Doctoral Recipients
2023
Wayne Barnaby
PhD
Pronouns: he/him
B.S. Biology, Westfield State College, 2017
Downes Lab
Research Interests: The structure and function of synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors that regulate motor function and locomotion. Currently targeting GABA receptor subunits with CRISPR gene editing in order to characterize their role in various forms of epilepsy.
Advisor: Gerald B. Downes
Emma Dauster
Pronouns: she/her
B.S. Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 2017
Vazey Lab
Research Interests: Sex differences in neural circuits regulating attention, specifically through norepinephrine release from the locus coeruleus.
Advisor: Elena Vazey
Joseph Dwyer
PhD Student
B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Umass Amherst 2017 and B.S., Psychological and Brain Sciences, Umass Amherst 2017
Advisor: Joseph Bergan
Bergan Lab
Research Interests: Revealing the brain circuitry that controls social behavior
Advisor: Joseph Bergan
Kyle Kainec
BS, Neuroscience, The Ohio State University 2017
Advisor: Rebecca Spencer
Spencer Lab
Research Interests: I am currently using fMRI and EEG to investigate the effects of sleep on procedural memory consolidation, and how this process changes across normal healthy aging
Advisor: Rebecca Spencer
2022
Adaeze Egwuatu
PhD
B.S. Psychology, University of Florida, December 2011
Advisor: Jennifer McDermott
McDermott Lab
Research Interests: The neural mechanisms underlying self-regulation in typical and atypical populations throughout development
Advisor: Jennifer McDermott
Sumire Dorothy Sato
PhD
B.S. Human Physiology, Boston University, May 2012
D.P.T., Physical Therapy, Emory University School of Medicine, May 2016
Advisor: Julia T. Choi
Choi Lab
Research Interests: Motor learning, motor control
Andrea Silva-Gotay
PhD
Pronouns: She / Her
B.S. Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras, 2014
Advisor: Heather N. Richardson
Richardson Lab
Research Interests: I am interested in adolescent brain development and how drugs of abuse, especially alcohol, can interfere with the normal course of myelination during this period.
Advisor: Heather N. Richardson
2021
Jessica Caballero-Feliciano
Ph.D. Student
B.A., Psychology, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, 2014
Advisor: David E. Moorman
Moorman Lab
Research Interests: Neurobiological and anatomical mechanisms underlying response execution and inhibition, decision making and working memory.
Advisor: David E. Moorman
Dissertation Title: ROLE OF PREFRONTAL CORTEX IN REWARD SEEKING BEHAVIORS ROLE OF PREFRONTAL CORTEX IN REWARD SEEKING BEHAVIORS
Len Jacob
PhD Student
B.S. Biology, Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Brazil, 2013
Advisor: David E. Huber
Huber Lab
Research Interests: Vision and memory
Nicole Lee
PhD Student
B.A., Biology & English, Cornell University, May 2015
Advisor: Annaliese Beery
Beery Lab
Research Interests: Neuroendocrinology, social behavior, neuropeptides
Advisor: Annaliese Beery
Sarah Winokur
PhD
B.A., Neuroscience, Smith College, 2015
Advisor: Mariana Pereira
Research Interests: Neurobiological mechanisms underlying social behaviors, with a particular focus on maternal behavior and postpartum depression
Advisor: Mariana Pereira
2020
Beata Kaminska-Kordowska
PhD Student
B.S. in Developmental Neuropsychology, B.A. in Spanish Communication. University of Connecticut, May 2014
Advisor: David E. Moorman
Moorman Lab
Research Interests: The role of appetitive and aversive conditioning in the neural mechanisms of learning
Advisor: David E. Moorman
Matheus Macedo-Lima
PhD Student
B.S. Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil, October 2013
Advisor: Luke Remage–Healey
Remage-Healey Lab
Research Interests: Evolutionary neurobiology/endocrinology, song learning and songbird development
Advisor: Luke Remage–Healey
2019
John Hernandez
PhD Student
B.S. Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, May 2010
M.S. Biology, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, August 2012
Advisor: David E. Moorman
Moorman Lab
Research Interests: Behavioral, Electrophysiological, and Molecular mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic behavior
Advisor: David E. Moorman
Margaret Ugolini
PhD Student
B.S., Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience, University of Michigan, May 2013
Advisor: Lisa Sanders
Sanders Lab
Research Interests: Electrophysiological correlates of language comprehension and auditory attention in the developing brain.
