Iris Stone

I am a Scientist I (Shanahan Research Fellow) at the Allen Institute in Seattle, WA. In this independent fellowship position, I develop computational neuroscience methods for the institute’s ever-increasing quantities of data in order to generate new scientific insights. I am particularly interested in methods for translational neuroscience and disease treatment and am currently working on projects to understand the temporal dynamics of neurological disorders, both from a genetic basis (Alzheimer’s disease) and in the context of neuromodulatory signaling (autism spectrum disorder).

Previously, I earned my Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Princeton University, where I had a particular focus on quantitative and computational approaches to neuroscience. While there, I also earned a supplemental graduate Certificate in Statistics and Machine Learning (CSML) and was a member of the Quantitative Neuroscience Training Program (QNTP). In my research I worked with Dr. Jonathan Pillow and Dr. Ilana Witten, using statistical modeling and machine learning to quantify animal behaviors and their associated neural dynamics. My thesis work involved using latent variable models to identify the dynamic structure underlying complex cognitive processes in mice, such as decision-making and exploration.

I also have a strong interest in biotechnology and biomedicine and currently volunteer with Nucleate Seattle, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders through free educational programming and training. While in grad school, I also completed an internship at a biotech startup focused on using cerebral organoids to develop treatments for neurological diseases. Prior to that, I earned my B.S. in Physics from George Mason University, where I researched the use of organic and nanomaterials in biomedical applications with Dr. Patrick Vora.