Student Profiles

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Rachael Stewart Allen restewa@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology
Advisor: Don Stein and Machelle Pardue
Research Interest:

I am interested in developing models of retinal and neuropathic injuries to determine what neuroprotective strategies might be most appropriate.


Rachael Stewart Allen

Amy Anderson-Zose akande2@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2006
Degree / School: Neuroscience, College of William and Mary
Advisor: Elaine Walker and W. Edward Craighead
Research Interest:

My three main areas of interest are 1) exploring cognition with fMRI 2) brain development in children and 3) familial transmission of affective disorders. My thesis research which began in Dr. Clint Kilts' lab allowed me to combine these three areas in a unique collaboration with the Women's Mental Health Program at Emory (WMHP) and the Child and Adolescent Mood Program at Emory (CAMP). Generally, I am interested in social cognition, reward processing, and executive functioning in the brain and how these processes change as the brain matures. I am also interested in the functional and anatomical brain changes that occur with the onset of depression and anxiety disorders and the effects of prenatal exposure to depression, stress, and antidepressants on brain development.


Amy Anderson-Zose

Santiago Archila santiago.archila@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2006
Degree / School: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech
Advisor: Astrid Prinz
Research Interest:

The role of homeostatic synaptic plasticity in regulating neuronal network activity.


Santiago Archila

Harry Aung kyawhein@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BA in Biology, Grinnell College
Advisor: Machelle Pardue
Research Interest:

I am interested in diabetic retinopathy (DR), especially the mechanisms underlying neuronal dysfunction in early stage of DR, detected even before the actual clinical diagnosis.


Harry Aung

Catherine (Katie) Barrett cbarre2@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Biology, Penn State
Advisor: Larry Young
Research Interest:

I am interested in the hormonal, developmental, and genetic influences on complex social behaviors. Specifically, I am researching the role of vasopressin V1a receptors in prairie voles using siRNA knockdown technology.


Catherine (Katie) Barrett

David Bass dibass@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BA in Psychology, Cornell University
Advisor: Joe Mann
Research Interest:

I am characterizing differences in memory encoding for object-location, and perhaps emotion, along the septo-temporal axis of the rat hippocampus.


David  Bass

Jacob Billings billings.jacob@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Florida A&M University
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Jacob Billings

Mallory Bowers mallorybowers@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BA in Biological Basis of Behavior, University of Pennsylvania
Advisor: Kerry Ressler
Research Interest:

I am interested in the plastic changes occurring at the level of the amygdala that underlie the extinction of cued fear.


Mallory  Bowers

Katherine Bryant KatherineLBryant@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Biology, College of William & Mary; MS in Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University
Advisor: Todd Preuss
Research Interest:

Humans are most closely related to chimpanzees and bonobos, yet little comparative neuroanatomical and connectivity data are available. My research concerns the anatomical structure and connectivity of the superior temporal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus in humans, chimpanzees, and macaques, using diffusion tensor imaging and immunohistochemical techniques. These regions play critical roles in audiovisual integration, including language and biological motion processing. I am interested in identifying similarities and differences between humans and chimpanzees, and further, postulating how these changes in neural substrate may be responsible for behavioral and cognitive differences in these species.


Katherine  Bryant

James Burkett james.p.burkett@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Biology & Chemistry, Emory University
Advisor: Larry Young
Research Interest:

My overarching interest is in the neurobiology of positive emotions. More specifically, I am investigating empathy-based behaviors with the goal of probing different dimensions of social cognition. Consolation is one such behavior that is ideal for investigating the type of social cognition that is deficient in autism - specifically, the ability to look at another individual, understand their emotional state, and form an appropriate response. Consolation occurs naturally in a small number of animal species, but to date no experimental models have emerged that would permit the study of the neurobiology of this behavior. I hope to demonstrate that prairie voles are capable of consolation, that they can be used to investigate the neural correlates of consolation, and that an assay of consolation can be used to elaborate on social cognitive mechanisms relevant to autism.


