Members

Jessica joined the lab interested in how intergenerational transmission of experience influences the developmental trajectory of future children. In her current role, she provides broad research support while growing engagement opportunities that bring science out of the lab and into the community. As a mom of two young children, Jessica is passionate about supporting child brain development and maternal wellbeing as a means for promoting better health outcomes. Favorite out-of-work activities include outdoor concerts, exploring new places, and tending to her self-sufficient fig trees.

Aly earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences and Psychology from the University of Denver in the spring of 2022. She joined the Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry in September 2022 as a research technician/lab manager. Her research interests include trans-/inter-generational transmission of parental experiences and translational work investigating the mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. In her free time, Aly enjoys reading, crafting, and trying out new eateries in Denver. She hopes to earn her MD/PhD in the near future.

Sarina Bracamontes earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from Regis University in the spring of 2024. She joined the Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry in September of 2024 a research technician. Sarina’s research interests focus on neuropsychiatric diseases, particularly those impacting adolescent populations, and understanding how these conditions can be transmitted from parent to offspring. In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time with her friends, family, and her French bulldog, Chai. Sarina aspires to earn her PhD in neuroscience in the future.

Caio is an exchange PhD student in Neuroscience from the Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Brazil. He specializes in bioinformatic, statistical modeling and data analysis. His focus is to create models integrating diverse data types to evaluate how exposure to stress modulates developing phenotypes.

Nickole's research focuses on cellular mechanisms of allostasis following stress. As extracellular vesicles secreted by epididymal epithelial cells (EECs) are essential to sperm maturation, her thesis focuses on the role of epigenetics and mitochondria in establishing a new allostatic set point at the EEC, and the downstream impact on sperm mediated by stress-dependent changes in secreted EEC extracellular vesicle cargo. Outside of the lab, she enjoys coffee, figure skating, marathon running, climbing and hiking, yoga, and supporting families living with serious mental illness.

His research interests focus on the comprehensive understanding of how maternal environmental stressors impact neural developmental pathways in humans utilizing a non-human primate preclinical model. His work has examined the influence of maternal environmental factors such as nutrition, metabolic, and inflammatory state on offspring brain development with an emphasis on neuroinflammatory mechanism underlying neurotypical brain development. He aims to further understand the role additional environmental factors, such as maternal stress, play in offspring brain development.

Kerstin received her MSc in Neuroscience from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and her PhD in Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences from the University of Milan, Italy. Her research focuses on the transmission of preconception parental stress to subsequent generations and the neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in offspring. Besides being a scientist, Kerstin is an advanced diver and loves outdoor activities.

Rodrigo received his PhD in Pediatrics and Child Health from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. His prior research concentrated on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of stress-induced mood disorders utilizing preclinical models. Currently, as a member of Dr. Bale’s laboratory, he is investigating the role of extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers of the stress response. Outside of the lab, Rodrigo enjoys watching soccer and playing videogames.

Dr. Arthur S. Feltrin is a Computational Biologist with MSc and PhD degrees in Neuroscience and Cognition from Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil. He specializes in analyzing large-scale genomics datasets using Network Medicine and Machine Learning. His research focuses on investigating molecular mechanisms underlying the epigenetic regulation of neurodevelopment, neuropsychiatric disorders, aging, and sexual dimorphism. During his free time, he enjoys collecting vinyl records, watching movies with his wife, and discovering new coffee shops!