Russell Romeo

Russell Romeo is a Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Neuroscience & Behavior at Barnard College, Columbia University. He has been a faculty member since 2007 and is actively engaged in research and teaching on adolescent brain development and stress neurobiology. He is affiliated with the Zuckerman Institute and the Center for Integrative Animal Behavior.

Education:

• B.A., Edinboro University
• M.S., Villanova University
• Ph.D., Michigan State University
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rockefeller University

Professor Romeo's research focuses on the neurobiological and psychobiological mechanisms of puberty and adolescence, particularly how stress interacts with developmental processes to shape brain and behavior. His work emphasizes the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its role in emotional reactivity and stress adaptation during adolescence. He employs multi-level analyses, from molecular and anatomical to hormonal and behavioral, using rodent models to understand fundamental developmental processes.

His recent publications highlight trends in adolescent neurodevelopment, stress resilience, sex differences, and the long-term impacts of stress on brain structure and function. These works span journals such as Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, Psychoneuroendocrinology, and Developmental Neuroscience, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary focus on behavioral neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, and developmental psychobiology.

Scientific Awards:

• Ranked among the top 2% of most cited scientists globally (2023)
• Ranked among the top 2% of most cited scientists globally (2024)

Professor Romeo mentors undergraduate students in research, including senior thesis projects, many of whom have gone on to publish their work. His lab receives institutional support through Barnard and Columbia affiliations. He has been involved in public outreach, such as the 'Grey Matter' panel on teen brain development, aimed at helping parents support adolescents during stressful times.

He leads the Romeo Lab, which investigates pubertal and adolescent development of neuroendocrine systems, with active projects centered on hormonal stress reactivity and its physiological and neurobiological impacts.