Advisor: Lisa Sanders
Daniel Vahaba
PhD Student
B.S. Psychology, Wayne State University, May 2011
Advisor: Luke Remage–Healey
Healey Lab
Research Interests: The role of brain-derived estradiol in songbird vocal communication learning across development
Advisor: Luke Remage–Healey
2018
Chaia Flegenheimer
B.A. Neuroscience and Behavior, Vassar College, May 2013
Advisor: Jennifer McDermott
McDermott Lab
Research Interests: The development of attention in typically and atypically developing populations
Advisor: Jennifer McDermott
Elina Kaplan
B.S. Neuroscience, Brandeis University, May 2007
Advisor: Alexandra Jesse
Jesse Lab
Research Interests: Multimodal processing and attention.
Advisor: Alexandra Jesse
Matthew LaClair
PhD Student
B.A. Psychology, Eastern Connecticut State University, May 2006
Advisor: Agnès Lacreuse
Lacreuse Lab
Research Interests: Neuroendocrinology, cognition and goal-directed behavior
Janna Mantua
PhD Student
B.A. Psychology, West Virginia University, May 2011
Advisor: Rebecca E. Ready
Research Interests: Sleep, memory consolidation, and aging
Advisor: Rebecca E. Ready
Dissertation Title: Assessing the long-term sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Akshata Sonni
PhD Student
B.S. Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, February 2008
Advisor: Rebecca Spencer
Spencer Lab
Research Interests: Sleep, Memory and Aging; Sleep and Movement Disorders; Role of the cerebellum in time perception
Advisor: Rebecca Spencer
2017
Amanda Cremone
Ph.D. Student
B.S. in Psychology & Biology, Merrimack College, May 2012
Research Interests: Role of sleep and early experience on development and cognitive functioning
Advisor: Jennifer McDermott, Rebecca Spencer
Dissertation Title: The role of sleep on inhibitory control in young children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Amanda A. Krentzel
PhD Student
B.S. Neuroscience, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport (May 2011)
Research Interests: Molecular and Behavioral Neuroendocrinology; Sexual Differentiation and Sexual Dimorphism
Advisor: Luke Remage–Healey
Dissertation Title: Sex differences in rapid estradiol signaling in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia Guttata) auditory cortex
Amy M. Ryan
PhD Student
B.S. Biology, College of William & Mary (May 2007)
M.A. Psychology, Hunter College-City University of New York (May 2011)
Research Interests: Primate social learning
Advisor: Melinda Novak
Dissertation Title: The effects of predictability on stereotypic behavior in nonclinical adult humans (Homo sapiens) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Amarylis Velez-Perez
PhD Student
B.A. Psychology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, May 2009
Research Interests: Effects of stressors during puberty on adult behavior
Dissertation Title: Estradiol enhances inflammation during pubertal development in female mice
2016
Mary C. Catanese
Ph.D. Student
B.A. English, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2008)
Research Interests: Cellular and Molecular Signaling Pathways
Advisor: Laura Vandenberg
Dissertation Title: Alterations to maternal behavior and brain by exogenous estrogen exposure
Position: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mary_Catanese
Yi-Ling Lu
PhD Student
B.S. Biology, National Cheng Kung University, June 2004
M.S. Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University, June 2006
Research Interests: Stress Response in Prefrontal Cortex
Advisor: Heather N. Richardson
Dissertation Title: Characterization of corticotropin-releasing factor cells in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats
Wanette Vargas
PhD Student
B.S. Psychology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, May 2009
Research Interests: Neurobiological Mechanisms of Alcohol Addiction
Advisor: Heather N. Richardson
Dissertation Title: Alcohol, binge drinking during adolescence and prefrontal myelination
2015
Amanda F. Hamel
PhD Student
B.S. Animal Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2008
Research Interests: Primate Cognition and Behavior
Advisor: Melinda Novak
Dissertation Title: Interactions between the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis, oxytocin system, and behavior in differently reared rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Emily Manoogian
PhD Student
B.A. Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, June 2010
Research Interests: Circadian Rhythms and Neuroendocrinology: Melatonin Influence on the Brain and Reproductive Axis
Advisor: Eric L. Bittman
Dissertation Title: Behavioral, neurobiological, and genetic analysis of the circadian mutant duper
2014
Laura B. Kurdziel
B.S. Zoology, University of Maryland, 2005
M.S. Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, 2007
Ph.D. Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2014
Research Interests: Cerebellar Ataxia/Movement Disorders; Aging, Sleep, Primate Cognition
Advisor: Rebecca Spencer
