People

Erin E. Hecht, Ph.D.

Director, The Canine Brains Project
Assistant Professor, Harvard University

Dr. Hecht directs the Canine Brains Project.  She received a B.S. in Cognitive Science from the University of California San Diego in 2006 and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Emory University in 2013.  Dr. Hecht launched the Canine Brains Project while she was a Research Scientist in the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at Georgia State University and an Affiliated Scientist at the Emory National Primate Research Center. She is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.

Dr. Hecht is the recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship in Neuroscience and an NSF CAREER Award, both of which fund the Canine Brains Project. She is also an Associate Editor of Brain Structure and Function, a scientific journal that publishes neuroscience research in many species, including dogs. Her research focuses on neuroanatomical specializations in dogs, primates, and humans.  Her own dog Izzy is 20 pounds of pure unfiltered energy and once graced the cover of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Munawwar Abdulla, BMed, MSc

Lab Manager & Research Assistant

Munawwar (Minerva) earned a BMed at the Australian National University and a MSc in Physiology & Pharmacology at the University of New South Wales, where she studied chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in rodents. She’s now transferred her skills to studying fox brains and managing the day-to-days of the lab. Outside of work, she enjoys translating Uyghur literature, community service, and martial arts.

Sophie Barton, M.A.

Graduate Student

Sophie earned her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Georgia in 2019. She is a Ph.D. candidate in the Human Evolutionary Biology Department at Harvard University, where she has already completed her M.S. Her research investigates how selection for complex behaviors shapes the brains of domestic dog breeds and other canids. Sophie began working with the Canine Brains Project as an undergraduate student researcher. She now leads the Working Breeds Study and the Pre-Modern and Ancient Breeds Study. She draws inspiration from her rescue dog Tamsin, an Australian Shepherd x Labrador Retriever mix, who helps pilot her studies.

Julia Espinosa, Ph.D.

NSF Postdoctoral Fellow

Julia received a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, a M.S. in Animal Bioscience from the University of Guelph, and subsequently an M.A./Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Toronto. She is the co-founder of ManyDogs, a large-scale, multi-site canine science initiative. As a postdoctoral fellow, Julia is unpacking the socio-cultural determinants and physiological bases of dog aggression, combining techniques from neuroscience, genetics, psychiatry, and ethology. She leads the Life Experience Study in the Canine Brains Project. She was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology from the National Science Foundation to conduct this research.

Olivia Reilly, Ph.D.

NIH Postdoctoral Fellow

Olivia earned her B.A. in Animal Behavior and Spanish from Bucknell University. She spent two years in the postbaccalaureate IRTA program in the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition at the National Institute of Mental Health prior to graduate school. Olivia completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences at Georgia State University where she studied social cognition in nonhuman primates at the Language Research Center. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Hecht Lab, she uses a comparative approach to investigate the neural and hormonal correlates of social cognition and behavior. She leads the Dog-Child Bonding Study in the Canine Brains Project. She was awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health to conduct this research.

Katie Dabney, B.S., B.A., M.S.

Research Assistant

Katie earned a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a B.A. in Psychology from Shippensburg University in 2017 and subsequently her M.S. in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts University in 2020. She spent her undergraduate and graduate years working with isolation dogs and cats at an animal shelter, studying canine helminth parasites, assisting with human-centered equine-assisted therapy programs, and studying canine and adolescent stress behaviors in varying environments. Katie has been a research assistant with the Hecht lab since 2020 working on various Canine Brains Project studies. Outside of the lab she enjoys volunteering, her multitude of pets, hiking, and snowboarding. 

Sonya Ganeshram

Undergraduate Researcher

Sonya Ganeshram ‘24 is an undergraduate at Harvard University studying Neuroscience on the Mind, Brain, Behavior track. She is carrying out an honors thesis research project in the Canine Brains Project. Her project examines neural circuitry for joint attention in service dogs. An avid lover of dogs, she enjoys participating and working on various projects in the lab and spent this summer helping pilot behavioral studies with her service dog, Athena. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking and being an active member of the Harvard Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children. 

Lauren Duffee, DVM, DACVAA

Veterinary Anesthesiologist

Dr. Duffee received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She then spent a year in the San Francisco area for a private practice equine internship before returning to the University of Pennsylvania to complete a three-year residency in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia in small and large animals. Lauren is a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) and a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA). In addition to overseeing scans in the Canine Brains Project, Dr. Duffee is an anesthesiologist at the Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts. She has provided expert anesthesiology care for a number of species including otters, lions, gibbons, sea turtles, and an owl. Outside of the hospital, Lauren enjoys gardening, travel, and hiking with her two corgis.

