Melissa VanderKaay Tomasulo

Melissa VanderKaay Tomasulo is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Neuroscience Program at Saint Michael’s College. She specializes in studying the acute and chronic effects of stress on the brain and body, with a focus on stress reduction countermeasures and behavioral medicine. Her work integrates biological, psychological, and social factors influencing disease pathogenesis.

Dr. Tomasulo holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (Health Psychology specialization) from The Ohio University, alongside an M.S. and B.A. in Psychology. Her research has been funded by grants from NASA, Vermont Space Grant Consortium, and the Vermont Genetics Network, exploring topics such as stress-induced physiological reactivity and countermeasures for astronauts.

Her research interests include virtual reality applications for stress reduction, nicotine’s effects on cardiovascular reactivity, and the interplay between stress and spatial cognition. She collaborates with colleagues like Dagan Loisel on NASA-funded projects addressing astronaut health during deep-space missions.

Dr. Tomasulo has mentored numerous student researchers, presenting findings at conferences like the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. She received the Norbert A. Kuntz Faculty Service Award for her contributions to academic community service.

Her recent work focuses on stress-induced immune dysregulation and latent virus shedding in space environments, aiming to develop behavioral interventions for astronauts. Collaborations with NASA scientists further her mission to bridge experimental psychology with real-world health challenges.