James  Burkett

Amanda Caster acaster@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2006
Degree / School: BS in Physical Chemistry and BS in Biomedical Science, Antioch University
Advisor: Rick Kahn
Research Interest:

We work on the role of Arf (ADP ribosylation factor) dependent adaptors within the context of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, we study how changes in membrane traffic affect production of neurotoxic beta-amyloid.


Amanda  Caster

Termpanit (Natty) Chalermpalanupap natty.chalermpalanupap@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University
Advisor: David Weinshenker and Allan Levey
Research Interest:

I am interested in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and translational research aimed at understanding its underlying mechanism as well as developing new therapeutics. My project focuses on determining whether tau pathology in the locus coeruleus, recently shown to be one of the most ubiquitous and earliest pathologies of AD, is toxic and sufficient to induce forebrain pathology, as well as investigating the protective effects of neurotrophin receptor activators in this pathway.


Termpanit (Natty)  Chalermpalanupap

Monica Chau mchau@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior; University of California, Davis
Advisor: Ling Wei
Research Interest:

I am interested in using neuroprotective agents and stem cell transplantation in the treatment of ischemic stroke.


Monica  Chau

Ching-Chieh (Ian) Chou numen1104.chou@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Physical Therapy, Chang Gung University
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Ching-Chieh (Ian) Chou

Amarallys Cintron afcintr@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience, University of Florida
Advisor: Lary Walker
Amarallys  Cintron

Debra Cooper debra.cooper@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Psychology, Duke University
Advisor: Leonard Howell & David Weinshenker
Research Interest:

My interests are in the neurobiology of drugs of abuse. Specifically, I am studying how pharmacotherapies that modulate norepinephrine and dopamine levels affect cocaine-induced behavior and neurochemistry. To study this, I?m using cocaine self-administration techniques and in vivo microdialysis.


Debra  Cooper

Daniel Curry benno.dc@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BA in College Scholars w/ Emphasis in Neuroscience, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Daniel Curry

Lauren DeBrouse ldebrou@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Biology and Psychology, Gettysburg College
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Lauren DeBrouse

Sarah DeWitt sarah.dewitt5@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BA in Neuroscience, Barnard College
Advisor: Donald Rainnie
Research Interest:

I am investigating the microcircuitry of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in hopes of advancing our understanding of the mechanisms by which the BNST orchestrates complex affective states such as anxiety. I use patch clamp electrophysiology as well as other molecular and behavioral techniques.


Sarah  DeWitt

Todd Deveau tdeveau@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University
Advisor: Ling Wei
Research Interest:


Todd  Deveau

David Ehrlich ehrlichde@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Neuroscience, Brown University
Advisor: Donald Rainnie
Research Interest:

My research interests include functional neuroanatomy, synaptic plasticity and neuromodulation, and nervous system development. I find the extended amygdala of particular interest because affective experience is ubiquitous; it provides an avenue to study how simple cellular and molecular changes amount to complex experiences that are universally relevant and appreciable. To this end, I use in vitro electrophysiology and molecular approaches to study activity- and experience-dependent changes in affective circuitry.


David  Ehrlich

Paul Evans pevansj@learnlink.emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience, Emory University
Advisor: John Hepler
Research Interest:

I am interested in cellular mechanisms underlying CA2 hippocampal synaptic plasticity and the impact that this plasticity has on learning and memory and social behaviors. Specifically, I am investigating the mechanism by which RGS14 suppresses hippocampal synaptic plasticity.


Paul  Evans

Yanjie Fan yanjie.fan@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Biotechnology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Advisor: James Zheng
Research Interest:

I am interested in cytoskeletal control of synaptic development and plasticity in hippocampal neurons.


Yanjie  Fan

Ming-fai Fong ming-fai.fong@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Advisor: Pete Wenner and Steve Potter
Research Interest:

I study homeostatic synaptic plasticity in developing neural circuits. I use whole-cell patch clamp, micro-electrode array recordings, and optogenetic stimulation to investigate synaptic compensation that follows chronically perturbed network activity.


