people

Chiara Forastieri is a postdoctoral fellow in the Calvigioni Lab, where she investigates how stress-induced circuit and cellular maladaptive changes in the Insular Cortex during adolescence contribute to behavioral transitions toward anxiety phenotypes. Her research aims to uncover the neurobiological mechanisms underlying stress sensitivity and the higher prevalence of anxiety-related disorders in women. Chiara completed her PhD in Experimental Medicine and Medical Biotechnology at the University of Milan, where she identified a physiological homeostatic process orchestrated by the epigenetic enzyme Lysine-Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1). Her work demonstrated how this mechanism helps regulate glutamatergic excitability, preventing neuropsychiatric imbalances that influence human behavior. Her passion for the neurobiology of mood disorders stems from a deep curiosity about the biological basis of emotions—how feelings that often seem surreal are rooted in the intricate circuitry of the brain. Outside the lab, Chiara enjoys sharing good food and laughter at brunch gatherings with friends. She recharges through yoga, immersing herself in thriller novels, and traveling whenever possible to explore new cultures through their culinary traditions.

Pille-Riin is a graduate student in the Calvigioni Lab, where she investigates how stress networks influence the epigenome within the insular cortex. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and Genomics from the University of Tartu and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biomedicine at Karolinska Institutet.

Throughout her studies, Pille-Riin has gained extensive hands-on experience in bioinformatics, molecular biology, and neuroscience by working on various projects in multiple labs. Her passion for science was sparked in childhood when, as a kid with braces, she dreamed of inventing a band-aid material that could stick inside the mouth—a solution inspired by her struggles with cold blisters. That curiosity and problem-solving spirit led her to pursue an education in biology, eventually discovering her passion for neurobiology and the cutting-edge ideas shaping the field. When she’s not in the lab, Pille-Riin enjoys knitting, singing in a choir, and folk dancing. Her ideal evening? A cozy cup of tea, some homemade pastries, and either diving into a fantasy book or making progress on her latest knitting project.

Calle Hedemo is an undergraduate student in the Biomedicine program at Karolinska Institutet and is currently completing an internship at the Calvigioni Lab. His research focuses on mapping the connectivity of estrogen-positive neurons in the insular cortex and examining how activity in pre- and post-synaptic regions is altered after stress. Fascinated by the complexity of the brain, Calle is driven by a desire to contribute to our understanding of its intricate networks and functional organization. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing music, sketching, and immersing himself in a good book.

Mehek Gupta was raised in both India and Sweden and is an undergraduate student in the Biomedicine program at Karolinska Institutet. During her internship in the Calvigioni Lab, she is investigating age-specific behavioral responses to stress in female and male mice using marker-less tracking and supervised clustering of behavioral motifs in freely moving mice.

Before joining the lab, Mehek completed a summer internship in Petter Höglund’s lab, where she explored CAR neutrophil therapy against cancer. Her experience of moving between continents and witnessing how diverse social environments shape individual behaviors sparked her curiosity about the mechanisms underlying human behavior, ultimately leading her to neuroscience. Outside the lab, Mehek enjoys dancing, playing badminton, reading, and drawing.

Daniela is currently a bachelor’s student in her final semester at Bonn University, majoring in Molecular Biomedicine. She joined the Calvigioni Lab for her thesis, where she is mapping hormone-sensitive neurons in the cortex of adult and juvenile female and male mice, with histology as her key tool.

Prior to joining the lab, Daniela interned at Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Medicine, where she explored the mammalian egg-sperm fusion synapse, working with a C. elegans model to isolate the complex. However, her passion for neuroscience was always clear. She pursued an internship in her home country, Peru, at a neurocysticercosis research lab, studying one of the leading preventable causes of epilepsy. There, she performed mammalian cell assays to investigate how T. solium manipulates the immune system to remain undetected for months or even years.

Daniela’s fascination with the brain began in school, driven by her curiosity about learning processes and personality development. She is particularly intrigued by how physiological cascades influence cognition and behavior. A course on Inflammatory Biology of Central Nervous System Diseases further deepened her interest, opening new perspectives on the Blood-Brain Barrier and the highly regulated pathways of the brain.

Outside the lab, Daniela enjoys dancing salsa, reading, walking in nature, jumping, and eating fruits.

Christina is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Biomedicine at Karolinska Institutet. Her strong interest in both psychology and neuroscience led her to join the Calvigioni Lab for a summer internship, where she studied the stress sensitivity of estrogen-sensitive insular neurons. In addition to her work in the Calvigioni Lab, Christina has also been involved in research at the Pete Williams Lab, where she worked with C. elegans on projects investigating the role of NAD in neurodegeneration. Her passion for neuroscience began at an early age, alongside a deep curiosity about neuropsychological disorders. Through her studies, she has had the opportunity to further explore this passion and engage in hands-on research. Outside the lab, Christina enjoys rowing, reading, knitting, and sharing fika with friends.

Hamima Tabassum is a first-year Biomedicine student with a strong passion for neuroscience. Fascinated by the complexity of the brain, she is dedicated to understanding how brain circuits drive innate behaviors and exploring how this knowledge can be applied to improve our understanding of mental well-being. Currently completing a neuroscience internship, Hamima is gaining hands-on experience, performing supervised behavioral analysis of freely moving mice. She aims to contribute to advancements in neuroscience, particularly in areas that enhance patient care and mental health. Outside the lab, she enjoys staying active through workouts and fitness, prioritizing both physical and mental well-being.