Jovan Tormes Vaquerano

PhD Student in Applied Physical Sciences | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | @UNCBBSP

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

I presented at the 2025 SACNAS Gathering at Yale University, sharing the work me and @jpflores_31 have done to map the research careers / scientific contributions of those featured in The Atlas of Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists! @SACNAS #scicomm #DEI #Latinx #LatinxAtlas

[Andreas Tolias Lab @ Stanford University @AToliasLab]

After 7 years, thrilled to finally share our #MICrONS functional connectomics results!

We recorded activity from ~75K neurons in visual cortex in a single mouse, then mapped its wiring using electron microscopy. To systematically characterize neuron function, we built the first foundation model of the mouse visual cortex—trained via deep learning on data pooled from multiple mice and visual cortical areas.

Our foundation model generalized to new neurons, animals, and even unseen stimulus domains. It also accurately predicted entirely new modalities, such as anatomically defined cell types. Importantly, this robust generalization enabled us to create accurate functional digital twins of individual mouse brains.

Using the digital twin of the MICrONS mouse—where we knew the exact neuronal wiring—we discovered that neurons don’t connect randomly, even when anatomically positioned to do so. Instead, given multiple potential partners (axons near dendrites), neurons preferentially choose partners with similar feature selectivity (“what”) rather than receptive field overlap (“where”).

Foundation models offer a powerful approach to systematically decode the neural code of intelligence.

Huge thanks to @IARPAnews for funding this groundbreaking effort through the @BRAINinitiative, and to our amazing team at @Stanford @StanfordMed @bcmhouston, @Allen, @Princeton, @uniGoettingen and others!

#Neuroscience #MICrONS #NeuroAI #Connectomics #FoundationModels #AI

https://t.co/Rb9rypR9zA

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

“I am here because of DEI…if [my father] hadn’t gone to school, I probably wouldn’t be here today.” - Dr. Victor Ambros, winner of the 2024 #NobelPrize in Physiology/Medicine #StandUpForScience2025 . Excited to meet @UMassChan Professor Dr. Ambros as a @UMassBoston graduate!

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

Had an amazing time at the @UNC_CLC's La Conferencia 2025. I presented two sessions and had great discussions with next generation of educators, scientists, and professionals. Thank you to my co-hosts!

[jp flores (he/him) @jpflores_31]

Representation matters - in your peers, in your mentors, and in the stories that shape the spaces you're in. Seeing yourself reflected in science, leadership, and beyond is important.

Please help us spread word of this Index & nominate any Inspiring Black Scientists you know!

[UNC College of Arts and Sciences @unccollege]

Tar Heels are helping to expand mental health treatment using eye-tracking technology.

Researchers in the College's @aps_unc and UNC School of Medicine's psychiatry department, alongside alumna Ellora McTaggart, are behind the innovations.

https://t.co/hvBPdoKqG3 @UNC_Optics

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

Hey @UNC PhD Students! Want to support access to science in high school classrooms? Fill out this survey to help shape an initiative I am designing. Let’s work together to share our science with our communities!

https://t.co/wUtsrAaFoe

[APS @ UNC @aps_unc]

A new wearable patch promises to transform the way skin diseases are diagnosed & monitored, according to a paper published in Science Advances. Senior author Wubin Bai @baiwubin says the patch brings together the best of optical & mechanical tech. Story: https://t.co/ow4Xo1uMJq

[APS @ UNC @aps_unc]

A UNC startup is redefining mental health treatment w a promising eye-tracking technology which is the result of an extraordinary collaboration between APS professor Nico Pegard @UNC_Optics, Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera @JoseRodRoma & Ellora MacTaggart. Story: https://t.co/oPWqlnCCgW

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

First time in the West Coast, attending the @SACNAS #NDiSTEM2024 Conference!

Excited to share work from my first co-1st authored publication in STAR Protocols and attend all the amazing talks / workshops.

Poster Session - Thur. 10/31 (10:30 am - 12:30 pm)

Number: THU-GR526

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

I had the opportunity to attend Reality Fest hosted by Carolina AR/VR. It was a privilege to be a part of the XR Systems Panel with Jade Kandel, Bryce Ikeda, and Dr. Richard Marks (Founder of the PlayStation Magic Lab, developing AR/VR technologies for the PS2, PS3, and PS4!).

[STAR Protocols @STARProtocols]

Online now: Protocol for an open-source system to integrate calcium imaging, pupillometry, and locomotion-estimated tracking in head-fixed mice https://t.co/VlFXpMbKPj #protocol #starprotocols #cellpress

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

Thank you to @UNC_PHCO and @UNC_BCBP for inviting these amazing speakers, and @biophysgal, @jpflores, @ScientistAleman, @memanuele123, @therickybaker, @CterminiPhD and many more within the @UNC_SOM for helping make these amazing Café Con Ciencia student-led discussions possible!

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

During this #HispanicHeritageMonth, our UNC-CH SACNAS Chapter hosted Dr. Ben Garcia (@GarciaLabMS) and Dr. Eva Nogales (@NogalesLab) for Café Con Ciencia discussions. Both were included in The Atlas of Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists, and shared amazing stories. #LatinxAtlas

[UMass Chan Medical School @UMassChan]

UMass Chan Medical School researcher Victor R. Ambros, PhD, shares the 2024 @NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine for his co-discovery of microRNA, single-stranded RNA molecules that play a critical role in post-transcriptional gene regulation: https://t.co/mDV4hWHyaV #NobelPrize

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

@Timothy0Leary Less prevalent in the literature today, but still lingers in popular media interpretations; the shift away from the amygdala being the “fear center” of the brain to being a part of a dynamic network and the idea of the “left” and “right” side of the brain to a bilateral model.

[Evan Weber @EvanWeberPhD]

An absolutely bonkers stat from this Nature article on Nobel Prize winners.

"702 out of 736 researchers who have won science and economics prizes up to 2023 are part of the same academic family"

https://t.co/qC3AeqwnSM

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

@JoseRodRoma @Mariamag0614 @UNC_Optics Building this integrated system to capture calcium imaging, locomotion, and pupil data simultaneously was awesome! Excited to share it to the wider community 🧠 and look forward to building more tools 🧰 with @JoseRodRoma @Mariamag0614 @UNC_Optics

[Jose Rodríguez-Romaguera @JoseRodRoma]

Excited to share our protocol to build a system to integrate Calcium-imaging, Pupillometry, and Locomotion-estimated Tracking (CaPuLeT) in head-fixed mice. Shout to @Mariamag0614 and @JovanTV for leading these efforts in collaboration with @UNC_Optics. https://t.co/5OjEW1sJhH

[Jovan Tormes Vaquerano @JovanTV]

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 #MooDeng, the baby Pygmy Hippo from Thailand, has just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize!🏅The Nobel Committee recognizes her groundbreaking achievement in inspiring millions to achieve their dreams of #napping all day and staying #moisturized . 🦛✨#NobelPrize