Kathleen Morrison

Kathleen Morrison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at West Virginia University, part of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. She is affiliated with the Behavioral Neuroscience program, the Department of Neuroscience, and the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. Her lab is based in the Life Sciences Building, where she leads research on stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders with a focus on sex differences and women’s mental health.

Dr. Morrison earned her PhD in biological psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She joined WVU in August 2020, launching her independent research program supported by an NIH Pathway to Independence Award.

Her research investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability to stress, using translationally relevant mouse models. She is particularly interested in how sex, developmental stage, and type of adversity interact to shape mental health trajectories in women. Her lab employs advanced sequencing, bioinformatics, molecular techniques, and behavioral assays.

Dr. Morrison teaches courses including Hormones and Behavior (Psychology 428/728), Behavioral Neuroscience Methods (Psychology 650), Biological Aspects of Behavior (Psychology 722), and Advanced Neuroscience (Psychology 724). She is actively recruiting graduate students for Fall 2024 and Fall 2025.

Scientific Awards:

• NIH Pathway to Independence Award

Dr. Morrison has secured independent funding through the NIH Pathway to Independence Award, which supports the launch of her lab. There is no mention of additional grants or advising history, though she is currently accepting graduate students. Her collaborative work includes clinical partnerships to enhance translational relevance.

The Morrison Lab is embedded within the Behavioral Neuroscience program and collaborates across departments and institutes, particularly the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, to advance understanding of stress-related mental illness and promote resilience-focused interventions.