Our Team
Travis Rotterman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University
Travis received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, graduating magna cum laude from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. As an undergraduate, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Francisco (Paco) Alvarez, where he conducted research investigating progenitor domains that generate oligodendrocytes in the developing spinal cord. Following graduation, Travis continued his scientific journey with Dr. Alvarez at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience. His graduate work focused on understanding how neuroinflammation drives spinal synaptic plasticity in the context of peripheral nerve injury.
Travis then pursued postdoctoral training with Dr. Timothy Cope at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he investigated sensorimotor integration within spinal neural networks. Throughout his training, he received continuous NIH support, including an F31 National Research Service Award (NRSA) during graduate studies, an F32 NRSA during his postdoctoral fellowship, and a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
He is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine. His research program focuses on sensory encoding; particularly how proprioceptive information is encoded and integrated within spinal networks to guide movement and maintain posture under both healthy conditions and in the context injury and disease of the peripheral nerves.
In his time outside of lab, Travis can be found… wait? Is there life outside of the lab?
Contact Information
Email: trotter3@bu.edu
Phone: 617-358-8462
Porche Jones
Ph.D. Student, Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS), Boston University
Porche Jones is currently a Ph.D. student in the Program in Biomedical Sciences at Boston University. Originally from Cape Cod, she has lived in Chestnut Hill for the past 13 years. She earned both her Master of Science in Pathology & Laboratory Sciences and her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Laboratory & Clinical Sciences from the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
For her master’s thesis, Porche investigated how retinal protein pathologies—including Aβ plaques, phosphorylated tau, and iron accumulation—reflect Alzheimer’s disease progression under varying dietary conditions. As a Ph.D. student, she is interested in investigating the molecular and structural changes that contribute to human disease, with an emphasis on techniques that bridge basic science and translational research.
Outside of the lab, Porche enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors—especially at the beach—and trying out new restaurants as a self-proclaimed foodie.
Contact Information
Email: pdjones@bu.edu
Caroline V. Casiano Rivera
Ph.D. Student, Program in Neuroscience, Boston University
Caroline graduated with honors from the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus in 2023 with a B.A. in Integrative Biology. As an undergraduate, her research focused on identifying the potential role of GABA produced by Lactobacillus plantarum in the gut microbiota-brain axis under the mentorship of Dr. Imilce Rodriguez-Fernández. After graduation, Caroline transitioned to the lab of Dr. Jennifer Morgan at the Marine Biological Laboratory, where she investigated how post-translational modifications of alpha-synuclein impact synaptic mitochondria, with the goal of identifying potential targets to reverse synaptic dysfunction associated with Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
At Boston University, she is part of the Graduate Program in
Neuroscience (GPN). Here, she aims to explore cellular dynamics affected by nerve injury and other congenital neuropathies in hopes of gaining insights that could inform treatments and rehabilitation therapies
Outside the lab, she enjoys photography, trying new foods, pour-overs, tiny trinkets, and writing letters.
Ella P. Smith
Lab Coordinator and Technician
Ella graduated with honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Neuroscience, along with minors in Physiology and Psychology.
Originally from Athens, GA, she began her research journey before undergrad at the University of Georgia in the molecular medicine lab of Dr. Nadja Zeltner. There, she modeled Familial Dysautonomia in vitro by differentiating iPSCs into sensory neurons, focusing on disease mechanisms and progression to inform future therapeutic development. At Georgia Tech, Ella transitioned into exercise physiology research, under the mentorship of Dr. Melinda Millard-Stafford. Her work centered on strategies to enhance human health and performance, with a particular focus on hydration and its physiological effects. Ella also has clinical experience in the Urgent Care setting as a licensed Clinical Medical Assistant.
Outside the lab, she enjoys photography, traveling, swimming, and cheering on the Red Sox.
Contact Information
Email: ellapsm@bu.edu
Phone: 617-358-7933
Natalia Centofanti
Undergraduate Student
Program of Neuroscience
Class of 2028