Hi! My name is Olena. Originally from Ukraine, I completed my undergraduate and master's programs in Genetics and Biotechnology at the National University of Lviv. Driven by my passion for anime, I moved across the globe to continue my higher education in Japan. During my PhD, I focused on neuron formation and interaction in the developing brain using the fruit fly model. After completing Ph.D., I became intrigued by organoids as an emerging research model and joined the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Kobe, where I focused on working with kidney organoid and fetal kidney models to replicate complex mechanisms of nephrogenesis in vitro. Now, at the Crouch Lab, I'm investigating the interaction between the brain and vasculature during early development. I'm particularly interested in understanding the role of vasculature in the development of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Beyond science, I enjoy spending time outside, playing with my daughter, and listening to stories over a hot cup of lemon tea.