Elizabeth McCullagh

Elizabeth McCullagh is an Assistant Professor in the Integrative Biology department at Oklahoma State University (OSU), affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. Her lab investigates how the brain processes sound location, focusing on neurodevelopmental disorders like Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), aging, and environmental factors. She uses techniques such as optogenetics, rabies neural circuit tracing, and comparative studies across species to probe auditory circuits.

Education:

• PhD in Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago (2014)
• MSc in Biology, Virginia Tech (2017)
• BSc in Biology, Virginia Tech (2014)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Colorado Anschutz (2017-2020)

Research Interests: Dr. McCullagh’s work synergizes three core areas:

1. Manipulating auditory brain circuits using optogenetics and advanced neuroimaging (e.g., CARS).
2. Studying FXS and autism to uncover auditory processing differences between healthy and diseased states.
3. Exploring how auditory systems evolve in species like naked mole-rats, hispid pocket mice, and prairie voles, linking anatomy, environment, and behavior.

She emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches, integrating neuroscience, endocrinology, and ecology to address how sound source information is processed and disrupted.

Grants & Funding: She secured grants including the NIH-funded "Myelination Deficits Underlying Auditory Issues in FXS" (2021–2025) and the NSF RaMP program (2022–2025). Her lab also collaborates with institutions like Kicker to develop outreach exhibits.

Teaching & Mentoring: Teaches courses like Principles of Neuroscience, Comparative Neurobiology, and oversees research courses for undergraduates and graduate students. Mentors multiple advisees, including PhD candidates Sabiha Alam and Grant Emerson, and MS student Genesis Alarcon. Her lab supports diverse trainees through programs like Niblack Research Scholars and ON-RaMP. Students work on projects ranging from mitochondrial function in FXS models to the effects of diet on Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Labs & Collaborations: Leads the McCullagh Lab at OSU, collaborating with researchers like Dr. Giulia Bertolin (mitochondria studies) and Dr. Ed Lucas (dietary interventions). The lab also partners with the 500 Women Scientists initiative, contributing to tools like Gage to enhance gender visibility in STEMM.