Our Team

Supraja Varadarajan (she/her)

[Su-pruh-jaa Va-rah-dah-rah-jan]

Principal Investigator

  • supraja.varadarajan@utsouthwestern.edu

  • I’ve been enthusiastic and curious about Biology for as long as I can remember. I was born and raised in Bangalore, India, and I moved to the US to pursue a Masters in Biomedical Engineering. I ended up falling in love with neuroscience and more specifically with axons. I earned my PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA in Samantha Butler’s lab, where I studied axon guidance in the developing spinal cord. Wanting to apply these developmental principles to rebuilding neural circuits, I joined Andrew Huberman’s lab at Stanford for my postdoc, where I focused on understanding the role of neural activity in promoting axon regeneration in the visual system.

    Scientific Interests: I joined the Department of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern in Jan 2024. Our lab continues to identify mechanisms that promote visual repair, with a specific focus on axon regeneration and reconnectivity.

    Life outside the lab: Spending time with my two sons and husband, baking, reading, puzzle-solving

Benjamin Chandy (he/him)

Research Assistant

  • benjamin.chandy@utsouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    I am a graduate from Texas A&M University where I received my bachelor’s in biomedical engineering with a focus on biomolecular and cellular engineering. I am also planning on applying to medical school in 2025, with hopes of becoming an Ophthalmologist. While in school, I was interested in learning about cellular regeneration and how it can be used for regenerative medicine. Now, as a member of the Varadarajan lab, I am excited for the opportunity to study the processes behind axon regeneration in the visual system and how we can manipulate it for clinical use.

     

    Life outside the lab: Outside of the lab, I enjoy rowing, exploring new restaurants, and playing games

Megan Voss (she/her)

Graduate Student - Neuroscience

  • megan.voss@utsouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    I am a Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate at UT Southwestern in the Varadarajan Lab. I earned my B.S. in Physiology from San Francisco State University. My interest in neuroscience began in high school, where my teacher would end each class period reading intriguing stories and fun facts about the brain, how it can shape our perception, experience, and behavior. During my time at SF State, my interest grew into wanting to understand the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ behind these stories. Now, in the Varadarajan lab, I am excited to continue asking the why and how as I investigate the role of postsynaptic neural activity in preventing axon degeneration in visual circuits affected by neurodegenerative diseases.

Angela Wang (she/her)

Research Assistant

  • angela.wang@utsouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    About Me:
    I am a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign wherere I received my bachelor’s in Molecular and Cellular Biology. During my undergraduate studies, I trained under Dr. Hee-Sun Han working on imaging-based spatial transcriptomics of the honey bee brain. I am looking forward to study axon regeneration in the visual system as a member of the Varadarajan Lab.

    Outside of the lab: I enjoy hiking, playing badminton, and taking pictures of interesting buildings.

Liliana Cano Gomez (she/her)

Graduate Student - Neuroscience

  • Liliana.CanoGomez@UTSouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    I’m a graduate student in Neuroscience at UT Southwestern Medical Center in the Varadarajan Lab. I earned my M.S. in Biomedical Research from the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes and my B.S. in Chemistry from the Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, both in Mexico.

    Before starting my Ph.D., I worked as a Research Assistant in the Pool Lab at UTSW, where I became fascinated by how neural circuits are organized and connected. I’m particularly interested in understanding how neural circuits regenerate and whether they can re-establish the correct functional connections, a question that is especially relevant in neurodegenerative diseases where these pathways are often disrupted.

    Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring new restaurants (I’m a big foodie), cooking Mexican food, going on nature walks, and spending time with my family.

Yogesh Aggarwal (he/him)

Postdoctoral Scholar- Neuroscience

  • Yogesh.Aggarwal@UTSouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Varadarajan Lab at UT Southwestern. I earned my PhD from AIIMS, New Delhi, India, where my research centered on uncovering molecular mechanisms driving epileptogenesis in drug-resistant epilepsy. My current work aims to dissect the molecular pathways governing axon regeneration and to determine how neuronal activity shapes neural circuit repair in the visual system.

Shreya Chandna (she/her)

Intern - Neuroscience

  • shreya.chandna@utsouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    I am a third-year neuroscience major with a minor in cognitive science at The University of Texas at Dallas. My research journey began in Dr. Hart’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab of Memory and Language, where I conducted cognitive assessments and analyzed neuroimaging data to study language processing in individuals with primary progressive aphasia. I then joined Dr. Pancrazio’s Bioengineering Neuronal Networks and Interfaces lab, contributing to projects investigating sensory discrimination and detection using intracortical microstimulation in rodent models. These experiences motivated me to pursue a PhD in the field, with the goal of advancing our understanding of the brain and developing innovative solutions to neurological challenges. Currently, as a Green Fellow, I am looking forward to beginning work in Dr. Supraja Varadarajan’s lab, where I will study glial cell involvement in retinal ganglion cell axon regeneration.

