Alison Pischedda

Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
​Barnard College, Columbia University
she/her/hers
I am a first-generation college student who earned my BSc in Mathematics, my BSc (Honours) in Biology and my MSc in Biology from Queen's University in Canada. 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

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 is continuing as a technician.
Avigayil Lab News
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Abigail Gutierrez
Biology Associate Lab Director
BA Barnard College '20

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 an Associate Laboratory Director 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

Harini Shankar
Barnard College '25
​Major: Physiolog. & Organismal Biology

Harini joined the lab as a junior in the Spring of 2024. She received the 2024 Herbert Maule Richards Grant from the Barnard Biology department to conduct summer research on reproductive isolation in Drosophila. Harini has previously worked in the Promislow Lab at the University of Washington, where she studied Drosophila climbing behavior and lifespan.
Harini Lab News
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Aanya Srinivasan
Barnard College '26
​Majors: Statistics & Environmental Sci

Aanya joined the lab as a sophomore in the Spring of 2024. She conducted research in the lab during SRI 2024 studying the benefits of male mate choice. Aanya is a Barnard Speaking Fellow, a member of the Columbia EcoReps, and the secretary of the Women's Robotics Club. 
Aanya Lab News
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Jesslyn Chen 
Barnard College '27
​Major: Psychology

Jesslyn joined the lab as a sophomore in the Spring of 2025. She helps maintain our fly populations and with experimental setups. Jesslyn is the Coordinator of Research Opportunities for the Columbia Public Health Club, a member of Columbia Students for Global Health Equity and Medicine Club, and an editor for the Columbia Undergraduate Medical Review. 

​Lab Alums

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Isabella Martinez
(BC '24)
Majors: Biology + Gender Studies
In lab: Sept 2021-May 2024
Izzie Lab News
​Post-grad: ​Research Technician, Mount Sinai
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Ananya Lahiri (BC '24)
Major: Cellular & Molecular Biology
In lab: Sept 2021-May 2024
Ananya Lab News
​Post-grad: ​MPH Student, Columbia University
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Eliza Tagle (BC '24)
Major: Physiological & Organismal Biology
In lab: May 2023-May 2024
Eliza Lab News
​Post-grad: ​Fulbright Scholar, Philippines
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Grace Freed (BC '23)
Major: Cellular & Molecular Biology
In lab: Sept 2020-May 2023
Grace Lab News
​Post-grad: ​Associate Researcher, Mount Sinai
Ashley Canizares
(BC '23)
Major: Physiological & Organismal Biology
In lab: Sept 2021-May 2023
Ashley Lab News
​Post-grad: ​Research Assistant, Columbia University
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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
Post-grad:  Neurobiology Researcher, University of Minnesota 
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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
​Post-grad: Nursing Student, Columbia University
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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: Medical Team Coordinator, Delta Airlines
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Karolina Szenkiel
​(BC '22)
Major: Biology
In lab: Sept 2019-May 2020
Lina Lab News
​Post-grad: MD-PhD Student, University of Rochester
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