Prof. Dr. Kei Ito is a leading neuroscientist at the University of Cologne , specializing in Drosophila melanogaster brain architecture. His research focuses on mapping " terra incognita " regions of the brain, analyzing glial cell functions across development, and establishing standardized insect brain nomenclature through international collaboration. As AXA Chairholder and former HHMI Senior Fellow , he combines molecular genetics with 3D virtual reality visualization to unravel neuronal network organization . Academic Affiliation : University of Cologne (2016–present) Prior Positions : The University of Tokyo (2002–2017), National Institute for Basic Biology (1998–2002) Research Interests span multiple domains: "Terra Incognita" Analysis : Systematic mapping of previously uncharacterized brain regions (70% of brain volume) Glial Cell Biology : Classification and functional analysis from embryo to adult Connectome Research : Integration of electron microscopy data with genetic tools Neuronal Lineage Studies : 3D reconstruction of neuroblast progeny patterns Scientific Contributions include: Creation of 4,500 NP Gal4 driver lines (Japan consortium, 1998) Pioneering Split-Gal4 systems for precise neuron labeling Establishment of 6 distinct neuron naming schemes for EM data Leadership in Insect Brain Name Working Group (2007–2014) Advising Legacy features direct mentorship of 6 doctoral students and collaborative analysis of 3,777 neuron types in EM datasets. His lab maintains 1,000+ specific Split-Gal4 lines for terra incognita research.
Philippe Schwaller is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), School of Basic Sciences, within the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering. He leads the Laboratory of Artificial Chemical Intelligence (LIAC), a research group focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate molecular discovery and sustainable chemistry. He is also a core Principal Investigator of the NCCR Catalysis, a national Swiss research center. His research lies at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and computer science, with a strong emphasis on developing machine learning models for molecular design and synthesis. LIAC's work is driven by real-world sustainability challenges, aiming to reduce the time and cost of discovering new functional molecules and materials. The recent publications and projects from his lab highlight a strong trend in generative AI for chemistry, including memory-augmented models, hypergraph neural networks, and large language models tailored for scientific discovery. These efforts are complemented by educational initiatives such as the 'AI for Chemistry' course and practical programming resources for chemists. He actively supervises a diverse group of PhD students and contributes to multiple doctoral programs at EPFL, including EDCH and EDPY. His teaching portfolio includes courses on computational chemistry, AI applications in chemistry, and scientific machine learning. Philippe Schwaller is deeply involved in advancing AI-driven scientific discovery through both research and education, positioning his lab at the forefront of artificial chemical intelligence. The lab maintains active open-source contributions on GitHub, fostering collaboration and transparency in scientific AI development.
Petr Janata is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis, and a faculty member at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain. His research centers on cognitive neuroscience of music, investigating neural mechanisms underlying music-evoked autobiographical memories and the experience of "groove." He serves on the Board of the Society for Music Perception and Cognition and co-founded the UC Music Experience Research Community Initiative (UC MERCI). Janata's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Biology (Neuroscience) from the University of Oregon (1996) B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Biology/Psychology) from Reed College (1990) His research employs behavioral experiments, fMRI, EEG, and computational modeling to explore how music engages memory, emotion, and sensorimotor systems. Key projects examine music-evoked remembering, the psychology of groove, auditory attention mechanisms, and timbre-emotion links. His work reveals how music activates domain-general brain networks for expectation, memory, and emotional processing. Recent publications (2018-2025) show increasing focus on cross-cultural emotional responses to music, neural correlates of nostalgia, mental replay mechanisms, and clinical applications of music cognition. His lab develops innovative paradigms like the Groove Enhancement Machine (GEM) to manipulate sensorimotor synchronization while measuring subjective enjoyment. Janata's scientific recognition includes: Guggenheim Fellowship (2010) Dual Fulbright Fellowships (1990-91, 2010-11) Music Has Power Award from the Institute of Music and Neurological Function (2010) He has delivered over 100 invited lectures globally and served as scientific advisor to Coro Health LLC before founding Meamer, Inc. in 2017 to connect people through memories and music. His translational work bridges basic cognitive neuroscience with real-world applications in health and technology. The Janata Lab at UC Davis integrates neuroimaging, behavioral testing, and computational modeling to advance understanding of music cognition. Current projects explore lifespan neural changes in music processing, adaptive virtual partners for synchronization studies, and sonification systems for physiological monitoring.