Ming-fai  Fong

Sara Freeman smfreem@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Biology, University of Virginia
Advisor: Larry Young
Research Interest:

I am interested in the neural basis of social behavior, specifically the neuroanatomy of the oxytocin receptor and the role it plays in mediating social bonding and maternal motivation in primates.


Sara  Freeman

Michelle Giddens michelle.giddens@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Biology and Psychology, Worcester State College
Advisor: Randy Hall
Michelle  Giddens

Jodi Godfrey jrgodfr@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Psychology, College of Charleston
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Jodi Godfrey

Kalynda Gonzales kkgonza@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2006
Degree / School: Biology, University of Massachusetts
Advisor: T. Wichmann/Y. Smith
Research Interest:

I am interested in examining the intrinsic GABAergic microcircuitry that modulates the neuronal activity of striatal cholinergic interneurons in primates by using neuroanatomical and electrophysiological methods.


Kalynda  Gonzales

Lucy Guillory lcguill@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Psychology, University of Georgia
Advisor: Charles Nemeroff and Becky Kinkead
Research Interest:

I am interested in the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Particularly, I am interested in how the neuropeptide neurotensin modulates response to antipsychotic drugs. I am also interested in sex differences in schizophrenia and how the estrous cycle in rats affects dopamine and neurotensin systems. I use knockout of the neurotensin gene and overexpression of neurotensin receptors in rodents to explore the behavioral and neurobiological effects of neurotensin on antipsychotic drug response.


Lucy  Guillory

Constance Harrell csharrell@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BA in International Relations, Pomona College
Advisor: Gretchen Neigh
Research Interest:

My project examines the interplay of stress, metabolism, and immune function, specifically, the role of glucose metabolism and insulin signaling in neuropathology.


Constance  Harrell

Erin Hecht ehecht@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2006
Degree / School: Cognitive Science and Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego
Advisor: Lisa Parr
Research Interest:

I am interested how the brain evolved to support complex social cognitive behavioral abilities like action understanding, imitation, and empathy. I use diffusion tensor imaging, PET functional neuroimaging, and behavioral tasks to study the neural correlates of these abilities in rhesus macaques, chimpanzees, and humans.


Erin  Hecht

Tom Hennessey tom.hennessey@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: Neuroscience and Psychology, Allegheny College
Advisor: Donald Rainnie

I'm working with a rat model of autism created with prenatal exposure to valproic acid, exploring how epigenetic changes in development can lead to an autistic phenotype.

Tom Hennessey

Lukas Hoffmann lahoffm@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: Scientific Computing, University of Pittsburgh
Advisor: Sam Sober
Research Interest:

I am interested in understanding sensorimotor learning and plasticity at behavioral, electrophysiological and computational levels. I am currently studying singing behavior and corresponding neural activity in Bengalese Finches. Their neural circuits drive vocal motor output and are modified by sensorimotor feedback. I use this model system to explore the complex relationships between neural activity (processing), muscular activation (output), sensorimotor feedback (input), and plasticity (reprogramming).


Lukas Hoffmann

Yan Hong yhong31@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: BMS in Clinical Medicine Liaoning Medical University, MS in Biology Dalian Medical University
Yan Hong

Brittany Howell bcopp@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2006
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience and BS in Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University
Advisor: Mar Sanchez
Research Interest:

My research is focused on determining the effects of infant maltreatment (a form of early life stress) on neurodevelopment and how these alterations are related to psychopathology. We use in vivo imaging techniques to follow structural changes in the brains of rhesus macaques with histories of maternal physical abuse and neglect from birth through adulthood. We combine our measures of brain development with behavioral observations to relate structural changes we find to alterations in social behavior. The ultimate goal is to use this information to development effective preventative therapies and treatments in human victims of maltreatment.


Brittany Howell

Michael (Qize) Jiang qjiang7@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: B.S. in Neuroscience, Furman University
Michael (Qize) Jiang

Zack Johnson zjohnso2@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Biology, University of Illinois
Advisor: Larry Young
Research Interest:

I am interested in the evolution of social behavior from genetic and neurobiological perspectives using prairie voles and meadow voles as models.


