Elise Cope, PhD
Assistant professor, department of neuroscience University of virginia
B.S. Florida State University
Ph.D. Florida State University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton Neuroscience Institute
Elise.Cope@virginia.edu
GRADUATE STUDENTS
BRENDA SANCHEZ
eqa8wj@virginia.edu
Brenda graduated from UNC-CH with a BS in Biology and did a postbacc. fellowship at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. She is currently an NGP student interested in studying PNNs in the context of social memory. Beyond the lab, she enjoys making art and being involved in science outreach.
JACQUELINE MOATS
wxe7sb@virginia.edu
Jackie is a graduate from Florida International University with a B.S. in Biology and completed a postbacc fellowship at the NIH. She is interested in the learning and memory arenas of Neuroscience with an emphasis on structural plasticity. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her cat named Pi.
PIOTR KRASZEWSKI
yaw7vm@virginia.edu
Piotr is a graduate from Jagiellonian University with a master’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology. He is currently a PhD student in the Cell Biology program interested in perineuronal net biology and structural plasticity. Outside of the lab, Piotr enjoys traveling and cooking.
LAB TECHNICIANS
WALTER TATERA
kut2rm@virginia.edu
Walt received his master’s degree from Virginia Tech in 2023, where his project focused on lateral parabrachial cholinergic neurons and their relationship to food reward behavior. He joined the Cope Lab in 2023, where his research focuses on adult-born neurons and their influence on social memory. In his free time, Walt enjoys reading, music, and traveling.
CORY WATSON
fzz4ef@virginia.edu
Cory received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Florida, before working as a technician in the UF Neuroscience Department for several years, studying the effects of a ketogenic diet on Alzheimer’s Disease. He joined the Cope lab in 2026, where he assists with several ongoing projects. In his free time, he enjoys board games, baking, and amusement parks.
ISABELLE MEEKS
hpj8sv@virginia.edu
Izzy received her undergraduate degree in Neurosicence from UVA in 2025. She joined the Cope Lab as an undergraduate because of her interest in neurodegenerative diseases and memory, and she has chosen to continue in the lab as a technician after graduation. Outside of the lab, Izzy enjoys doing ballet, playing cello, cooking, and listening to music.
KELSEY COSS
fnz4fk@virginia.edu
Kelsey is a graduate from Florida State University with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in Biology, where her previous projects focused on the transformation of spatial memory in Alzheimer’s Disease. Kelsey’s research interests include exploring neuroplasticity in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, baking, and composing music on the piano, viola, and guitar.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
KATHERINE SPONAUGLE
jzg3jh@virginia.edu
Katie is an undergraduate student from Falls Church, VA studying Neuroscience and Statistics (UVA Class of 2026). She joined the Cope Lab due to her interest in the mechanisms of structural plasticity and the development of effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, Katie enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
DAWNIE HUYNH
skh8du@virginia.edu
Dawnie is an undergraduate student from Gainesville, Virginia majoring in Biology (UVA class of 2027). She joined the Cope Lab due to her interest in neurodegenerative diseases and its cellular mechanisms. Her hobbies outside of academics include journaling, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family.
MAX ELLIS
mje4sg@virginia.edu
Max is an undergraduate student from Alexandria, VA studying Neuroscience (UVA Class of 2028). He joined the Cope Lab due to his interest in memory and structural plasticity. Outside of the lab, Max enjoys hiking, whitewater kayaking, bananagrams, and reading a great book.
CONNOR RENNER
xvx5h@virginia.edu
Connor is an undergraduate student from Tucson, Arizona studying Neuroscience and Data Science (UVA Class of 2029). He joined the Cope Lab due to his interest in how hippocampal microglial mechanisms regulate memory and behavior and how cellular-level dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, Connor enjoys working out, playing video games, cooking, playing sports, and spending time with friends.
