Find Academic Supervisors

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Function
• +5 more

Amber LaCrosse, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at Northern Michigan University's College of Arts and Sciences. Her research bridges psychology and neuroscience, focusing on cognitive function alterations in brain cancer patients and addiction models. Education: B.S., Northern Michigan University (2008) M.S., Northern Michigan University (2010) Ph.D., Arizona State University Research Interests: Investigating pharmacological treatments for PTSD using animal models, evaluating gabapentin-buprenorphine interactions in addiction, studying gene mutations linked to ADHD, and analyzing cancer treatment impacts on cognition. Her lab employs both human and animal models. Lab Activities: The LaCrosse Laboratory explores neurochemical mechanisms in addiction and cognitive impairments from brain cancer. They develop patient-derived xenograft models for glioblastoma research while maintaining an active Instagram presence (@lacrosseneurolab) for outreach. Publications: Recent work spans PTSD treatment using antidepressants, cocaine addiction mechanisms, glioblastoma biomarker discovery, and neuropharmacological approaches to cognitive deficits. Research spans molecular neuroscience to translational cancer biology.

Sara KeeferView profile

Assistant Professor

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Addiction Studies
• Reward Learning
• +3 more

Sara Keefer is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at Gettysburg College. She holds a BA from Shippensburg University (2012), MA and PhD from Boston College (2014-2018), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Maryland (2018-2023). Her research focuses on behavioral neuroscience, particularly brain mechanisms underlying reward learning and addiction. She studies individual differences in adaptive vs. maladaptive behaviors using rat models, examining motivation, risk-taking, and neural circuits like the basolateral amygdala, striatum, and insular cortex. Recent work emphasizes cannabinoid receptor signaling (CB1R) in the dorsomedial striatum, sex differences in addiction pathways, and amygdala-prefrontal cortex circuitry. Her findings contribute to understanding how neural plasticity drives decision-making and susceptibility to addictive behaviors. Courses taught include Introduction to Brain & Behavior, Psychopharmacology, and Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory. No listed grants or advisees are currently available in the profile.

• Computational Neuroscience
• Mathematical Modeling
• Image Analysis
• +5 more

Christina M. Weaver is the Carmie L. and Beatrice J. Creitz Professor of Mathematics and Department Chair at Franklin & Marshall College (Lancaster, PA). Her academic career includes roles as Department Chair (2018-2021), Associate Professor (2015-2022), and Assistant Professor (2009-2015). She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics & Statistics from Stony Brook University (2003) and a B.S. in Mathematics from Mount St. Mary's University (1998). Her research focuses on computational neuroscience, integrating mathematical modeling with experimental data to study working memory mechanisms, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases. Key areas include parameter optimization for neuron models, sensitivity analysis of neuronal parameters, and morphological-electrophysiological correlations. Collaborations with Boston University School of Medicine and Icahn School of Medicine (Mount Sinai) enable multidisciplinary studies. Recent publications (2012-2022) highlight work on age-related neuronal changes, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease models, and curcumin’s effects on working memory. Funding comes from NIH, NSF, and CHDI Foundation. Dr. Weaver has advised numerous students (e.g., Anne Zhang, Sylvia Sun) and postdocs (e.g., Nilapratim Sengupta, Sara Ibañez). She teaches advanced courses like Nonlinear Dynamics and Mathematical Models, emphasizing computational approaches in statistics and neuroscience. Her lab’s future directions include extending parameter optimization methods and investigating novel applications of sensitivity analysis in restoring neuronal function under disease/aging conditions.

Peter W KalivasView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Addiction
• Neurophysiology
• +3 more

Peter W. Kalivas is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). His academic role focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying addiction and reward processing, with particular emphasis on synaptic plasticity and neuropharmacology. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience and has been a leading figure in translational research bridging basic science and clinical applications in substance use disorders. His research interests span addiction neurobiology, neurophysiology, and the development of novel therapeutic targets for psychiatric and substance use disorders. Key areas include studying synaptic adaptations in the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum, the role of astrocytes and extracellular matrix in drug relapse, and the impact of stress and cannabinoids on reward circuits. Dr. Kalivas has published extensively on topics such as GABAergic/glutamatergic interactions, matrix metalloproteinases, and the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in treating addiction and PTSD. His work integrates animal models (e.g., rodents) with preclinical trials to explore mechanisms of vulnerability/resilience in opioid and heroin use disorders. Key affiliations: College of Medicine, Neuroscience Department at MUSC Research Themes: Synaptic plasticity, addiction neurobiology, drug relapse mechanisms Notable Projects: Multi-center studies on NAC in PTSD, genome-wide association studies in rats His contributions highlight the role of non-neuronal elements (astrocytes, extracellular matrices) in addiction, challenging traditional neuron-centric views. Collaborations span neuropharmacology, computational modeling (e.g., video denoising for microscopy), and translational medicine.