Gigi Luk is Professor and Program Director for M.Ed. Concentrations in Educational Psychology and Human Development within the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University's Faculty of Education. Her research program investigates the cognitive consequences of bilingualism across the lifespan, bridging scientific understanding with practical educational applications to cultivate inclusive environments for linguistically diverse learners. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Psychology (Developmental and Cognitive Processes) from York University M.A. in Psychology (Developmental and Cognitive Processes) from York University Specialized Honors B.A. in Psychology from York University Dr. Luk's research centers on bilingualism's cognitive and neural mechanisms, with three interconnected thrusts: (1) characterizing bilingualism beyond English proficiency in communities, (2) examining cognitive skills supporting language/literacy outcomes, and (3) establishing neural correlates of learning in diverse language learners. Her work integrates cognitive neuroscience with educational practice to address real-world challenges in multilingual classrooms, emphasizing culturally responsive pedagogy that respects linguistic diversity. This dual focus on basic science and practical implementation defines her contributions to understanding how bilingual experiences shape cognitive development and educational equity. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2022-2024) reveals consistent interdisciplinary investigation of bilingualism through cognitive, neural, and sociocultural lenses. Her work spans educational psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and sociolinguistics, with growing emphasis on neural correlates of language processing, methodological rigor in bilingual assessment, and equity implications of bilingual research. Key trends include examination of multilingual children's cognitive development, critical reframing of the "bilingual advantage" discourse, and innovative approaches like music-based literacy interventions. Scientific recognition includes: National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship (2013-2014) Dr. Luk actively supervises graduate students (accepting new students for 2025-2026) and secures competitive research funding, currently supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Fonds de recherche Société et culture (FRQSC). Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained commitment to advancing understanding of bilingual cognition and its educational applications through rigorous empirical work. She directs the Bilingualism.Experience.Education Lab, which functions as an interdisciplinary hub for investigating how language experiences shape cognitive development and educational outcomes. The lab employs diverse methodologies including neuroimaging, behavioral experiments, and classroom-based research to address questions about bilingualism's cognitive effects and practical implications for educators.
Mark Greenwald is a Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Wayne State University School of Medicine. His work focuses on substance abuse research, particularly on pharmacological and neurobiological mechanisms of opioid and other substance use disorders. With numerous publications and significant contributions to the field of addiction medicine, Dr. Greenwald leads the Substance Abuse Research Division and collaborates extensively with researchers across multiple disciplines to advance understanding and treatment of addiction. Dr. Greenwald's research spans multiple domains of addiction science, with particular expertise in pharmacological determinants of drug-seeking behavior , neuroimaging of addiction-related neural processes , and development of novel treatment approaches for opioid use disorder . His work employs advanced methodologies including PET imaging of opioid and dopamine systems, fMRI, EEG, and 1H spectroscopy to investigate the biological underpinnings of addiction. A significant portion of his research focuses on optimizing buprenorphine treatment protocols and understanding individual differences in treatment response. Dr. Greenwald's recent publications reveal a strong focus on advancing precision medicine approaches for opioid use disorder, with particular attention to pharmacogenetic factors, neuroimaging biomarkers, and individualized treatment protocols. His work increasingly integrates neurobiological, psychological, and social determinants of addiction to develop comprehensive treatment models. Notably, his research bridges basic science with clinical applications, translating neuropharmacological insights into improved treatment strategies for patients struggling with opioid addiction. National Institutes of Health awarded Wayne State $1.19 million for addiction neuroscience predoctoral training Contributed to $16.6 million drug development project for treatment of