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Our Team

Giles Plant, PhD
Principal Investigator
Co-director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program, 2024-present
giles.plant@osumc.edu
BSc: University of Greenwich, Hons, 1986-1990
PhD: University of Western Australia, 1992-1995
Postdoc: Miami Project, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1996-1999
University of Western Australia: School of Anatomy and Human Biology, 1999-2010
Stanford University: Department of Neurosurgery, 2010-2021
Graduate Students

Stephen is a graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Ohio State. He received his B.S in Biology from Youngstown State University (2018) and graduated with his M.S in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences from OSU (2020). His thesis focused on the roles of central pattern generators and reflex conditioning in recovery after spinal cord injury. Since joining the Plant lab in 2024, he has been focused on improving the efficacy of iPSC-derived transplants by characterizing host responses in vivo. In his free time, Stephen enjoys video games, leisure science, camping, and hiking/camping with his fiancé.
Stephen Vidman
Graduate Research Associate
stephen.vidman@osumc.edu

Maize Connolly is a graduate student from the Neuroscience Graduate Program at The Ohio State University. He completed his undergraduate career at Case Western Reserve University with a degree in biochemistry. During this time, he worked in the lab of Dr. Ryan Arvidson learning about the possible neuroprotective effects of emerald jewel wasp venom on the cockroach brain. After graduating, he worked as a research assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Bruce Trapp at the Cleveland Clinic. Here, he investigated the role of microglia in various types of multiple sclerosis lesions using spatial transcriptomics. In the Plant Lab, Maize’s focus is on the immune response associated with spinal cord injury and regeneration. In his free time, Maize loves to cook, hang out with his partner and pets, and mediocrely play the drums.
Maize Connolly
Graduate Research Associate
connolly.236@osu.edu

Rose is a master’s student who is currently completing the Applied Neuroscience at the Ohio State University. Biddulph is an international student from Australia who completed her undergraduate degree at Temple University in Bioengineering with a concentration of pre-health and a minor in chemistry. During her time at Temple University, she worked as an undergraduate lab assistant for Dr Michel Lemay at the Medical Research Building at Temple University Hospital. This neurology lab focused on spinal circuitry related to locomotion and exploring specific techniques and treatments which were used to re-engage the spinal cord after an injury occurred. This sparked Biddulph’s interest in neurology which has led her to pursue a masters in neuroscience. Additionally, Biddulph is a division 1 athlete who competed three of her four years, due to injury, on the women’s rowing team at Temple University and is currently using her fourth year of eligibility as a Buckeye. Biddulph is eager to start her capstone with Dr Giles Plant which will focus on biomaterial neuro-particles as a transplant method into the cervical spine in hopes to reconnect the injured circuitry.
Rose Biddulph
Graduate Research Associate
biddulph.4@osu.edu

Ethan is a research associate at Plant lab. He earned his BS at OSU in molecular and cellular neuroscience in 2024. He joined the lab during his freshmen year and has been involved in many projects. Ethan is aiming for a PhD in neuroscience focusing on regenerative approaches for neurotrauma. Ethan has extensive research experience as a 2024 SURF scholar at the Plant lab where he is going to look at using human organoids as a transplantation source for spinal cord injury. He was also a 2023 ENGAGE scholar at the national center for regenerative medicine at Case Western Reserve University where he worked with Drs. Tracey L. Bonfield, Arnold Caplan, and Rodrigo A. Somoza to develop cystic fibrosis therapeutics using mesenchymal stem cell transplants. In his free time, Ethan enjoys badminton, cycling, film, and cooking.
Staff

Morgan Boring has worked in the Plant lab as a research technician since September 2022. She oversees most of the administrative work as the lab manager, while also assisting with work for the chronic injury, Schwann cell, and other various projects. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2020 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in biology. As an undergrad, she worked in Dr. Thomas Zentall’s animal cognition lab studying gambling behavior in pigeons. Outside of work, she dances in her free time and enjoys reading and playing video games.
Morgan Boring
Research Technician
Morgan.boring@osumc.edu
Undergraduates


Abhinay Putta
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Cyrus Chan
Undergraduate Research Assistant


Camden Heavelyn
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Taylor Crates
Undergraduate Research Assistant


Lilly Meyer
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Richard Chen
Undergraduate Research Assistant


Sierra Jones
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ella Harrison
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Nolan Fullenkamp
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Previous Members and Alumni
We are proud of our alumni who have contributed to our lab and are now pursuing exciting new opportunities!
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Genevieve Jensen
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Srinidhi Puchha (Highschool intern; 2024)
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Elena Singh (2022-2024)
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Cole McGinnis (2022-2024)
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Will Emrick (2023)
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Gabriella Beuselinck (Highschool intern; 2023)
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