We are happy to welcome new fellows to the NICHD family. If you arrived recently to the NICHD and would like us to introduce you in our quarterly “Meet Our New Fellows” column, please contact our editor, Dr. Shana Spindler, at shana.spindler@nih.gov.


Morteda Alaamiri

Morteda Alaamiri

Postbac Fellow

Hometown: Dearborn, Michigan

Undergraduate institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

NICHD Mentor: Dr. Keiko Ozato

Area of research: I am interested in neuro-inflammatory diseases, especially autoimmune diseases like Multiple Sclerosis. I focus on studying microglia, transcription factors, and their activities using genome-wide RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and imaging techniques. I am new to the area and have been spending my time exploring. I typically enjoy time with friends, cooking, and watching sports. I look forward to meeting everybody.


Mohammad Al-Jundi

Mohammad Al-Jundi

Clinical Fellow

Hometown: Amman, Jordan

MD institution: Jordan University of Science and Technology

Residency: Medstar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC

NICHD mentor: Dr. Fady Hannah-Shmouni

Area of research: During residency, I worked with Dr. Kenneth Burman on radioiodine treatment of metastatic thyroid cancer.


Rasha Haykal

Rasha Haykal

Clinical Fellow

Hometown: Tartus, Syria

MD institution: Damascus University Faculty of Medicine  

NICHD mentor: Dr. Fady Hannah-Shmouni

Area of research: I study metabolic changes and insulin resistance.


Joseph Krzeski

Joseph Krzeski

Postbac Fellow

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Undergraduate institution: Xavier University

NICHD mentor: Dax Hoffman

Area of research: I study hippocampal development in relation to the voltage-gated potassium channel, Kv4.2, using a mouse model.