opioid use disorder Provost's Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health Steering Committee member Led clinical trial proving neurostimulation device to treat opioid use disorder is effective As Associate Chair for Research, Dr. Greenwald oversees research initiatives within the Department of Psychiatry and mentors junior faculty and research staff. His substantial NIH-funded research program supports multiple clinical trials investigating novel approaches to treating opioid use disorder. Dr. Greenwald has secured significant grant funding for projects including a $1.19 million NIH award for addiction neuroscience predoctoral training and contributions to a $16.6 million drug development project for opioid use disorder treatment. His leadership extends to serving on the Provost's Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health Steering Committee. Dr. Greenwald leads the Substance Abuse Research Division at Wayne State University, which employs a multidisciplinary approach to addiction research. His team collaborates with key researchers including Leslie Lundahl, David Ledgerwood, and Cynthia Arfken (focusing on substance use disorders and HIV/AIDS); Jeffrey Stanley (specializing in 1H spectroscopy); Vaibhav Diwadkar (fMRI, learning/memory); Sylvie Naar-King and Paul Burghardt (stress, physical activity and obesity); Terrance Albrecht, Ann Schwartz and Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy); Timothy Roehrs (Henry Ford: EEG, sleep, pain); and Margit Burmeister (University of Michigan: pharmacogenetics).
Claudia Buß is a University Professor (W3) at the Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, where she has been serving since 2019. She also holds an Adjunct Professor position in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California Irvine School of Medicine since 2022, having previously served as Adjunct Associate Professor (2016-2022) and Adjunct Assistant Professor (2013-2016). Additionally, she is a faculty member at both the Berlin School of Mind & Brain and the Einstein Center for Neurosciences in Berlin. Dr. Buß received her psychology education at the University of Trier, Germany, and completed her PhD in Psychobiology at the University of Trier and McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 2006. She conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of California Irvine, USA, before becoming an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the same institution from 2010-2012. Professor Buß's research focuses on the pre- and postnatal programming of health and illness across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on brain development. Her work investigates how maternal stress during pregnancy affects fetal development and disease vulnerability, including the intergenerational transmission of early childhood stress and trauma effects. She employs advanced imaging techniques such as MRI and EEG to examine stress effects on the brain and cognitive performance throughout life. Her extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory in understanding how maternal factors—including cortisol levels, inflammatory markers like IL-6, and childhood trauma history—influence fetal and newborn brain development. These studies frequently connect prenatal exposures to specific brain structures (amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus) and subsequent behavioral outcomes in children. Her recent work has expanded to examine multiple simultaneous exposures ("poly-exposures") and their cumulative effects on neurodevelopment. 2017: Elected Member, Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research (ABMR) 2015: Curt Richter Award of the International Society for Psychoneuroendocrinology (ISPNE) for "distinguished early to mid-career scientific contributions at the interface of health-related biological and psychological processes" As a principal investigator, Professor Buß leads research examining the developmental origins of health and disease, with particular focus on how early life experiences shape brain development and long-term health outcomes. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, investigating both biological mechanisms (endocrine, inflammatory) and psychological factors that influence the maternal-fetal interface. She collaborates extensively across institutions, as evidenced by her dual appointments in Berlin and California, and her involvement with the Berlin School of Mind & Brain and Einstein Center for Neurosciences. Professor Buß's laboratory utilizes a multidisciplinary approach combining psychological assessment, biological sampling, and advanced neuroimaging to investigate how maternal experiences become biologically embedded and transmitted across generations. Her team employs ecological momentary assessment methods to capture real-time stress experiences during pregnancy, providing a more accurate picture of maternal exposures than retrospective reports.