Jennifer Anne RinkerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Addiction Neuroscience
• Neurocircuitry
• Neuroplasticity
• +3 more

Jennifer Anne Rinker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), College of Medicine. Her research focuses on the neurobiology of alcohol and stress interactions, with emphasis on neuroplasticity in CRF-expressing neurons within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and paraventricular thalamus (PVT). Key Research Areas: Addiction Neuroscience, Neurocircuitry, Neuroplasticity, Alcohol Use Disorder, Stress-Induced Drinking, Neurogenetics. The Rinker Lab employs advanced techniques like fiber photometry and single-cell calcium imaging to study neural dynamics in cortical and deep brain structures. Recent work highlights the role of the paraventricular thalamo-accumbal circuit in preventing heroin relapse and the sex-dependent effects of melanocortin receptor signaling on ethanol consumption. Publication Trends show a focus on CRF neuron modulation, neuroadaptive mechanisms in alcohol dependence, and opioid/thalamic circuits regulating reward-seeking behavior. Her studies span preclinical models, neurophysiology, and translational pharmacogenetic approaches. Lab Techniques include Calcium imaging Optogenetics Behavioral assays Neurocircuit mapping . She collaborates on projects involving neuroplasticity, potassium channels, and cortical-deep brain interactions.

Henry HallockView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience
• Decision Making
• Attention Mechanisms
• +3 more

Dr. Henry Hallock is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Lafayette College, where he balances research and teaching. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Delaware (2016) and B.A. from Millersville University (2010). His research focuses on neural circuits underlying attention, memory, and decision-making in mice, using touchscreen-based behavioral testing and electrophysiological methods. Education: Ph.D., Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Delaware, 2016 B.A., Millersville University of Pennsylvania, 2010 Research Interests: Dr. Hallock investigates how neural circuits regulate attention and memory. His lab uses mouse models to study molecular and circuit-level mechanisms, with a focus on the locus coeruleus-prefrontal cortex circuit and basolateral amygdala-lateral septum interactions. Techniques include electrophysiology, optogenetics, and behavioral analysis. Awards: 2023: R21 Grant, National Institute of Mental Health 2021: Young Investigator Award, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation 2019: Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Advising & Grants: Dr. Hallock mentors students in his lab and classrooms. His grants include NIH funding for studying attention mechanisms. He emphasizes hands-on learning, including courses on psychopharmacology and neural data analysis using Python. Labs/Teams: The Hallock Lab at Lafayette College explores decision-making circuits in mice, with a focus on translating findings to human neuropsychiatric disorders like ADHD and schizophrenia.

• Experimental Economics
• Economic Cognition
• Neuroeconomics
• +5 more

Sacha Bourgeois-Gironde is Professor of Economics and Cognitive Sciences at University Paris 2 (Sorbonne Universités) and affiliated with the Institut Jean Nicod Faculty located at Pavillon Jardin, 29 rue d'Ulm, Paris. His research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of economics, cognitive science, and neuroscience, focusing on the psycho-biological bases of economic behaviors and cognition. He investigates the temporal and functional lag between the evolution of neurobiological mechanisms that supported adaptation to modern economic environments and the nature and demands of these environments. His primary research interests include experimental economics, economic cognition, neuroeconomics, decision theory, and money studies. Bourgeois-Gironde examines how recent formal advances in decision theory (such as incomplete preferences, second-order subjective probability, and temporal extension of static decision models under uncertainty) can inform psychology and inspire new experimental paradigms. His work also explores how limited cognitive systems adapt to complex decision environments and create social artifacts to overcome adaptive difficulties, with particular focus on money as a case study. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary research program bridging economics, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology. His work consistently explores decision-making processes across species (including human and non-human primates), examining fundamental economic behaviors from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. Key thematic threads include the neural basis of economic decisions, the evolutionary foundations of economic behavior, the psychology of money, and the application of decision theory to complex social phenomena. Bourgeois-Gironde has contributed significantly to understanding interference between low-level cognitive processes (perception, number and magnitude processing) and decision-making, incomplete preferences and indecisiveness, decision-theoretical paradoxes in non-human subjects as biological markers of rationality, search-theoretical models of money emergence, and folk economic cognition related to cycles, crises, life-cycles, and existential anticipations. His research combines experimental, theoretical, and comparative approaches to address fundamental questions about economic behavior and cognition.