Zack Johnson

Laura Jones ljones312@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Biology, Haverford College
Advisor: Art English
Research Interest:

I am interested in finding effective treatments for peripheral nerve injury using optogenetics to simulate exercise as a therapy.


Laura Jones

Lanikea King lking7@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BA in Cognitive Science, University of Hawaii
Advisor: Larry Young
Research Interest:

I am interested in using genomic analysis to identify genetic variation underlying organizational differences in the brain of the prairie vole.


Lanikea King

Kara Kittelberger kittelberger.k@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Behavioral Neuroscience, Northeastern University
Advisor: Larry Young
Research Interest:

My research uses the highly social prairie vole as a model of functional social cognition. By determining ways in which prairie vole social behavior can be enhanced, I aim to identify novel pharmacotherapies useful for the treatment of disorders which impact social functioning, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders.


Kara Kittelberger

Jordan Kohn Jordan.n.kohn@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BA in Biology, Reed College
Advisor: Mark Wilson
Research Interest:

I am investigating the effects of social dominance rank on behavior, gene transcription, immune system dynamics, and endocrine function in the rhesus macaque as a model for understanding both chronic and acute human psychosocial stress. I am also interested in neurobiological mediators of social buffering and how complex factors such as life history, genotype, and rank differentially affect these endogenous modulatory systems.


Jordan Kohn

Tyra Lamar tlamar@learnlink.emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BA in Physics and Applied Physics, North Carolina Central University
Advisor: TBD
Tyra Lamar

Damon Lamb dlamb@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: BS Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park; BS Computer Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park; MS Computer Science, University of Chicago
Advisor: Ron Calabrese and Rob Butera
Research Interest:

I am working on motor pattern generation by small neural networks. In particular, I am focusing on the input/output relationship of motor neurons in the heartbeat central pattern generator of Hirudo sp. I am generally interested in pattern formation in biological neural networks, computational modeling, electrophysiology, and information processing.


Damon Lamb

Kim Lang kim.lang.09@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience, Davidson College
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Kim Lang

Evan Lebois evan.p.lebois@emory.edu

Student

Click To View My Lab Website
Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Biochemistry and BS in Biology, University of Delaware
Advisor: Allan Levey and Joe Manns
Research Interest:

My main research interests are in understanding the molecular mechanisms and pharmacotheraphy of age-related cognitive decline as well as neurodegenerative diseases, specifically, Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In order to do this, I have been heavily involved in drug development and recently developed the first truly subtype-selective M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists. Since deletion of M1 function leads to hippocampal memory impairments and exacerbates amyloid AD pathology, these compounds will serve as vital research tools to probe the involvement of cholinergic circuitry in the context of aging and AD at a resolution never before possible. In order to do this my work at Emory focuses on 1) in vivo electrophysiology to record hippocampal neuronal activity of place cells in awake and behaving, aged rats as well as 2) chronic dosing of transgenic AD mice in a prophylactic treatment trial focused on preventing AD onset.


Evan Lebois

Kelly Lohr klohr@learnlink.emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience, Dickinson College
Advisor: Gary Miller
Kelly Lohr

Amy Luce amy.luce@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BA in Psychology, University of Maine
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Amy Luce

Kathryn MacPherson kpmacpherson@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience and Biology, Indiana University Bloomington
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Kathryn MacPherson

Teresa Madsen tmadsen@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2005
Degree / School: Neuroscience, Grinnell College
Advisor: Donald Rainnie
Research Interest:

I am investigating the neural substrates of affect and emotional learning, particularly focusing on the role of synchrony and cross-talk between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). My method of choice is multi-electrode recording and stimulation in freely moving rats.


Teresa Madsen

Christopher Makinson cmakins@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Biology, Wake Forest
Advisor: Andrew Escayg
Research Interest:

I am interested in the role of sodium channel mutations in epilepsy, particularly Nav1.6-dependent seizure resistance. Our lab utilizes several techniques such as Cre-Lox systems and EEG to investigate the contribution of voltage-gated sodium channels to the etiology of epilepsy.


