Susan Walling

Susan Walling is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), with affiliations in Behavioral Neuroscience. She holds a B.Sc. from the University of Calgary and a Ph.D. (Distinction) in Experimental Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience) from MUN. Her research focuses on the locus coeruleus (LC) and its role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), temporal lobe plasticity, glial cell metabolism, and epilepsy. She collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to develop rodent models of pretangle AD pathology, leveraging techniques like optogenetics, electrophysiology, and immunohistochemistry.

Walling’s work is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC-DG) and the Alzheimer Society of Canada. She is actively mentoring graduate students in MSc/PhD programs, emphasizing motivated candidates interested in her lab’s projects. Her career includes prior roles as an Assistant Professor at MUN and Mount Allison University, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship supported by the Epilepsy Foundation of America.

• Education: B.Sc. Psychology (University of Calgary), Ph.D. Experimental Psychology (Memorial University)
• Research Themes: LC dysfunction in AD, synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and behavioral neuroscience
• Awards: 2005 BrainStar Award (CIHR Neurosciences & Mental Health)

Her lab investigates LC modulation of hippocampal function and explores novel therapeutic targets for AD. Recent studies highlight LC’s role in early AD symptom development and tau protein pathology. She also examines sex differences in neurodevelopmental disorders through gut-brain axis interactions.