Nervous System Engineers: Superpowered by Stem Cells – Meet the Lab – PBS Wisconsin Education

How do scientists develop treatments for nervous system injuries and disorders?

Meet the Nervous System Engineers—a team of scientists at the Ashton Group who make nervous system tissue to find treatments for nervous system diseases and injuries. In the resources below, you’ll learn about these scientists and their lab, discover why their research matters in real life, and try out an activity. Take notes as you explore!

Learn Why Research Matters

The Ashton Group studies the nervous system to come up with ways to treat nervous system injuries and disorders. In the following video, you’ll learn about why they research this through a real-world story about a woman who suffered a spinal cord injury at a very young age.

View Transcript: English Transcript Spanish Transcript

Questions to Consider:

Miranda’s respect for her physical therapists inspired her to pursue a career in science. What interactions have you had with people in science careers?

Miranda’s injury prompted her to learn more about stem cells. What do you already know about stem cells? What questions do you have about them?

“Science is everywhere around us. When we have people that dedicate their careers and their lives and their time to finding answers, it makes things better for the rest of the world and the people in it.”

— Miranda Ramirez-Vang

Meet The Scientists

Meet the Nervous System Engineers. Flip over their cards to learn more about them (and discover their secret superpower)! Who do you relate to the most?

Randy Ashton

Randy Ashton

Principal Investigator

I am in charge of the scientific, academic, and commercial output of the lab. This means that I hire lab personnel, provide training for students, and help produce all scientific papers, presentations, patents, and grant proposals.

Randy Ashton

Principal Investigator

Dedication to service, and curiosity 👀

Cleaning! 🧽

Human neurodevelopment and disease. I’m also interested in biotechnology business development.

In middle school, I was a gymnast and played the cello. 🤸

Carlos Marti-Figuero

Carlos Marti-Figueroa

Postdoctoral Researcher

I come up with ways to engineer the size and shape of 3D tissues derived from human stem cells, so that they will be similar to the brain. 🧠

Carlos Marti-Figuero

Carlos Marti-Figueroa

Postdoctoral Researcher

Planning and Strategy

I play an unhealthy amount of pool by myself while listening to music or podcasts. 🎱

I love taking amazing images of tissues at the end of each experiment.

I used to play basketball everyday during my breaks and after school. 🏀

Nisha Iyer

Nisha Iyer

Postdoctoral Researcher

I develop ways to direct human stem cells into every type of neuron in the brain and spinal cord… from the neurons that help you move to those that help you feel. 🖐️

Nisha Iyer

Postdoctoral Researcher

Radical empathy

Criticizing other people’s writing… and finding the holes in movie plots. 🎥

I enjoy learning about and growing rare tropical plants from all over the world. 🌵

I was one of two students at my school who got to meet the first American woman in space, Sally Ride. 🚀

Frank Seipel

Frank Seipel

Graduate Student

I work with stem cells to create models of the developing brain and spinal cord. 🧠

Frank Seipel

Graduate Student

Optimism and Positivity

Waking up early! 🌅

I enjoy learning about the food people eat all around the world and attempting to replicate it at home. 🍳

I remember learning about stem cells during a short unit in 7th grade science. I was fascinated, and wanted to work with them ever since then!

You are a student scientist!

Create your own card. Add info all about you!

View

Ask questions!

Being a scientist means asking new questions and learning new things. Click through the topics below to ask questions of the scientists at the Ashton Group and learn about their research.

Scientist in white lab coat pointing up at tabs

Click on a tab above to begin.

What is your lab and what do you study there?

What is a stem cell?

How do you engineer with stem cells?

How do you make stem cells do what you want them to do?

How do you engineer something so small?

Do you think your experiments will change the world?

View Transcript: English Transcript Spanish Transcript

Do Science!

Scientist logging data in a log book

Science Practices Activity

Now put what you’ve learned into practice! Carlos is creating molds for stem cells to grow in. Can you help him decide how he should make his mold?

Project Credits

Producers
Ryan Hendricks
Jessie Nixon

Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund

Videography
Ryan Hendricks

Video Editor
Ryan Hendricks

Sound
Beauxregard Neylon
Curtis Sorensen

Web Design
Charles Barrows

Web Development
John Vieth
Tim Schneider

Graphic and Motion Design
Amanda Roslansky
Charles Barrows
Brian Lorbiecki
Jen Hadley

Video Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services

Science Education Consultant
Travis Tangen, WID
Kevin Anderson, PhD, DPI

Educator Guide and Activities
Mia Forslund
Jen Hadley
Ryan Hendricks
Ian Glodich
Travis Tangen
Christina Swords
Millie Rolander
Anika Gupta
Kaitlin Edwards

Scientists
Randolph Ashton, PhD
Carlos Marti-Figueroa, PhD
Nisha Iyer, PhD
Frank Seipel

Project Partners
Morgridge Institute for Research
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
The Ashton Group

Executive Producer
Megan Monday

Director of Education
Alyssa Tsagong

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Educator Advisors

Michelle Howe
Lodi Middle School
Lodi, WI

Diane Reynolds
Butler Middle School
Waukesha, WI

Jessica Buckley
Wedgewood Middle School
Milwaukee, WI

Laurie Probst
Sheboygan Falls Middle School, Sheboygan Falls, WI (2024)

Funding Provided By

Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin

Single Step Foundation