THE MINDS

Georgios Ntolkeras, MD
Internal affairs

Read biography

I studied medicine in Greece, where I fell in love with child neurology, and after completing some of my training in France, I started my post-doctoral clinical research fellowship at the Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center at Boston Children's Hospital. I am interested in translational and clinical research that increases our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and improves patient care. I aspire to become a physician/scientist dedicated to patent care and translational research. My research is focused on the fields of neurophysiology and neuroimaging. It involves analyzing brain activity using non-invasive techniques such as the conventional and high-density electroencephalogram and the magnetoencepaholgram in patients with epilepsy, SSADH deficiency, and Angelman syndrome. It also involves developing high resolution whole-body pediatric numerical models used for numerical simulations.

Jianna So, PhD (candidate)
Coordination

*Read biography*

I am a PhD student in Computer Science, focusing on Human-Computer Interaction. My research is on accessible tools for patients with neurological conditions, responsible AI support for human decision-making, and inclusive design methods to include marginalized perspectives in the creation of technology. Beyond research, I am passionate about advocating for disability justice and labor rights, creating projection art, and cooking filipino food.

Kate Higgins
Neurodiversity Project

Read biography

Kate Katulak Higgins is the Associate Director of Harvard University Disability Resources. Her career has centered on program development, teaching, training, and advocacy efforts to foster more accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Prior to her current role, she was the Associate Director of College Success at Perkins School for the Blind where she led in a national initiative to improve college readiness for blind and visually impaired students. Kate’s prior work experience also includes teaching students with disabilities in Connecticut Public Schools and contributing to a social-emotional learning program as a research assistant at Yale University. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Wright State University. Kate identifies as blind and has a yellow lab guide dog named Dodger.

Erich Manser
Neurodiversity Project

Read biography

Erich joined Harvard’s IT staff (HUIT) in January of 2020, and is currently a consultant with Digital Accessibility Services (DAS). He is also the founder and co-chair of the Ability+ ERG, which is the group created to help build community around disability experiences plus allies at Harvard.

Walid Yassine, DMSc
Founder

Read biography

I’m an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School /BIDMC /MMHC, and a Research Associate at McLean Hospital. I use different approaches, such as imaging, behavioral assessment, artificial intelligence, and others, to better understand the brain and the deviation from what is considered typical. My research mainly focuses on autism and schizophrenia.

Anuksha Wickramasinghe
Neurodiversity

Read biography

I am a junior at Harvard College studying Neuroscience on the Mind/ Brain/ Behavior Track. I’m passionate about neurodiversity and broader disability justice advocacy. I’m the author of Adhdventures, an ongoing Harvard Crimson reported opinion column exploring neurodiverse experiences at Harvard and beyond. I’m a Harvard College Representative for the Harvard University Student Accessibility Advisory Group and a member of the Harvard Undergraduate Disability Justice Club. At Mass General Hospital, I am an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Orefice Lab, working on a project investigating gastrointestinal dysfunction in ASDs. On campus, I’m also Co-President of the Harvard College in Asia Program, a Peer Speaking Tutor, and a member of The Crimson Editorial Board.

Lucy Zhao
Neurodiversity

Read biography

I am a graduate student in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program at Harvard University. I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Haverford College. I am a member of the Walsh lab at Boston Children's Hospital, where I use genetic techniques to study neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dorothy Bisbee
Neurodiversity

Read biography

A former environmental lawyer and law professor, Dorothy has coached over 500 Harvard graduate students on building habits, developing strategies, and making choices that support their goals, values, cognitive styles, and wellbeing. She was a consulting learning specialist for Harvard’s Schools of Law, Business, Divinity, Design, and Public Health before joining Harvard’s Academic Resource Center as an academic coach in 2019. Dorothy has an AB in Comparative Literature from Brown, a JD from the University of Virginia Law School, and an ALM in Psychology from the Harvard Extension School. Her key values include kindness, authenticity, equity, and appreciation of every individual’s unique mind and life choices. She has no athletic talent whatsoever, but she can ace the New York Times crossword, and she excels at Boggle.