Jennifer Rainville

Jennifer Rainville is a Collegiate Assistant Professor at the School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech. Her work bridges neuroimmunology and cell biology, focusing on sex differences in immune responses to stress and their implications for mood disorders. She teaches courses in cellular neuroscience, research design, evolutionary neuroscience, and nervous system diseases, with a commitment to student skill development.

• Education: PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology (Tulane University), BA in Biology (St. Olaf College)

Her research explores how stress impacts neuroimmune mechanisms differently in males and females, aiming to identify sex-specific immune targets for depression treatment. Recent publications highlight gut-brain axis interactions, transcriptomic stress responses, and microglial morphology under variable stress conditions.

Key collaborations include work with the Hodes Lab and contributions to understanding opioid withdrawal neuroimmunity and steroid receptor dynamics. Teaching spans courses like NEUR 3044 and NEUR 4034, emphasizing practical neuroscience applications.