Arvie Rodriguez Abiero

Dr. Arvie Rodriguez Abiero is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre, working in Dr. Melissa Sharpe's Lab since 2023. His research investigates neural circuit mechanisms underlying fear memory encoding, astrocyte contributions to decision-making, and compulsive disorders, with expertise spanning behavioural neuroscience and neuropsychopharmacology.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Philippines)
• Master’s in Pharmacology (Neuropharmacology), Seoul National University, South Korea (2019)
• PhD in Neuroscience, University of Technology Sydney (2023)

Abiero's work integrates advanced techniques including neural activity mapping, astrocyte manipulation, and behavioural assays. His research demonstrates how prior experiences reshape fear memory circuits and how neuroinflammation disrupts goal-directed behaviour, with significant focus on sex-specific effects and non-neuronal cell contributions. Current projects explore contextual modulation of fear learning through prefrontal-hippocampal circuits.

His publication record includes 15 peer-reviewed articles (7 as first author), revealing consistent progression from neuropsychopharmacological drug studies (2019-2021) toward neural circuit mechanisms of decision-making (2022-2025). Recent work highlights hippocampal neuroinflammation's sex-dimorphic effects on memory (2025), context learning frameworks (2024), and astrocyte-mediated compulsive behaviour (2023).

Scientific Awards

• ECR Presentation Award, Biological Psychiatry Australia (2024)
• International Society for Neurochemistry Flagship School Awardee (2024)
• Multiple travel awards from Society for Neuroscience, IBNS, and FENS (2022-2024)
• UTS President's Scholarship (2020-2023)
• Philippine Embassy Academic Recognition (2019)

Abiero actively contributes to neuroscience through memberships in Australasian Neuroscience Society, Society for Neuroscience, and International Society for Neurochemistry. His advisory roles include mentoring undergraduate researchers, while grant history features competitive international scholarships supporting his PhD and postdoctoral work. Current research examines how prior experiences alter fear memory neural encoding, building on doctoral findings about context-dependent decision-making deficits.