Our Lab Members
We are always looking for curious, motivated, and collaborative researchers excited to study how brain circuits support flexible behavior and generalization.
Dr. Shin Kira
Principal Investigator
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.
Haley Smith
Graduate Student
Haley Smith is a graduate student in the Kira Lab at Florida State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience from Florida State University, where she developed a strong interdisciplinary background in cognitive, affective, and behavioral neuroscience research. Her research interests focus on memory, learning, and the neuronal circuits underlying cognition. Through her work in the Kira Lab, Haley is interested in exploring how cognitive processes are represented in the brain and how these processes translate to understanding. In her free time, Haley enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.
Devangshu Nandi
Graduate Student
Devangshu is interested in understanding the cognitive processes that biological systems perform effortlessly, yet continue to remain challenging for modern artificial intelligence systems. While pursuing his Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, he became fascinated by the remarkable efficiency and adaptability of biological intelligence and developed an interest in understanding how insights from biological systems could inform the development of more equitable and energy-efficient AI systems. This led him to pursue a Master’s degree in Cognitive Science at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, where he was introduced to experimental and computational approaches for studying the brain. He later worked at the Indian Institute of Science using mouse and rat models to study neural circuits while developing computational tools for behavioral analysis. As a graduate student in the Kira Lab, he hopes to further investigate how biological systems adapt to complex real-world environments through flexible decision-making. Outside of research, he enjoys long hikes, racquet sports, listening to music and enthusiastically playing air guitar and air drums.
Ella St. Pierre
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ella St. Pierre is a senior undergraduate DIS student in the Kira Lab. She is majoring in behavioral neuroscience and plans to attend graduate school and pursue a PhD. Ella aims to continue to be involved in memory neuroscience research, and her specific research interests include Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Through the Kira Lab, she gains experience in cognitive and systems neuroscience research and a formal understanding of neural networks, generalization and decision making. Outside of the lab, she enjoys swimming, botany, and outdoor activities as well as volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Project and Wounded Warrior Projects.
.jpeg)
Brianna Auguste
Undergraduate Research Assistnat
Brianna is a senior Psychology major and DIS student in the Kira Lab at Florida State University. Her research interests involve examining neural–behavior relationships, particularly in the context of anxiety and stress-related behaviors. In this lab, she seeks to develop technical and analytical skills in neuroscience research while deepening her understanding of neural networks underlying decision-making. Brianna plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with long-term goals of combining research and clinical work. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling with friends and family.
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.
Johanna Overbeck
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Johanna is an undergraduate research assistant in the Kira Lab through FSU's Undergraduate Research Oppertunity Program (UROP). She is currently a freshman majoring in biological sciences from Jupiter, Florida. Johanna is eager to explore how neural activity and model organisms can be used to understand memory, perception, and decision-making. She is excited to connect concepts from her coursework with hands-on lab experience and is excited to learn new skills in computational methods and data analysis. After her undergraduate studies, Johanna hopes to continue in research and eventually pursue a PhD with the goal of contributing to medical research. Outside the lab, she loves to travel, spend time with family, and watch films—her favorites are Alien and Oldboy.
Alex Riga
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Alex is an undergraduate cell and molecular neuroscience major at FSU and a research assistant in the Kira Lab through the Directed Individual Study program. She is eager to apply her coursework to hands-on research, deepening her understanding of neural networks and decision-making. Alex plans to pursue an MD and a career in medicine. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and traveling, and has had the opportunity to study abroad at FSU's campuses in London, Florence, and Valencia.
Yoel Piperno
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Yoel Piperno is DIS student in the Kira Lab at FSU. He is currently a rising senior undergraduate majoring in Interdisciplinary Medical Studies: Clinical Professions, and is from Jacksonville, FL. This lab has become increasingly relevant to his future academic goals and specifically its medical applications. He strives to learn as much knowledge in this field with hopes to apply it to his prospective career. After graduation Yoel plans on attending medical school and one day become a great surgeon. In his free time, he enjoys an intense workout, hanging out with friends, and going to the beach.
Marianna Salvetti
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Marianna is an undergraduate research assistant in the Kira Lab at Florida State University through DIS. She joined the lab after learning about the opportunity in Dr. Kira's PSB2000 course. She is a junior majoring in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience and is originally from Miami, Florida. Marianna plans to attend medical school one day and pursue a career in medicine, with particular interests in genetics, oncology, and ophthalmology. She looks forward to applying her Kira Lab experience to future medical research. During her first year at FSU, Marianna studied abroad at the Florence and Valencia study centers. She is proficient in Spanish and Italian. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, photography, and visiting the beach.
Lab Alumni
Keelyn McAnarney, B.S.
Evelynn Rhodes, B.S.
Tim Barbara, B.S.