People

Email: constanza.cortes[at]usc.edu

Dr. Constanza J. Cortes

Assistant Professor of Gerontology

Project/Research Interests: Exercise, geroprotection and neurodegenerative diseases
Fun Fact: I used to be a competitive salsa dancer when I was a postdoc.

Email: abirnbau[at]usc.edu

Dr. Allison Birnbaum

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education
PhD, Iowa State University — Genetics and Genomics
MS, SUNY Binghamton — Biomedical Anthropology
BS, SUNY Binghamton — Biochemistry

Projects/Research Interests: Exercise-associated modulation of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, astrocyte biology, glial-neural communication during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases
Fun fact: I enjoy pub trivia, swimming, and playing volleyball

Awards and Honors
Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship (AARF) Program – 2021
T32 – University of Southern California Gerontology Department – 2023

Ian Matthews

Graduate Student, PhD in the Biology of Aging Program

Project/Research Interests: Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in the context of aging and exercise.
Fun Fact: I have 2 orange cats – Manchego and Cheddar (pictured).

Ari Adler

Research Technician

Projects/Research Interests: biotherapeutics, cell culture techniques, muscle biology
Fun fact: I used to work extensively with fish of all shapes and sizes

Hash Brown

Research Technician

Education
MS, Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California Los Angeles
BS, Integrative Physiology, Neuroscience & Psychology with a Public Health Certificate, University of Colorado Boulder

Projects/Research Interests: Exercise-induced skeletal muscle activation as a means to prevent aging and neurodegeneration, extracellular vesicles, assay development.
Fun fact: I like to ride my motorcycle in my free time.

Jocelyne León

Research Technician

Project/Research Interests: Aging and Alzheimer’s
Fun Fact: On my days off you’ll find me at Universal Studios, Disneyland, or streaming a new show

Kailin Liu

Undergraduate Student, C/O 2026, Quantitative Biology BS

Project/Research Interests: Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiomics, and more to be discovered!
Fun Fact: I have an eyebrow slit! It’s not to look cool…more like the consequences of three-year-old me jumping on the couch.

Amy Huang

Undergraduate Student, Human Biology B.S., Class of 2025

Project/Research Interests: Effects of exercise and aging on the muscle and hippocampus
Fun Fact: I love creating new culinary creations through cooking (and attempting to teach my younger brother my recipes)!

Eleanor Liu

Undergraduate Student, B.S. Biochemistry, Class of 2024

Project/Research Interests: The molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease and translational research in aging
Fun Fact: I collect tropical houseplants and currently have over 15 just in my apartment!