Tara A. LeGates

Tara A. LeGates serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a secondary appointment in Physiology Education and Training. Her research program investigates neuronal circuit plasticity mechanisms underlying reward-related behaviors and their implications for psychiatric disorders.

Education:

• B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience, Rider University (2007, Summa Cum Laude)
• Ph.D. in Biology, Johns Hopkins University (2013)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (2013-2017)

Dr. LeGates employs a multilevel experimental approach spanning molecular, circuit, and behavioral levels to study how neuronal circuits integrate information for reward processing. Her work combines electrophysiology, in vivo imaging, and behavioral assays in mouse models to examine synaptic mechanisms in conditions like depression. She also investigates circadian regulation of mood and learning through light exposure pathways.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on reward circuitry (2020-2018) and foundational work on light-mediated circadian effects (2014-2012), revealing critical synaptic mechanisms and melanopsin-dependent pathways. These studies bridge basic neuroscience with clinical relevance for psychiatric conditions.

Dr. LeGates leads an active research laboratory utilizing advanced techniques including patch-clamp electrophysiology, fiber photometry, and behavioral paradigms to dissect neural circuit dynamics underlying reward and mood regulation.