Jonathan is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, conducting his thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Autumn Ivy at Kennedy Krieger Institute. His work uncovers how physical exercise in early life opens a molecular window in the developing brain, one whose benefits endure into adulthood to strengthen long-term memory and shape the neural circuitry of learning.
Jonathan earned his Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science from North Carolina Central University. Prior to Johns Hopkins, he was a post-baccalaureate research scholar at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, where he studied how early-life environmental enrichment can alleviate neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett syndrome by restoring cortical plasticity. Outside of the lab, Jonathan enjoys gardening, weightlifting, martial arts, and exploring new restaurants around the DMV area.