I am a research assistant at the Balderston Lab, where we study the therapeutic use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. This past summer, I worked on analyzing sex differences of TMS including electric field, scalp-to-cortex Euclidean distance and behavioral effects on startle responses in healthy human controls. Outside of research, I am involved in PennKDSAP, MERT, and CityStep. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new restaurants, going to the gym, baking, and spending time with friends.

I have a broad range of research interests across the natural and physical sciences. I have a particular interest in integrating the fields of biological, cognitive and computer sciences. Additionally, I am interested in applied research, i.e. research that can be implemented for real world use. I have worked the past three summers before college in Dr. Beverly Davidson’s lab at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's as a lab assistant. In addition to wet bench work and general lab work, I've also assisted a lab member in her study of the Fragile X Syndrome pre-mutation by rating the behavior of wildtype mice and mice with the pre-mutation. I am not currently working in a research lab, though I am taking a molecular biology lab course for the semester. Outside of Penn academics, I am involved in the Biosphere program.

• National Honor Society
• Former lab assistant in the CHOP research lab of Dr. Beverly Davidson

My research interests have revolved around women’s health, particularly menstrual disorders and period poverty. During high school I was mentored by Dr. Kristen Matteson at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Together, we wrote a literature review exploring the menstrual experiences of adolescents in the U.S. Additionally, I worked with the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition to study the effects of period poverty in different underserved areas of Massachusetts. 

Because of these experiences, I am interested in studying the effect that menstrual disorders have on women’s lives across all age groups and understanding why these issues are underreported from both a clinical and social perspective. While at Penn, I would like to build on my prior projects and explore the relationship between hormonal shifts at the time of menopause and risk for dementia in post-menopausal women.

• Reproductive Health Research Intern at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School 
• Plante ER, Ekwunwa CC, Illanes, D. Serum Sickness-Like Reaction D-mannose. Abstract presentation at the International Conference on Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, New York, NY, October 2023. 
• Plante ER, Ekwunwa C, Maciag MC, Illanes D. Serum sickness-like reaction to D-Mannose Supplement: A Case Report. BMC Pediatr. 2024 Jul 26;24(1):475

My current research interests are on the intersection between medicine and sociology, as well as preventative medicine, emergency medicine, and public health. Extracurricularly, I am involved in the Penn Beekeeping Club, Penn Women's Club Rugby, Medical Volunteers for Prevention (MVP), and Kidney Screening Disease and Awareness Program (KDSAP).