Christopher Makinson

Eric Maltbie emaltbi@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: B.S. in Environmental Science, UNC-Chapel Hill
Eric Maltbie

Laura Mariani lemaria@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience and Biology and MS in Neuroscience, Brandeis University
Advisor: Tamara Caspary
Research Interest:

My research focuses on a ciliary protein called Arl13b. Mutations in Arl13b have been linked to neural tube closure defects and abnormal motor neuron and oligodendrocyte specification. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, I hope to help elucidate the role played by cilia-dependent cell signaling pathways in the developing nervous system.


Laura Mariani

Abraham Mathai abraham.mathai@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Engineering (Electronics & Telecommunication, University of Pune; MS in Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Advisor: Yoland Smith
Research Interest:

I am interested in the synaptic microcircuitry of glutamatergic inputs to the sub-thalamic nucleus.


Abraham Mathai

Kenneth McCullough kmccul3@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: B.A. in Neuroscience, Lewis and Clark College
Kenneth McCullough

Callie McGrath clmcgra@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Biopsychology, Boston College
Advisor: Helen Mayberg
Research Interest:

My main research interest is in multi-modal neuroimaging, including structural and functional combinations of DTI, volumetrics, fMRI and PET as a means of investigating depression.


Callie McGrath

Jeanne McKeon jmckeon@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Neuroscience, Smith College
Advisor: Lian Li
Research Interest:

Molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease, with a focus on the role of environmental toxicants and oxidative damage to proteins in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.


Jeanne McKeon

Michael McKinnon mlmckin@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech
Michael McKinnon

Joe Mertz jmertz@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Biology, Cornell University
Advisor: Junmin Peng
Research Interest:

I am interested in molecular mechanisms of neuronal development using a proteomics approach in an Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell model.


Joe Mertz

Rebecca (Becky) Meyer rcmeyer@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Biology, Creighton University
Advisor: Randy Hall
Research Interest:

I am interested in the modulation of G protein-coupled receptors and signal transduction. Specifically, I'm studying how peptide receptor interactions alter dopamine signaling and the effect this has on the development and progression of Parkinson's disease.


Rebecca (Becky) Meyer

Amielle Moreno amoren3@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: BS Psychology and Biology, University of Washington
Amielle Moreno

Filomene Morrison fgmorri@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Neurobiology, University of California, Berkeley
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Filomene Morrison

Ariana Mullin ariana.mullin@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience, Trinity College
Advisor: Victor Faundez
Research Interest:

My general research interest is in protein trafficking in neurological disorders. My current research focuses on the dysbindin-containing BLOC-1 complex, and how this complex interacts with the gene products of other schizophrenia susceptibility genes involved in synaptic vesicle trafficking.


Ariana Mullin

Karen Murray kmurra5@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience/Biochemistry, Lafayette College
Advisor: Mike Owens
Research Interest:

I am studying the serotonin transporter and effects via its allosteric site.


Karen Murray

Leila Myrick lkhooga@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University
Advisor: Steven Warren
Research Interest:

I am interested in using new techniques in genetics to determine how Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) regulates RNA translation in the pathogenesis of Fragile X syndrome.


Leila Myrick

Christina Nemeth clnemet@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BA in Neuroscience, Hamilton College
Advisor: Gretchen Neigh
Research Interest:

My project examines the relationship between vasculature and behavioral systems, seeking to understand how alterations in cerebral blood supply and metabolism contribute to neuropathology.


Christina Nemeth

David Nicholson nicholdav@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Biology, University of South Florida
Advisor: Sam Sober
Research Interest:

My interests lie in cellular mechanisms of plasticity and neural coding.


David Nicholson

Donald Noble djnoble@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience, UCLA
Advisor: Shawn Hochman
Research Interest:

I recently began an interdisciplinary project investigating the relative efficacy of several different meditation techniques in humans and the basic physiological mechanisms of deep breathing in an animal model.


