Alison Pischedda

Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
​Barnard College, Columbia University
she/her/hers
I earned my BSc in Mathematics, my BSc (Honours) in Biology and my MSc in Biology from Queen's University. I then completed my PhD and postdoctoral work in Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I joined the Barnard faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology in 2017. I am also an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Neuroscience and Behavior at Barnard and the E3B Department at Columbia University.
Ali Lab News

Current Lab Members

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Avigayil Lev
​Lab  Technician
BA Barnard College '22
she/her/hers

Avigayil started as our lab technician in May 2022 after graduating from Barnard with a BA in Environmental Science. Avigayil is the recipient of the 2022 Henry Sharp Prize from the Barnard Environmental Science Department and a Pischedda Lab alum. She participated in SRI 2021 and completed her Environmental Science senior thesis in the lab studying the evolution of male mate choice -- work she will be continuing this year. 
Avigayil Lab News
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Abigail Gutierrez
Biology Laboratory Specialist
BA Barnard College '20
​she/her/hers

Abby is a Pischedda Lab alum who worked in the lab from January 2018-May 2020 when she graduated with a BA in Biology. She is now a Laboratory Specialist in the Barnard Biology Department, where she teaches the introductory biology labs and assists with the introductory biology lecture series. Because she does not teach in the summer, Abby is able to help with our summer research! 
Abby Lab News

Grace Freed
​Barnard College '23
​Major: Biology (Cellular & Molecular)
​she/her/hers

Grace joined the lab (remotely!) as a sophomore in the Fall of 2020 and has been working in the lab in-person since Spring 2021. She conducted research in the lab as part of SRI 2022 and is currently completing an independent Biology Guided Research & Seminar project studying the heritability of male courtship preferences. Grace is an Intro Bio TA, the social media chair for the Columbia Women's Club Soccer Team, and works with Prof. JJ Miranda on the Barnard Wastewater Surveillance Program.
​Grace Lab News
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Ashley Canizares
Barnard College '23
​Major: Biology (Physiol & Organismal)
​she/her/hers

Ashley joined the lab as a junior in the Fall of 2021. She conducted research in the lab as part of SRI 2022 and is currently completing an independent Biology Guided Research & Seminar project studying the evolution of cryptic male mate choice. Ashley is a Laboratory Assistant for General Chemistry and the Treasurer for the Columbia Pre-Veterinary Society.
​Ashley Lab News
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Ananya Lahiri 
Barnard College '24
​Major: Biology 
she/her/hers

Ananya joined the lab as a sophomore in the Fall of 2021. She conducted research in the lab as part of SRI 2022 and is currently completing an independent Biology Guided Research & Seminar project studying the evolution of male courtship preferences. Ananya is a Scientific Review Editor for Grey Matters Journal, treasurer for the Barnard Outdoor Adventure Team, a tutor with COVE, and a member of the Columbia Barbell Club. She also has 4 national WNPF powerlifting records!
Ananya Lab News

Isabella Martinez
Barnard College '24
​Majors: Biology + Gender Studies
​she/her/hers

Izzie joined the lab as a sophomore in the Fall of 2021. She conducted research in the lab as part of SRI 2022 and is currently completing an independent Biology Guided Research & Seminar project studying the heritability of cryptic male mate choice. Izzie is a peer educator at the Wellness Spot, a member of the Barnard Outdoor Adventure Team and a member of the Reproductive Justice Collective at Columbia.  
Izzie Lab News

​Lab Alums

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Olivia Anastasio
MS, BA Clark University
​Lab Technician
In lab: Nov 2020-Aug 2022
Olivia Lab News
​Post-Lab: Laboratory Specialist, Barnard College Biology Department
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Mariel Correa-Maynard (BC '22)
Major: Physiological & Organismal Biology
In lab: Jan 2020-May 2022
Mariel Lab News
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Olivia Eliopoulos
(BC '22)
Major: Cellular & Molecular Biology
In lab: Jan 2020-May 2022
Olivia Lab News
​Post-grad: ​PhD Student, Caltech
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Avigayil Lev ​(BC '22)
Major: Environmental Science
In lab: May 2021-May 2022
Avigayil Lab News
​Post-grad: ​Pischedda Lab Technician, Barnard College
Chelsea Sinclair
​(BC '21)
Major: Neuroscience & Behavior
In lab: Jan 2019-May 2021
Chelsea Lab News
​Post-grad: ​Clinical Data Analyst, Bronxcare Health Systems
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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, Cleveland Clinic
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Abigail Gutierrez
​(BC '20)
Major: Biology
In lab: Jan 2018-May 2020
Abby Lab News
​Post-grad: Laboratory Specialist, Barnard College Biology Dept
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Ana-Maria Rodriguez Cuadrado (BC '20)
Major: Biology
In lab: Sept 2018-May 2020
Ana-Maria Lab News
​Post-grad: Legal Assistant, The Hernan Law Firm
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Karolina Szenkiel
​(BC '22)
Major: Biology
In lab: Sept 2019-May 2020
Lina Lab News
​Post-grad: Medical Scribe, Houston TX
Aneeza Asif (BC '21)
Major: Cellular and Molecular Biology
In lab: Sept-Dec 2019
​Post-grad: ​MS Student, Columbia University 
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Suriya Lisa (BC '19)
Major: Neuroscience & Behavior​
In lab: Feb 2018-May 2019
​Lisa Lab News
​Post-grad: 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
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Stacy Kanellopoulos (BC '20)
Major: Spanish and Latin American Culture​
In lab: Feb-Dec 2018
​Stacy Lab News
Post-grad: Debt Capital Markets Analyst, MUFG
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Nushrat Chowdhury (BC '19)
Major: Biology
In lab: Feb-Dec 2018
​Nushrat Lab News
​Post-grad: Physician Assistant Student, Stony Brook University