Linda Rinaman

Linda Rinaman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida State University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania (1989). Her research focuses on neural circuits mediating stress responses, emotionality in rodent models, and the impact of early life adversity on visceral circuits. She leads an NIH-funded lab studying hindbrain-to-forebrain pathways and gut-brain interactions, using viral tools, chemogenetics, and behavioral assays. Current projects explore anxiety-like behavior modulation and neural adaptations to early life stress. Rinaman's work integrates anatomical and functional analyses of brainstem/hypothalamic/limbic circuits, with a focus on GLP-1 neurons and noradrenergic pathways. She collaborates on studies of energy balance and dietary factors in ingestive behavior. Postdoctoral fellow Molly McDougle works in her lab. Rinaman has published extensively on stress physiology, neuroendocrine signaling, and visceral sensory systems, with recent work emphasizing gut-brain axis mechanisms.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1989

Research Interests: Dr. Rinaman investigates how neural circuits integrate physiological and emotional stress responses, particularly the role of hindbrain and hypothalamic systems. Her lab uses rodent models to study:

• Functional organization of brainstem-limbic circuits
• Early life adversity's effects on gene expression and synaptic connectivity
• GLP-1 neuron projections and stress modulation
• Visceral sensory feedback influencing food intake

Lab Activities: The lab employs advanced techniques including Cre-conditional viruses, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and confocal microscopy. Current NIH-funded projects address anxiety behavior pathways and gut-brain circuit adaptations to early adversity. Recent studies highlight GLP-1 neuron collaterals and vagal sensory modulation of stress responses.

Awards and Recognition: (No specific awards listed in provided text.)

Grants and Advising: Rinaman leads NIH-funded projects and mentors postdoctoral researchers. She is currently not recruiting graduate students for 2024. Collaborations focus on interdisciplinary approaches to stress physiology and energy balance.

Labs/Teams: The Rinaman Lab at Florida State University is part of the Department of Psychology's research group studying stress, emotion, and visceral control systems. Collaborators include neuroendocrinologists and systems neuroscientists.