Rosario B. Jaime-Lara is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Nursing. She holds advanced degrees including a PhD in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, MSN from Columbia University, and dual BS degrees in Nursing and Biological Sciences from University of Pennsylvania and UC Davis. Her research focuses on neurophysiological mechanisms of eating behavior, nutritional disparities in Mexican-American communities, and chemosensory science. Key themes include obesity research, sensory neuroscience, and translational clinical studies. She employs rodent models and clinical research methodologies to explore taste/smell physiology and metabolic health. Jaime-Lara has received over 17 honors including the 2022 Hommer Memorial Award and multiple diversity fellowships. Her work spans interdisciplinary collaborations in genomics, microbiome research, and health IT interventions for chronic disease management. Recent publications emphasize olfactory dysfunction in coronaviruses, fat taste mediators, and metabolic profiling. Her research bridges basic science and clinical practice, with particular attention to underserved populations.
Professor David Bannerman is a leading academic in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Oxford's Department of Psychiatry. He heads the Behavioural Neuroscience Unit, focusing on neural mechanisms underlying anxiety, learning, and memory. His research integrates neurophysiological, genetic, and pharmacological approaches to study neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and sleep disturbances. Education: BSc (Hons) and PhD qualifications are listed. His research interests span synaptic plasticity, neurodegenerative processes, and the neurobiology of fear/anxiety. Notable areas include the role of orexin pathways in anxiety, tau protein effects on spatial cognition, and the impact of psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT on neural states. He also investigates sleep spindles’ role in brain state regulation and the consequences of SSRI discontinuation on serotonergic systems. Recent work emphasizes Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms (e.g., amyloid β’s synaptic effects), schizophrenia models (NMDA receptor dysfunction), and the neuroplasticity linked to working memory training. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques, including optogenetics and in vivo neural recordings, to dissect complex behaviors and circuit-level dysfunction. His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, bridging basic neuroscience with translational research. Key themes include: synaptic dysfunction in neurodegeneration, environmental influences on neurobehavioral outcomes (e.g., magnetic fields), and the neurobiological basis of psychiatric symptomatology.
Professor Gunter Kuhnle is a leading academic at the University of Reading, specializing in nutritional epidemiology and dietary assessment. He holds roles including Module Convenor for 'Nutritional Epidemiology and Dietary Assessment,' Undergraduate Research Project Coordinator, and Director of the Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF). He is affiliated with the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, a research center focusing on human nutrition science. Education: Diplom Biochemiker (University of Leipzig), Doctor Rerum Naturalium (University of Leipzig), Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) His research interests are centered on three key areas: developing objective measures of dietary intake and exposure to food bioactives, polyphenol metabolism and health outcomes, and investigating the association between red/processed meat consumption and cancer risk. He advocates for biomarker-based research to address biases in dietary studies. Recent work includes studies on dietary flavanols' cognitive benefits in older adults, nitrate's impact on cardiovascular health, and the role of genetic factors in lipid metabolism. His publications address methodological challenges in nutrition research and emphasize evidence-based guidelines for dietary bioactives. Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) Professor Kuhnle's contributions extend to interdisciplinary collaborations, including the PHYTOME project to reduce dietary nitrosamine exposure through natural compounds. His work bridges basic science, clinical applications, and public health policy.
Gerlind Große is a Research Professor for Early Childhood Studies at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and leads the interdisciplinary PINA Research Laboratory. She is deeply involved in applied and basic research focused on early childhood education, social-emotional development, and pedagogical architecture. As Head of the Master's programme in Early Childhood Studies, she contributes to academic leadership via roles in the Faculty Council and Senate. Her research bridges developmental psychology and educational practice, with projects like BIKA (Participation in Daycare Everyday Life), NAWII (natural science interest in early education), and INSO (inclusive social space development). She emphasizes emotion regulation, language-emotion interplay, and pedagogical interaction quality, yielding publications on emotion vocabulary, analog/digital play, and teacher-child dynamics. Recent publications highlight trends in educational psychology, cognitive development, and social-emotional learning. Collaborative work with teams at the University of Potsdam, Freie Universität Berlin, and international institutions underscores her interdisciplinary approach. Projects often intersect with public policy, such as the Babyhelfer App for parental mental health support and the BeoKiz initiative for daycare documentation. As head of PINA, she integrates research across domains like inclusive schools, peer interaction, and developmental assessment. Funding from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and partnerships with institutions like ASH Berlin and the University of Graz reflect her commitment to practice transfer and systemic educational reform.