Donald Noble

Yvonne Ogbonmwan yogbonm@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BS in Biology, Georgia State University
Advisor: David Weinshenker
Research Interest:

I am studying how chronic voluntary exercise reduces the incidence of relapse in individuals with a history of substance abuse. However, the mechanism for this phenomenon remains unknown. Chronic voluntary exercise selectively upregulates galanin mRNA (a neuropeptide that inhibits norepinephrine release) in the locus coeruleus. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that is critically involved in mediating the cocaine-primed reinstatement ( an animal model of relapse). Thus, I propose to determine the role of exercise-induced galanin upregulation on cocaine-primed reinstatement and NE release. My research uses intravenous self-administration to analyze rat behavioral responses to cocaine, in situ hybridization and real-time PCR to assess protein galanin mRNA concentrations, and michrodialysis to measure extracellular NE concentrations.


Yvonne Ogbonmwan

Maylen Perez Diaz mperezd@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: B.S. in Biology, UCLA
Maylen Perez Diaz

Melanie Pincus mpincus@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Earth Sciences, Stanford University
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Melanie Pincus

Elizabeth Pitts epitts2@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: BS in Psychology, Davidson College
Elizabeth Pitts

Brian Prall bprall@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: BS in Psychology, Radford University
Brian Prall

Cecilia Prudente cpruden@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BA in Physical Therapy and MS in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG (Brazil)
Advisor: H.A. Jinnah
Research Interest:

I am interested in the role of the basal ganglia and cerebellum in normal movements and movement disorders. I have a special interest in the mechanisms of dystonia, a movement disorder characterized by involuntary twisting movements and abnormal postures.


Cecilia Prudente

Ryan Purcell ryan.purcell@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BA in Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Ryan Purcell

Nisha Raj nisharaj88@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BA in Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston University
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Nisha Raj

Kathy Reding kreding@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: MSc in Evolutionary Psychology, University of Liverpool, UK (2008); BS in Neuroscience, The College of William & Mary, Virginia (2004)
Advisor: James Rilling and Mark Wilson
Research Interest:

I am interested in understanding the proximate mechanisms that guide female social behavior in both humans and rhesus macaques, with a focus on the role of estradiol and its interaction with the oxytocin pathway to modulate psychosocial stress. My current research includes experimental techniques in both fMRI and PET neuroimaging.


Kathy Reding

Stefanie Ritter slritte@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2006
Degree / School: Neuroscience, Furman University
Advisor: Randy Hall
Research Interest:

I study how scaffolding proteins regulate the signaling and traffic of metabotropic glutamate receptors in a cell context-dependent fashion. These receptors are novel targets for the treatment of schizophrenia and need to be better characterized in order to develop drugs with reduced side effects. By understanding how metabotropic glutamate receptors function in a more native cellular context, such as in cortical astrocytes, I aim to better characterize their physiological function.


Stefanie Ritter

Samuel Rose samueljosephrose@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Biology, University of Georgia
Advisor: Ellen Hess
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Samuel Rose

Travis Rotterman trotter@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: BS in Biology, Wright State University
Travis Rotterman

Steven Ryan sryan2@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Advisor: Donald Rainnie
Research Interest:

I currently study the development of emotional processing in the amygdala, with a focus on how perturbations in normal development may contribute to the symptomology of Autism Spectrum Disorders. In the future, I would like to study the detailed mechanisms by which neural networks encode, process, and transmit information.


Steven Ryan

Kristen Weiss Sanders Kristen.sanders@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Integrated Neuroscience, SUNY Binghamton
Advisor: Nick Boulis
Research Interest:

I am interested in translational neuroscience, particularly the process of designing and conducting studies that can be efficiently moved from the lab to the clinic. I am currently working in primary dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cell culture to determine which adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes that best transduce nociceptors, as well as investigating methods to optimize viral delivery to sensory neurons. I am also working with HSV-based viral vectors to selectively deliver transgenes to the soma of primary sensory neurons, which results in disrupted synaptic transmission between nociceptors and primary afferents. Gene-based neuromodulation at this synapse has been effectively applied to various types of pain transmitted via the spinal cord dorsal horn. I plan to apply these vectors in rodent models of craniofacial pain, targeting sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglia instead of the spinal cord DRG.