Rhiannon JonesView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychopathology
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• +3 more

Rhiannon Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Winchester, specializing in cognitive neuroscience. She joined the Psychology Department in 2013 after postdoctoral roles at the University of Westminster. Her academic qualifications include a PhD and MSc from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a BSc from Bangor University. She holds a Higher Education Academy Fellowship (FHEA). Her research focuses on the biological basis of cognitive biases in psychopathology, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. Key interests include thought-action fusion, thought suppression, and methodologies like electrophysiology, transcranial electrical stimulation, and genetic studies. Her work has been published in journals such as Neuroimage: Clinical and Music Perception . Dr. Jones supervises research in electroencephalography (EEG), OCD in non-clinical populations, and cognitive biases linked to psychopathology. Her recent studies explore the neural correlates of OCD-related thought processes, identifying the precuneus’s role in thought-action fusion. No specific academic awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary collaborations and public engagement through platforms like The Conversation.

Subroto GhoseView profile

Professor

• Schizophrenia Pathophysiology
• Neuropathology
• Glutamate Receptor Biology
• +2 more

Dr. Subroto Ghose is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), where he leads the Ghose Lab within the Schizophrenia Research Program. His medical training includes an MD from Delhi University/Maulana Azad Medical College (1991), psychiatry residency at Georgetown University School of Medicine (2001), and a neuropathology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (2004). His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia, particularly glutamate receptor dysfunction and cannabis-psychosis interactions. His primary research interests include: Schizophrenia pathophysiology with emphasis on prefrontal cortex and hippocampal dysfunction Glutamatergic neurotransmission, especially metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) Molecular consequences of adolescent cannabis exposure in psychosis development Neuropathological biomarkers using postmortem brain analysis and advanced neuroimaging Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational schizophrenia research, combining molecular neuroscience with clinical psychiatry. His work demonstrates consistent investigation of glutamate signaling abnormalities, particularly NAAG-related pathways and COMT polymorphisms, while increasingly examining environmental risk factors like cannabis. The Ghose Lab collaborates extensively with the Tamminga Research Group on schizophrenia pathophysiology projects. Key scientific contributions include: Identification of localized NAAG gene expression deficits in schizophrenia hippocampus Characterization of mGluR2/3 dysregulation as potential antipsychotic target Demonstration of adolescent cannabinoid vulnerability in schizophrenia models Development of 7 Tesla MRS techniques for neurochemical quantification Dr. Ghose maintains an active research program mentoring junior scientists including Hanna, Shukla, and Jha. His lab receives funding for studies examining molecular alterations in schizophrenia and cannabis-psychosis relationships. The Ghose Lab operates within UTSW's Schizophrenia Research Program, utilizing advanced neuropathological and neuroimaging techniques to investigate disease mechanisms.

Nuria Vendrell LlopisView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroprosthetics
• Neurostimulation
• Cognitive Enhancement
• +2 more

Nuria Vendrell Llopis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with expertise in neuroprosthetics and neurostimulation. She earned her M.S. in Electrical/Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Valencia, Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from KU Leuven, and completed postdoctoral research in neuroprosthetics at UC Berkeley's EECS department. M.S. in Electrical/Electronics Engineering, University of Valencia Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven Postdoctoral Research Scientist in neuroprosthetics, UC Berkeley, EECS Her research focuses on neuroprosthetic learning through innovative neuro-stimulation approaches to restore and enhance cognitive skills. She explores the intersection of neuroscience and engineering to develop cortical pattern reinforcement systems. Recent publications highlight her work on dopamine receptor activation mechanisms, brain-machine interface representations, operant control in motor cortex learning, and computational models of reward proximity. Her research spans neural dynamics in striatal and habenular circuits, with applications in sensory processing and prosthetic adaptation. As a bilingual (Spanish/Catalan) and English-fluent researcher, she contributes to UAB's neuroscience and biomedical engineering initiatives through her NVL Lab's experimental and theoretical investigations.

Ke PengView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroimaging
• Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• +7 more

Dr. Ke Peng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Manitoba's Price Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on multimodal brain imaging techniques (fNIRS, EEG, fMRI), virtual reality integration, and machine learning applications in neurological disorders. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Polytechnique Montreal (2016) and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital before joining the University of Manitoba in 2023. Education: PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, 2016 MSc in Computer Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, 2012 BEng in Automation, Tsinghua University, 2008 Research Interests: Dr. Peng develops medical devices and analytical methods for studying brain function in health and disease. His work includes: Integration of fNIRS, EEG, and VR systems to explore brain-environment interactions Machine learning models for medical imaging analysis Neurological disorder studies (epilepsy, chronic pain, stroke) Research Trends in Publications: His articles emphasize multimodal imaging fusion (e.g., EEG-fNIRS), seizure prediction algorithms, and opioid pain modulation mechanisms. Over 60% of his work addresses clinical pain management and epilepsy diagnostics through advanced neuroimaging techniques. Awards & Grants: 2018 Anesthesia Distinguished Trailblazer Award (Boston Children's Hospital) Funding from NIH (US) and CIHR (Canada) Collaborations: Active partnerships with Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Montreal, and Boston University. Current projects include VR-based brain imaging systems and AI-driven medical imaging tools.