Saul Kassin is a **Distinguished Professor of Psychology** at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. As a **Professor Emeritus at Williams College**, he pioneered research on false confessions since the 1980s. He has held leadership roles in the Psychology-and-Law Division of the APA and authored its influential White Paper on false confessions. His work focuses on interrogations, forensic confirmation bias, jury decision-making, and wrongful conviction prevention. **Education**: - Ph.D. in Personality & Social Psychology, University of Connecticut (1978) - Postdoctoral fellowships at University of Kansas, Federal Judicial Center, Stanford University - B.S. in Psychology, Brooklyn College (1974) **Research Interests**: Kassin explores how innocent people confess, the psychological mechanisms behind false confessions, and the systemic flaws in criminal justice systems. He examines police interrogation tactics, juror biases, and the contamination of evidence by confessions. His work emphasizes practical reforms, such as video recording interrogations and curbing forensic bias. **Awards & Recognition**: Recipient of lifetime achievement awards from APA, APS, AP-LS, EAPL, and iiiRG. His contributions are highlighted in media like Ken Burns’ The Central Park Five and his 2022 book Duped . **Grants & Consultancy**: Consulted on high-profile cases and policy reforms. Advocates for transparency in legal processes and has authored textbooks like Social Psychology (12th ed., 2024). **Teams & Labs**: Leads a research group at John Jay conducting experiments on interrogation dynamics, forensic science bias, and legal decision-making.
Hedy Kober is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law. She serves as Director of the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at Yale. Her work bridges psychology, neuroscience, and clinical interventions, with a focus on emotion regulation, mindfulness, and addiction. Education PhD in Clinical Psychology (Respecialization), Fielding Graduate University (2021) PhD, Columbia University (2009) MPhil, Columbia University (2008) MA, Columbia University (2007) Research Interests Dr. Kober's research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation, with particular emphasis on mindfulness-based interventions for various conditions including addiction, eating disorders, and depression. Her work explores how individuals regulate cravings, manage negative emotions, and develop healthier behavioral patterns through cognitive strategies and mindfulness practices. She employs a range of methodologies including fMRI, ecological momentary assessment, and clinical trials to investigate these processes in both healthy individuals and those with clinical conditions. Her recent work has increasingly focused on digital interventions that make evidence-based therapies more accessible, particularly for substance use disorders and eating disorders. She examines how brief, scalable interventions can effectively target core mechanisms of behavior change. Research Trends Dr. Kober's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of emotion regulation, mindfulness, and clinical applications. Her work connects basic cognitive neuroscience with clinical interventions, particularly examining how individuals regulate cravings and negative emotions. Recent studies have expanded to include digital delivery of interventions, network approaches to understanding emotional processes, and the development of neuromarkers for addiction. Her research increasingly incorporates longitudinal and ecological momentary assessment methods to capture real-world emotional dynamics. Scientific Awards Outstanding Mentor Award (2019) from American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Early Career Investigator Award (2018) from NIDA and NIAAA Teaching Excellence at Yale (2017) from Yale Center for Teaching and Learning Helmsley Fellowship in Cross Disciplinary Science (2016) from Helmsley Charitable Trust Scholar Award (2011) from Yale Center for Clinical Investigation Advising and Grants Dr. Kober has received significant grant funding for her research on emotion regulation and addiction. She serves as Principal Investigator on clinical trials examining brief training for alcohol craving regulation and the role of reward learning and decision making in addiction. Her work has been supported by organizations including NIDA and NIAAA. As a mentor, she has guided numerous students and early-career researchers, recognized by her Outstanding Mentor Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Laboratory Dr. Kober directs the Clinical and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at Yale, which investigates the neural and cognitive mechanisms of emotion regulation and their application to clinical problems. The lab employs a multi-method approach including neuroimaging, behavioral experiments, and clinical interventions to understand how people regulate emotions and cravings, with the goal of developing more effective treatments for conditions like addiction and eating disorders.
