Laura Ornelas

Dr. Laura Ornelas is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of New Mexico. She holds a Ph.D. from Baylor University and completed postdoctoral training at the Center for Alcohol Studies at UNC Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms linking traumatic stress and alcohol use disorders. She employs animal models (e.g., predator odor stress) to investigate corticolimbic circuitry and endocannabinoid system involvement in stress coping and alcohol consumption. Dr. Ornelas' lab uses advanced techniques including chemogenetics, pharmacology, and electrophysiology.

Education: Ph.D., Baylor University; Postdoctoral Training, UNC Chapel Hill.

Research Interests: Neurobiology of PTSD and alcohol use disorders, endocannabinoid system modulation, prenatal substance exposure effects, and stress reactivity. Her work emphasizes translational approaches to understand maladaptive behaviors through multidisciplinary neuroscience methods.