• Metabolic Neuroscience
• Neuroendocrine Control
• Energy Balance
• +6 more

Dr. Caroline Geisler is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky's Pharmaceutical Sciences Department. Her research focuses on neuroendocrine control of energy balance and metabolic dysregulation linked to obesity. She holds a PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Arizona (2019) and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania studying gut-brain signaling. Her lab investigates glial cell roles in central glucose sensing and systemic metabolism, with implications for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Education: BSc (Miami University), MSc & PhD (University of Arizona). Research emphasizes translational strategies for obesity-related metabolic disorders, including GABA-mediated pathways and circadian rhythms. Her work combines preclinical models with neuropharmacological approaches to address metabolic hormone signaling and reward behavior mechanisms. Key research themes include hepatic lipid metabolism's impact on insulin resistance, vagal afferent signaling in circadian food intake, and amylin's role in the ventral tegmental area. She has no listed awards but has published extensively on metabolic signaling mechanisms and therapeutic targets for obesity-associated conditions. Laboratory location: TODD 326-25/28. Her work bridges neuroscience, endocrinology, and translational research, aiming to develop novel treatments for metabolic disorders through understanding brain-body communication.

Jessica BarsonView profile

Associate Professor

• Alcohol use disorder
• Binge eating disorder
• Sex differences
• +5 more

Jessica Barson, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy and Assistant Dean for Mentoring and Support at Drexel University College of Medicine. Her work focuses on understanding the neural basis of addiction, particularly alcohol use disorder and binge eating disorder, with an emphasis on neuropeptide interactions in the limbic system. Education: PhD in Neuroscience from Princeton University (2009). Postdoctoral training at The Rockefeller University. She leads the Barson Lab, employing advanced techniques like chemogenetics, viral gene manipulation, and behavioral assays to study addiction mechanisms. Research Interests: Investigates sex differences and individual variability in addiction, focusing on the paraventricular thalamus (PVT), nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex. Techniques include quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry, and operant self-administration models. Recent Work: Explores PACAP's role in ethanol drinking and affective behavior, kappa opioid receptor effects on dopamine, and neurotensin's inhibition of ethanol intake. Her studies highlight the PVT as a key node in emotional processing and addiction pathways. Awards: 2024 Early Career Mentoring Award (Drexel), 2023 Provost Award for Scholarly Productivity Funding: NIH R01 grants (AA028228, AA028218), Pfizer Obesity ASPIRE Grant Lab Team: Mentors graduate and master's students (e.g., Brody Carpenter, Cydney Martin) and oversees research on addiction heterogeneity and precision medicine approaches.

• HIV-1
• Substance Use Disorders
• Neurocognition
• +6 more

Kristen McLaurin is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky, specializing in Pharmaceutical Sciences. As a behavioral neuroscientist, her work bridges HIV-1 research and substance use disorders, with a focus on neurocognitive impairments and synaptic function. Her research employs longitudinal experimental designs to uncover neural mechanisms in opioid use disorder and comorbid HIV-1, aiming to develop novel therapies. Key areas include preclinical neurocognitive assessments, in vivo studies, and advanced analytics. HIV-1 and Neurocognition Substance Use Disorders Synaptic Function Analysis Recent publications highlight her work on HIV-1-associated gastrointestinal dysbiosis, microglial proliferation, and therapeutic interventions for dopamine deficits. These studies span fields like neuroimmunology, developmental neuroscience, and psychopharmacology. Dr. McLaurin's accolades include the NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. She has also contributed to methodological advancements in RNA in situ detection and temporal processing assessments in rodent models.

Wen-Jun GaoView profile

Professor

• Functional plasticity of prefrontal cortex
• Synaptic signaling
• Monoaminergic regulation
• +3 more

Wen-Jun Gao is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy at Drexel University College of Medicine. He holds a MD from Chongqing University of Medical Sciences and a PhD from the Shanghai Brain Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on functional plasticity of the prefrontal cortex, synaptic mechanisms, and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD. Dr. Gao leads the Gao Lab, investigating monoaminergic regulation and neurodevelopmental processes. Research Highlights : Examines synaptic signaling and dopamine/norepinephrine regulation in prefrontal circuits. Investigates genetic and epigenetic factors in mental disorders using rodent models. Studies NMDA receptor dysfunction in schizophrenia and therapeutic interventions. Grants & Awards : NARSAD Independent Investigator Award (2015). NIH R01 grants on NMDA receptors and prefrontal dopamine. CURE grants exploring social behavior and aggression. Advising & Team : Guides graduate students (Alexander Benson, Jake Clarin) and MD/PhD trainees (Leigh Taylor Flynn). Labs focus on prefrontal circuitry and translational neuroscience.