Erika Militana, DVM, DACVAA, CVA

Veterinary Anesthesiologist

Dr. Militana completed her veterinary degree at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. She then completed a one year rotating internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego before returning to Cornell for a three year residency in Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

During her residence, Dr. Militana served as chief resident. She has received numerous awards throughout her residency and early veterinary training. These include awards in academic excellence, outstanding recognition in client service, and patient care. She has also received recognition for her interest and accomplishments in several areas of clinical science. She is a board-certified anesthesiologist and certified acupuncturist.

Emily Finn, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Emily Finn completed her veterinary degree at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She then completed a one year rotating internship at MSPCA-Angell in Boston. Since then, she has worked as an attending clinician in veterinary emergency and critical care departments around Massachusetts and Vermont. Prior to graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Finn worked as a veterinary technician in emergency and critical care departments – as such she has been in the field for nearly 20 years! When not working in the hospital or overseeing scans in the Canine Brains Project, she is out running with her dog, cuddling with her kids, reading, and cooking delicious meals.

Lauren Baker, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Baker is originally from Virginia, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Virginia in 2005. After working in a transgenics lab at the National Institute of Mental Health for a couple of years, she earned her DVM degree from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2011. She completed a post-graduate internship with a focus on emergency medicine at Angell Animal Medical Center in 2012. Since that time, she has been working as an emergency veterinarian in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. When not working, she enjoys crafts, walks in nature, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jana Mazor-Thomas, DVM, MS, DABVP

Veterinarian

Dr. Mazor-Thomas graduated from the Tufts veterinary school in 2013 and has been practicing in the New England area since. She has a special interest in anesthesia and pain management, and obtained a MS doing research on pain management in red-tailed hawks while in vet school. She also became a boarded specialist in the nontraditional pet mammal species (rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, etc.) in 2021.

Suzanne Sutton, DVM, CCRT, CVMA

Veterinarian

Dr. Sutton received her veterinary degree from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She then spent time at an internship at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego before completing additional certifications as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, and as a Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist from Colorado State University. She also completed specialty training in veterinary prosthetics and orthotics. Dr. Sutton brings over 20 years of animal experience to the Canine Brains Project, and has spent time as a general practitioner, emergency veterinarian, veterinary rehabilitation and pain management therapist, and assistive device consultant. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Sutton enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs, as well as cooking and sculpting. 

Christina Campbell, CVT, CCRP

Veterinary Technician and Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Christina is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner in addition to being a Certified Veterinary Technician. She has over 20 years experience in the veterinary field with experience in monitoring anesthesia, assisting in surgical procedures, and emergency care. She is currently head of the department and lead Rehabilitation Practitioner at Boston Pet Rehabilitation. In her free time she enjoys walks on the beach with her dogs Chloe and Serena, canoeing, cooking or just relaxing at home with her kitties Weedge and Theo.

Julia Campbellone, CVT

Veterinary Technician

Julia is a Certified Veterinary Technician who obtained her bachelor’s degree in Clinical and Laboratory Animal Medicine at Becker College in 2020. She also works at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn, MA where she started in the neurology department, and is a currently a member of the anesthesia department. Outside of the hospital, Julia enjoys kayaking, biking, and tending to her plants.

Eryn Moitoza, CVT

Veterinary Technician

Eryn Moitoza is a Certified Veterinary Technician who graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelors in Veterinary Technology in 2020. She currently works in a general practice as a lead surgical technician where she assists in surgical procedures, monitors patients under anesthesia and provides post-operative care. When she is not at the clinic, she can be found taking her dogs on new adventures, crocheting, or enjoying a good book.

Madysen Delosh, CVT

Veterinary Technician

Madysen Delosh is a Certified Veterinary Technician. She completed her training at the University of New Hampshire where she obtained her Associates of Science in Veterinary Technology and Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science. In addition to contributing to the Canine Brains Project, Madysen works in a general practice where she monitors anesthesia, provides client education, urgent care appointments, and assists in routine wellness visits. Outside of the hospital Madysen enjoy hiking, traveling, and being a sailing instructor at a local sailing camp for youth.

Miriam Applin, CVT

Veterinary Technician

Miriam is a Certified Veterinary Technician who enjoys Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Critical Care. She graduated from Becker College in 2013 where received her Associates Degree in Veterinary Science. She works as the Veterinary Nurse Manager at VEG Shrewsbury, and cares for pets in the ER/ICU at Westford Veterinary Emergency and Referral Center. Miriam enjoys spending time with her three black cats, learning how to cultivate, horseback riding, traveling, and napping.