Alison Pischedda

Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
​Barnard College, Columbia University
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology from Queen's University. I then completed a Master of Science at Queen's with Adam Chippindale, a PhD at the University of California, Santa Barbara with Bill Rice, and postdoctoral work with Tom Turner at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I joined the Barnard faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2017.

At Barnard, I teach the Animal Behavior lecture and lab courses (BIOL BC2280/2281), and the combined Guided Research & Seminar/Senior Thesis Research course in Biology (BIOL BC3591-2/3593-4).

Lab Members

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Olivia Anastasio
Lab Technician
MS, BA Clark University

Olivia joined the lab as our technician in November 2020. She earned a Bachelor's in Environmental Conservation & Biology from Clark University in 2019. She then completed her Master's in 2020 with Kate Mathis at Clark University studying the spatial distribution of Argentine ants. During her Master's Olivia worked as a Biostatistics TA and as a mentor with the Summer Bridge to Research (SBTR) Program at the University of California Riverside. 
Olivia Lab News
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Chelsea Sinclair
Barnard College '21
Major: Neuroscience & Behavior

Chelsea joined the lab as a sophomore in Spring 2019. She is currently the SGA Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees and a recipient of the Millicent C. McIntosh Award for the Class of 2021. Chelsea conducted research in the lab as part of SRI 2019 and conducted research remotely as part of SRI 2020. She was awarded the Charles H. Turner Award for 2020 from the Animal Behavior Society. 
Chelsea Lab News

Mariel Correa-Maynard
Barnard College '22
​Major: Biology (Physiol & Organismal)

Mariel joined the lab as a sophomore in the Spring of 2020. She is a Barnard Student Admission Representative, a teacher for Columbia's Youth for Debate, and a member of Mujeres and BOSS.
Mariel Lab News
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Olivia Eliopoulos 
Barnard College '22
​Major: Biology (Cellular & Molecular)

Olivia joined the lab as a sophomore in the Spring of 2020. She is a New Student Orientation Leader, a Genetics TA, and a Peer Tutor. She is also doing research on the genetic etiology of VACTERL Association as part of the Biology Department's Project Lab in Molecular Genetics.
Olivia Lab News

Grace Freed
​Barnard College '23
​Major: Biology (Cellular & Molecular)

Grace joined the lab (remotely!) as a sophomore in the Fall of 2020. She is a member of the McIntosh Activities Council (McAC) and an Advising Fellow with Matriculate. ​

​Lab Alums

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Holly Doig (BC '23)
Major: Physiological and Organismal Biology
In lab: Jan 2020-May 2020
Holly Lab News
​Currently: Undergrad Researcher, Nguyen Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital
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Abigail Gutierrez (BC '20)
Major: Biology
In lab: Jan 2018-May 2020
Abby Lab News
​Currently: Medical Scribe, CityMD
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Ana-Maria Rodriguez Cuadrado (BC '20)
Major: Biology
In lab: Sept 2018-May 2020
Ana-Maria Lab News
​Currently: Legal Assistant, The Hernan Law Firm
Karolina Szenkiel (BC '22)
Major: Biology
In lab: Sept 2019-May 2020
Lina Lab News
​Currently: Undergrad Researcher, Lopatkin Lab, Barnard College
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Aneeza Asif (BC '21)
Major: Cellular and Molecular Biology
In lab: Sept-Dec 2019
​Currently: ​Undergrad Researcher, Mace Lab, Columbia University Medical Center
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Suriya Lisa (BC '19)
Major: Neuroscience & Behavior​
In lab: Feb 2018-May 2019
​Lisa Lab News
​Currently: MD Student, Georgetown University School of Medicine
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Taylor Leong (BC '19)
Major: Biology​
In lab: Feb 2018-May 2019
​Taylor Lab News
Nushrat Chowdhury (BC '19)
Major: Biology
In lab: Feb-Dec 2018
​Nushrat Lab News
​Currently: Medical Scribe, CityMD Urgent Care
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Stacy Kanellopoulos (BC '20)
Major: Spanish and Latin American Culture​
In lab: Feb-Dec 2018
​Stacy Lab News
Currently: Debt Capital Markets Analyst, MUFG