Our Lab Members
We are always looking for curious, motivated, and collaborative researchers excited to study how brain circuits support flexible behavior and generalization.
Shin Kira
Assistant Professor
Shin is primarily interested in how the brain makes sense of the complex real world, and how this remarkable capability can be restored when it is impaired. He received his MD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan and completed his PhD in the Shadlen Lab at the University of Washington and Columbia University, where he studied decision-making in monkeys and humans using electrophysiology, psychophysics, and computational modeling. For his postdoctoral work in the Harvey Lab at Harvard Medical School, he studied how the brain combines memory and sensory input to generate appropriate actions, using a navigation-based decision-making task in mice, two-photon calcium imaging, and optogenetics.
Timothy Barbara
Laboratory Assistant
Timothy is the Laboratory Assistant for the Kira Lab at Florida State University. He earned his B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Statistics from FSU. As an undergraduate, he gained experience conducting research on anxiety, trauma, and minority mental health. In his current role, he is developing computational skills and exploring neuroscience research. He hopes to expand on his research in graduate school to better identify and target underlying factors that drive outcomes such as anxiety and resilience. In his free time, he enjoys learning more about psychology, traveling, and connecting with family and friends.
Keelyn McAnarney
Directed Independent Study Student
Keelyn is a DIS student in the Kira Lab at FSU. She is currently a senior undergraduate majoring in behavioral neuroscience. She is from Sarasota, FL, and is excited to gain experience in Dr. Kira’s lab! In the future, she hopes to conduct research on the consolidation of sensation and memory. She did her first year abroad in London and Florence, and aspires to work and/or study abroad again. In her free time, Keelyn enjoys reading, cooking/baking, and traveling.
Liam Kerner
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Liam is an undergraduate research assistant in the Kira lab. He is currently a freshman at FSU studying Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, from Melbourne, FL. As a research assistant, Liam hopes to expand his understanding of the field of Neuroscience, combining interests from various disciplines. Liam hopes to pursue a career in research medicine through and MD/PhD program. In his free time, Liam likes to play pickleball, make art, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