Kristen Weiss Sanders

Nikki Sawyer nsawye2@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2007
Degree / School: BS in Biology with a Chemistry minor, Clayton State University
Advisor: Andrew Escayg
Research Interest:

I am interested in examining the relationship between stress and epilepsy in a genetic mouse model of epilepsy. In particular, I am focusing on the contribution of voltage-gated sodium channels to normal HPA axis function, as well as the effects of acute stress and early life stress on seizure outcome in voltage-gated sodium channel mutants.


Nikki Sawyer

Karl Schmidt karl.t.schmidt@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: Psychology, Davidson College
Advisor: David Weinshenker
Research Interest:

I am interested in the behavioral pharmacology of drugs of abuse, specifically cocaine, and the neurobiology of potential relapse interventions.


Karl Schmidt

Katy Shepard knshepa@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2008
Degree / School: BA in Psychology, Ithaca College
Advisor: Robert Liu
Research Interest:

I am interested in using neuroethological methods to study the effects of sex hormones on social behavior and animal communication.


Katy Shepard

Drew Solyst DrewSolyst@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2009
Degree / School: BS in Psychology, St. Mary's College of Maryland
Advisor: Beth Buffalo and Lisa Parr
Research Interest:

I am interested in the proximate neural mechanisms by which individuals living in complex social groups encode and subsequently recognize social signals emitted by their conspecific group members. Specifically, I plan to measure the activity of single neurons and the local field potential in the monkey hippocampus and amygdala simultaneously in response to images of faces and non-social stimuli while recording the point of gaze using infrared eye tracking. This affords the opportunity to study social cognition and memory in an ethologically relevant context, as well as test the effects of exogenous oxytocin on these processes. This research may have implications for people with autism, who are impaired in these faculties and show improvement following administration of intranasal oxytocin.


Drew Solyst

Iris Speigel iris.speigel@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Cell Biology, University of Maryland College Park
Advisor: Shawn Hochman
Iris Speigel

Ashley Sullivan ajsulli@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2012
Degree / School: BS in Mathematics, Spelman College. MS in Applied Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ashley Sullivan

Andrew Swanson andrew.swanson@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Biological Science, Georgia State University
Advisor: Shannon Gourley
Andrew Swanson

Ahmad Sylvester asylves@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2005
Degree / School: Psychology, SUNY, Buffalo
Advisor: Allan Levey
Research Interest:

My lab researches various neurodegenerative disorders. We were the first to observe a relationship between LR11 protein and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, LR11 appears to negatively regulate production of the amyloid beta peptide - thought to be the key toxic agent in AD. My research is expanding upon this work by attempting to determine whether a relationship exists between LR11 and other pathological changes seen in AD.


Ahmad Sylvester

Kristen Thomas ktthoma@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Biochemistry, Texas A&M University
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Kristen Thomas

Kevin Watkins kevinewatkins@gmail.com

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BA in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Dartmouth College
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Kevin Watkins

Ting Zhao tzhao5@emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2011
Degree / School: BS in Clinical Medicine, MS in Biochemistry, Dalian Medical University, China
Research Interest:

Currently doing lab rotations


Ting Zhao

Kelsey Zimmerman kszimme@learnlink.emory.edu

Student

Year Matriculated: 2010
Degree / School: BS in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University
Advisor: Kerry Ressler and Shannon Gourley
Research Interest:

I study the functional similarities and differences in the acquisition and extinction of fearful and appetitive behaviors, specifically by exploring plasticity in the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex.


Kelsey Zimmerman
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S. Potter Lab - A stimulation headstage (circuit) designed by Neuroscience student John Rolston
S. Potter Lab - A stimulation headstage (circuit) designed by Neuroscience student John Rolston (now an alumni)
L. Ting Lab - Combining biomechanical models of posture and balance with human experimental data
L. Ting Lab - Combining biomechanical models of posture and balance with human experimental data
Y. Smith Lab - Binding of 18F-FECNT (Dopamine Transporter Ligand) in a cross-sectional section at the level of the striatum
Y. Smith Lab - Binding of 18F-FECNT (Dopamine Transporter Ligand) in a cross-sectional section at the level of the striatum (PET)
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