    Life outside of the lab: I enjoy hiking, reading, volunteering at the animal shelter, and spending time with my family and friends.

Anjan Garg (he/him)

Undergraduate Researcher , UT Dallas

  • anjan.garg@utsouthwestern.edu

  • I am an upcoming second-year undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Dallas, where I study Neuroscience. Before joining the Varadarajan Lab, I worked in Dr. Michael Burton's Neuroimmunology and Behavior Lab at UT Dallas, where I studied cannabinoid receptor signaling and brain region mapping in inflammatory pain models.

    This summer, I am working with the Varadarajan Lab as a URAP Scholar, with a hope to broaden my perspective in neuroscience research. I am exploring how neural activity promotes axon regeneration and how visual circuits rebuild after injury.

    My research goals at UT Dallas and UT Southwestern reflect my wish to gain a deeper understanding of why the nervous system breaks down, whether through pain or injury, and how to restore what's lost.

    Outside the lab, I enjoy soccer, running, and spending time with family and friends

This could be you!

Houda Chamseddine (she/her)

Research Assistant

  • houda.chamseddine@utsouthwestern.edu

  • I am a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington where I completed a master’s in health psychology/neuroscience. During my time in graduate school, my primary focus was on understanding potential neuroendocrine factors that mediate sex differences in opioid withdrawal. I was specifically interested in ovarian hormones and their influence on opioid addiction. February 2024, I joined the Varadarajan lab as a research assistant and am excited to learn new techniques and be part of the team!

    Life outside the lab: My interests outside of the lab include drawing, visiting art museums, and geocaching.

Hannah Bajaj (she/her)

Summer Student

  • hannah.bajaj@utsouthwestern.edu

  • I am a third-year student at Tulane University studying Neuroscience and Computer Science on the pre-medical track. With a strong interest in utilizing technological advances to address scientific and medical challenges, I plan to use my interdisciplinary background to improve outcomes. My technological research experiences include working with Dr. Sam Landry at the Tulane School of Medicine on antigen-processing & protein interaction as well as running a clinical trial with Dr. Meghan Howell on using heart-rate variability as a potential indicator for preterm birth & pre-eclampsia among expecting mothers in the New Orleans community. Now at the Varadarajan lab, I aim to further our understanding of the signals involved in reconnecting regenerating axons in the visual system, and to help develop innovative strategies for repairing neural circuits.

    Life outside of the lab: I enjoy competitive dancing, spending time with friends & family, traveling, and baking!

Lab Alumni

Sherry Daniel (she/her)

Graduate Student - Biomedical Engineering

  • sherry.daniel@utsouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    About Me:
    I am a Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student at UTSW with a deep fascination for regeneration research. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from UT-San Antonio, specializing in Tissue and Cellular Engineering. My research journey began in Dr. Chris Rathbone's tissue engineering lab, where I studied the effects of ethanol on tissue-engineered skeletal muscle. I then joined Dr. Nikita Ruparel's lab to explore the pain-relieving effects of stem cells in an apical periodontitis model. Now, I’m excited to be part of the Varadarajan Lab, where I continue my passion for studying regeneration—this time focusing on the visual system.

    Outside the Lab: Beyond research, I love traveling, hiking, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Arya Raju (he/him)

Undergraduate Researcher - UT Dallas

  • arya.raju@utsouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    I am a second-year pre-med student at UT Dallas studying Neuroscience. My experience as an ophthalmic technician at a retina clinic allowed me to witness firsthand the profound impact of vision loss on patients' lives, sparking my deep appreciation for the preservation of the visual sense. This experience, combined with my passion for neuroscience, led me to the Varadarajan Lab, where I found the perfect intersection of my interests. The lab's focus on understanding molecular pathways that guide axon growth and devising regenerative strategies for vision restoration aligns with my goal of contributing to advancements in neuro-ophthalmology.

    Outside the lab, I enjoy photography, mountain biking, calisthenics, and Formula One.

Alan Bao (he/him)

Undergraduate Researcher -Green Fellow, UT Dallas

  • Alan.Bao@utsouthwestern.edu

  • Bio:

    I am a biomedical engineering student at the University of Texas at Dallas. My interests for research lie at the intersection of engineering, biology, and translational research, with a focus on regeneration, aging, and technology driven insights. One of my future goals is to pursue a MD/PhD, and I am excited to join the Varadarajan Lab as a Green Fellow in the 2026 cohort.

    Outside of the lab, I find enjoyment in reading, martial arts, calisthenics, engineering projects, art (music, crafts, drawing, cooking), day dreaming, and learning new skills.