#  Alejandra Urquieta Pinaya 

she/her/hers

 

 

 



   ![portrait of woman with dark hair standing in front of a bridge over water](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/2026-06/alejandra%20urquieta%20pinaya.jpg?itok=Pid2Dwgi) 

 



 





 

**For me, home is:** Bolivia, Brazil, and NYC

**Prior degree(s):** B.S. in Neural Science, New York University

**Research experience before PiN:** Investigated thalamocortical loops underlying working memory maintenance in mice, integrating circuit manipulation with computational behavioral analysis (Dr. Priya Rajasethupathy, Rockefeller University); developed an algorithm to find evidence of compositional planning in a macaque drawing task (Dr. Winrich Freiwald, Rockefeller University); studied the role of hippocampus in maternal suppression of infant fear in rats and the impact of early-life trauma (Dr. Regina Sullivan, NYU Langone Medical Center)

**Current research interests:** circuit-level mechanisms of goal-directed behavior supporting cognitive function, neuromodulation, and computational approaches

**Interests outside lab:** piano, board games, running, pickleball, pool, writing, sci-fi shows, alternative/indie rock



 

 

 





 

 

- ## Entry year
    
     [2026-2027](/entry-year/2026-2027)
- ## People
    
     [Student](/people/student)