Elina Thomas

Elina Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Earlham College, where she emphasizes student-centered teaching and fosters diverse perspectives in education. Her research focuses on brain connectivity's impact on behavioral outcomes and psychopathology risk, particularly using neuroimaging techniques like functional MRI. She explores non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate fear and stress responses. Her work integrates insights from rodent, non-human primate, and human studies to guide diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cognitive and emotional health.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University
• Masters in Physiology, North Carolina State University
• Bachelors in Psychology (Minor in Biology), North Carolina State University
• Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont

Research interests span developmental neuroscience, maternal stress impacts, and emotion regulation mechanisms. Her studies highlight amygdala connectivity as a key predictor of withdrawn/depressed behaviors and internalizing symptoms in children. She advocates for personalized precision mapping in infant neurodevelopment and examines vaccine hesitancy in maternal populations.

Her articles reflect a focus on early life neural foundations, with over 10 peer-reviewed publications since 2016. Though no awards are listed, her work consistently addresses translational research gaps in mental health. Teaching and research advising are interwoven, leveraging Earlham's small-class environment to mentor students in neuroscience and psychology.