معرفی
Veronica Lee Flores is an Assistant Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Furman University, joining in Fall 2019. She earned her PhD in Psychology (Brain, Body, and Behavior program) from Brandeis University in 2019, following an MS in Neuroscience (2013) and a BS in Psychology with a Behavioral Neuroscience concentration from UC San Diego (2009).
- PhD, Psychology, Brandeis University (2019)
- MS, Neuroscience, Brandeis University (2013)
- BS, Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience concentration), UC San Diego (2009)
Dr. Flores specializes in understanding how incidental taste experiences influence future learning and decision-making. Her research in the Katz Lab uses rodent models to explore the neural basis of chemosensory learning, focusing on the Gustatory Cortex (GC) and its role in processing aversive taste associations. Techniques include optogenetics, in-vivo electrophysiology, and cFos markers.
Her publications highlight how pre-exposure to unremarkable tastes enhances conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and how GC activity modulates learning dynamics. These studies contribute to broader insights into associative learning, neural plasticity, and the neurobiology of taste.
Scientific Awards & Fellowships:
- Pre-doctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA - F31)
- Verna Regan Teaching Award in Psychology
- Brandeis University Prize Instructorship Award
- Neuroscience Scholars Program, Associate Fellow (Society for Neuroscience)
- SAHNAS Travel Award
- AChemS Diversity Fellowship Travel Award
Dr. Flores has taught and mentored undergraduate students extensively, including courses like Experimental Design in Psychology and Introduction to Learning & Behavior. She emphasizes integrating research with teaching, preparing students to engage with naturalistic models of taste processing. Her work bridges Psychology and Neuroscience, aiming to refine animal learning models to reflect human experiences.
