Roberts Lab

Michael Roberts, PhD

Principal Investigator | microb@umich.edu | (he/him)

Assistant Professor - Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology

PhD Cell and Molecular Biology - The University of Texas at Austin

B.A. Biology - The University of Chicago

Fun Fact: I used to play trombone, and I love jazz and fishing.

Audrey Drotos

PhD Candidate | adrotos@umich.edu | (she/her)

B.A. Music & B.S. Neuroscience - Michigan State University

Research Focus: NMDA receptor and complex sound processing in the inferior colliculus

Fun Fact: I play the cello and am a long-distance runner.

Yoani Herrera

PhD Candidate | yoanih@umich.edu | (she/her)

B.S.E Biomedical Engineering - University of Michigan

Research Focus: Understanding T-stellate neuron contributions to sound processing in the inferior colliculus

Fun Fact: I have a one-eared cat named Van Gogh.

Elie Huez

PhD Candidate | eliehuez@umich.edu | (he/him)

B.S. Behavioral Neuroscience - Michigan State University

Research Focus: Determining the presence and potential role of somatostatin cells in the inferior colliculus

Fun Fact: I like biking and am working towards a centennial ride

Sarah Wajdi

Undergraduate Researcher Assistant | swajdi@umich.edu | (she/her/hers)

Fun Fact: I like to play the violin, and I dance.

Ananda Lewis

Undergraduate Researcher Assistant | anadlew@umich.edu | (she/her)

Fun Fact: I studied Spanish and Arabic in the Dominican Republic and Egypt this past summer

Lab Alumni:

Postdoctoral Fellows:

Graduate Students:

  • Luis Rivera-Perez, PhD (2017-2023)

    • Dissertation title: “Neuromodulatory Mechanisms in the Auditory Tectothalamic Pathway”

Technicians:

  • Amanda Bock

  • Peter Malinski

Undergraduates:

  • Rachel Zarb (2022-2023)

  • Jina Patel (2021-2022) - current position: Undergraduate at the University of Michigan

  • Trevor Versalle (2021-2022)

  • Alexandra Digennaro (2021-2022)

  • Lindsay Miles (2019-2020)

  • Julia Kwapiszewski (2018-2022) - current position: Medical student at Central Michigan University

  • Justin Anair (2017-2021) - current position: Graduate student in Neuroscience PhD Program at Northwestern

  • Alexander George (2016-2019) - current position: Medical student at Oakland University

Summer students through the NURO and SIREN programs:

  • Kennetra Smith - current position: undergraduate at Virginia Tech

  • Trinity Pirrone - current position: undergraduate at Macalester College

  • Benjamin Filio - current position: Graduate student in the Brown/NIH Graduate Partnership Program

  • Kevin Cruz-Colon - current position: Graduate student in Neuroscience Graduate Program at University of Michigan

  • Hiywot Tulu - current position: Field Support Technician at Roche