Lisa Feldman Barrett is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University with an appointment at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). She leads the Interdisciplinary Affective Science Laboratory (IASLab), studying the brain and body mechanisms underlying emotion, motivation, and cognition. Her work integrates psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and computational methods to challenge traditional emotion theories. She serves as Chief Science Officer for MGH’s Center for Law, Brain and Behavior and actively engages in public science communication through books, lectures, and media. **Research Focus**: Her lab develops systems-level models of affective neuroscience, emphasizing predictive processing, interoception, and cultural influences on emotion. She critiques universal facial expression theories and advocates for a constructionist model of emotion as contextually constructed experiences. **Awards & Honors**: Recipient of the NIH Pioneer Award, APS Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement, and APA’s Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award. Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and Royal Society of Canada. Former President of the Association for Psychological Science (APS). **Key Contributions**: Pioneered the theory of constructed emotion, emphasized the role of interoception in emotion, and demonstrated variability in facial expressions across cultures. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, including mental health and legal contexts. **Lab & Teams**: IASLab collaborates across disciplines, with sites at Northeastern and MGH. Current projects explore neural mechanisms of emotion, allostasis, and the impact of aging on memory and resilience.
Dr. Susanne Kooistra is a Research Professor in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). She leads the Senescence, Stem Cells, and Inflammation (SSI) research group, focusing on neuroinflammation, microglial biology, and epigenetic regulation in neurological disorders. Her work spans multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and developmental neurobiology, emphasizing the role of microglia in disease progression and repair mechanisms. Her research integrates transcriptomic and epigenetic approaches to study immune responses in the central nervous system, particularly in contexts of aging, injury, and developmental stressors. Collaborations with institutions like the UMCG and international teams have advanced insights into microglial heterogeneity, myelin repair, and the impact of environmental factors on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Dr. Kooistra’s publications highlight contributions to understanding microglial function in demyelination, stress-induced immune modulation, and epigenetic memory in neuroinflammation. Her work has been recognized through high-impact journals and international peer-reviewed contributions, with a focus on translating basic discoveries into clinical insights for neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Marie Monfils is Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin, where she leads the Monfils Memory Lab in the Department of Psychology within the College of Liberal Arts. Her research focuses on understanding fear memory mechanisms and developing interventions to attenuate maladaptive fear memories. Dr. Monfils received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and conducted a postdoctoral fellowship at New York University. Her work bridges basic rodent models with translational applications for anxiety, trauma-related, and addiction disorders. Her research program investigates three primary streams: Post-consolidation manipulations that can persistently attenuate fear memories Factors underlying affiliative kinship and social transmission of information Individual differences and their impact on fear attenuation Her work integrates behavioral, neural, and molecular approaches to understand memory modification processes, with particular focus on reconsolidation and extinction mechanisms. Dr. Monfils' publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to understanding fear memory mechanisms. Her recent work examines CO2 reactivity as a biomarker for treatment response, social transmission of fear in rodent models, and optimizing fear attenuation techniques through reconsolidation-extinction interactions. Her research spans both basic neuroscience and clinical applications, with implications for improving exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. 2025: Published work on neural mechanisms of social learning, mechanisms of change in exposure therapy, and social context as a source of variability 2024: Published research on fear attenuation collaborations, carbon dioxide reactivity predicting fear expression, and social transmission dynamics 2023: Published updates on reconsolidation-extinction interactions, estrous cycle effects on behavior, and retrieval-extinction effects on alcohol seeking Dr. Monfils actively mentors graduate students and is accepting applicants for Fall 2026 and 2027. Her lab follows rats through their lifespan with a commitment to humane treatment, euthanizing only when necessary to minimize suffering or at the end of life. She acknowledges the Indigenous lands of Turtle Island where her research takes place, specifically recognizing the Alabama-Coushatta, Caddo, Carrizo/Comecrudo, Coahuiltecan, Comanche, Kickapoo, Lipan Apache, Tonkawa and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo.
