI. Outside the lab, she loves weight lifting, cooking/baking, traveling, and trying local restaurants.

Vipin Jagrit

Graduate Student

Vipin is a Ph.D. student in the Dulin Lab. He received his BE in Biotechnology from Indian Institute of Technology, India in May 2020.
His project is aimed to understand the effects of NPCs transplantation & activity based rehabilitation on
synaptic integration and graft mediated functional recovery. Outside the lab Vipin loves playing soccer, enjoys music and watching TV shows.

Angelina Baltazar

Undergraduate Student Researcher

Angelina is a Biomedical Engineering Honors student from College Station, Texas. After graduating from Texas A&M, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. In the lab, she works with Ashley identifying NPC-derived interneurons most important in the recovery of locomotion after injury. During her free time, she enjoys baking, playing the flute, and spending time with her cat.

Katie Vo

Undergraduate Student Researcher

Katie is a Biology Honors major from Katy, Texas. After graduating from Texas A&M University, she plans to attend medical school with the hopes of becoming a Medical Oncologist. She is currently working with Post-Doctorate Miriam Aceves to investigate neural progenitor cell transplantation and integration into spinal cord circuitry. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading, doing the crossword puzzle, and trying new foods!

Avnika Tandon

Undergraduate Student Researcher

Avnika is a Neuroscience major minoring in Public Health. She is from El Paso, TX and joined the lab in August 2022. After graduation she hopes to attend medical school in pursuit of becoming a Psychiatrist. She will be working under Gabe to focus on forelimb motor circuit recovery and explore potential therapeutic treatments. Outside of school, she loves painting, reading, and listening to all kinds of music.

Yahya Kharbat

Undergraduate Student Researcher

Yahya is a sophomore biology student from the Woodlands, Texas, although he attended high school overseas in Saudi Arabia. He is planning on going to medical school after he graduates with the hopes of becoming a neuroendovascular surgeon. He is currently working under Prakruthi on a project focused on applying chemogenetics to silence hyperactive pain neurons to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and drawing as well as creating digital art.

Ratt Damon M.D., Ph.D.

Anatomist/Thespian

Dr. Damon has had a career path that has been nothing short of unconventional. Dr. Damon initially pursued a career in Hollywood, appearing in the Harry Potter films as a stunt double for the character Scabbers and assisting in the motion capture work used for Ratatouille. However, after being beaten out for the lead role in the Jason Bourne film series he redirected his attention to science and medicine. Now, Dr. Ratt Damon is responsible for teaching skeletal structures to all incoming lab members.

Kindred Campbell

Laboratory Manager

Kindred is the manager of the Dulin laboratory. She received a B.S. of Neuroscience at Texas A&M and is a fightin’ Texas Aggie, Class of ‘23. She plans to pursue a PhD with a Neuroscience focus. She currently oversees laboratory activities and assists graduate students with their projects. Outside of lab, she enjoys crocheting, singing, cooking and hiking.

Dulin Lab Alumni

Ashley Smith

Undergraduate Student Researcher

Ashley is a Genetics major minoring in Public Health and Neuroscience from Coeur D' Alene, Idaho. She is planning on going to medical school after graduation with the hopes of becoming a pain management anesthesiologist. She is currently working under Vipin, who focuses on investigating how neural progenitor cell transplantation and rehabilitation can be used to repair forelimb motor circuitry. In her free time, she enjoys binge watching TV, buying an excessive amount of houseplants, cooking, and hanging out with friends.