Our Team

Albertson is a neurocritical care specialist within the Department of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine. He earned a dual MD/PhD from the MSTP at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2013. While there, he completed a PhD in the laboratory of John Hablitz, PhD, studying the role of dendritic ion channels in hyperexcitability. Albertson then joined the Department of Neurology at Washington University where he completed his residency in neurology in 2017 and neurocritical care fellowship in 2020. Asher then completed post-doctoral research in the laboratory of Jin-Moo Lee, MD, PhD, where his work focused on better understanding the network drivers of somatomotor function in normal aging and experimental stroke. He opened an independent laboratory in the fall of 2023. In addition to his clinical and research interests, Albertson has a strong interest in mentoring trainees pursuing careers in neuroscience, neurology and critical care.

Tamara Abou-Antoun earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia and her PhD in Molecular Medicine from the George Washington University in Washington DC, where she explored the mechanisms of medulloblastoma migration and invasion. She then worked as a post-doctoral fellow under the supervision of Professor Anthony Sandler at Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC, exploring the mechanisms of pediatric neuroblastoma stem cell resistance to therapeutic intervention. After that she joined the faculty of the School of Pharmacy at the Lebanese American University in Byblos, Lebanon where she taught and coordinated courses in biomedical sciences including medical anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, neuroscience, immunology and cancer biology. She also mentored graduate and medical students on their pediatric neuro-oncology research projects. She joined WashU School of Medicine in March of 2021 as a Senior Scientist and Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Sciences. In the Albertson/Lee labs, she is working on elucidating the molecular factors that enhance neuronal plasticity and recovery post ischemic stroke utilizing photothrombotic and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgical models in mice. During her free time, she enjoys oriental dancing and the outdoors with her family and friends, hiking, biking, swimming, camping, canoeing and playing tennis.

Smith completed a double major in Biology and Psychology with an emphasis on animal behavior from the University of Waikato, New Zealand (Te Whare Wananga o Waikato). She has a background in telecommunications engineering, operations and market research prior to moving to the United States in 2006. Since moving to the US she has worked for Washington University in St. Louis and has worked with Asher Albertson for the last eleven years.

Within the lab, Smith manages the physical plant, animal colony, inspections, compliance and provides guidance to new members on their training requirements. Her experience includes administrative support, problem resolution, colony management and data administration, among other functions.

Esha Kapoor graduated from WashU in the spring of 2024 with a degree in cognitive neuroscience and biology. As an undergraduate, she led a research project focused on new ways to quantify recovery after experimental stroke in mice. Kapoor joined the Albertson lab in the summer of 2024 following her graduation. Her current project is focused on examining axon dynamics after experimental stroke. She is currently taking a gap year while applying to medical school.

Tiana Mao graduated from WashU in the spring of 2024 with a degree in cognitive neuroscience. As an undergraduate, she performed clinical research focused on geriatric populations and university students with a goal of better understanding drivers of age-related memory loss. She joined the Albertson lab in the summer of 2024 following her graduation. Her current project explores the differences between ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage in-vivo with a focus on network behavior. Mao is currently taking a gap year while applying to dental school.

Rose León-Alvarado graduated with a BA in Neuroscience from Earlham College in 2024. She has previously worked at labs studying pediatric epilepsy, traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease. She joined the Albertson lab in June of 2024 and her research interests and current projects include molecular mechanisms of brain plasticity and cognition. Her long-term goal is to pursue a PhD in neuroscience.

Washington University in St. Louis, 2025

Saint Louis University, 2026

Washington University in St. Louis, 2026