Dissertation Title: The role of napping on memory consolidation in preschool children
Patrick Taylor
Research Interests: Temporally Selective Attention
Advisor: Lisa Sanders
Dissertation Title: Effects of Auditory and Visual Temporally Selective Attention on Electrophysiological Indices of Early Perceptual Processing
2013
Ahren B. Fitzroy
B.S. Psychology/ Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2007
Research Interests: Cortical Organization of Music and Speech Perception
Advisor: Lisa Sanders
Dissertation Title: The Effects of Metric Strength on the Allocation of Attention Across Time
Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow; Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University
Bryan Monesson-Olson
B.S. Neuroscience, University of Miami, May 2006
Research Interests: The genetics and development of motor behavior
Advisor: Gerald B. Downes
Dissertation Title: Forward and Reverse Genetic Approaches to Studying Locomotor Behavior: SERCA and GABAA Receptors in the Zebrafish Embryo
Position: Director of the Honors Program and Lecturer, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, UMass Amherst
Erica Y. Shen
B.A. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dartmouth College, December 2005
Research Interests: MDMA Sensitization Using CPP Paradigm
Advisor: Jerrold S. Meyer
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neuroscience/Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Nina M. Shinday
B.S. Biopsychology, University of California at Santa Barbara, June 2005
Research Interests: The Role of GABA in Cocaine Addiction
Dissertation Title: Neuroadaptations and Behavioral Profiles Associated with Cocaine Self-administration in ...
Position: Harvard Medical School: New England Primate Center
2012
William S. Bush
B.A. Cognitive Science, Hampshire College, May 2002
M.S. Computer Science, UMass Amherst (Feb 2006)
Research Interests: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Investigations of Visual Selective Attention
Advisor: Kyle R. Cave, Lisa Sanders
Dissertation Title: Gradients and ranges of visually selective attention based on location, objects, color, and size: Gradients are universal, but range is uniquely spatial
Position: Postdoctoral Research Scholar with Shaun Vecera, Visual Attention and Perception, University of Iowa
Carrie E. Mahoney
B.S. Sports Science, University of Connecticut-Storrs, May 2001
M.A. Kinesiology, University of Connecticut-Storrs, December 2005
Research Interests: Circadian Rhythms
Advisor: Eric L. Bittman
Dissertation Title: Lateralization of central circadian pacemaker output
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School; Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Sleep Medicine and Program in Sleep, Circadian, and Respiratory Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Ying Zhou
B.S. Biology, Fudan University, July 2002
Research Interests: The Role of Morgue, A Novel Gene in the Development of Drosophila Nervous System
Position: MS at Cornell on Information Science, now applying to "Data Science for Social Good" at Univ. of Chicago
2011
Lori B. Astheimer
M.S. Neuroscience & Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Feb 2008
Advisor: Lisa Sanders
Position: Lecturer, Psychology Department, University of Massachusetts
Previous postition: Postdoctoral Fellow, York University, Department of Psychology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Karlie A. Intlekofer
B.S. Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, May 2005
Research Interests: The Effect of Dioxin on the Developing Neuroendocrine Brain and Subsequent Deficits in Reproduction
Advisor: Sandra Petersen
Position: Lecturer, Psychology/Neuroscience Department, University of Vermont
Previous position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California Irvine, Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia, Research and Graduate Studies
2010
Molly B. Johnson
Advisor: Richard van Emmerik
Dissertation Title: "Effect of Head Orientation on Dynamic Postural Stability and Torso Coordination"
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine
Elaine K. Murray
Dissertation Title: "The Role of Histone Acetylation in Sexual Differentiation of the Mouse Brain"
Position: Lecturer in Stratified Medicine(Mental Health) at University of Ulster, School of Medicine, Aberdeen, Scotland
Eliza L. Nelson
Dissertation Title: "Examining the Development of Handedness in Rhesus Monkey and Human Infants Using Behavioral and Kinematic Measures"
Position: Assistant Professor at Florida International University, Developmental Science, Department of Psychology
Benjamin D. Rood
Dissertation Title: "Vasopressin Anatomy of the Mouse Brain"
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
2009
Dominik K. Biezonski
Dissertation Title: "Investigations into the Potential for 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine to Induce Neurotoxic Terminal Damage to Serotonergic Neurons"
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Columbia University Medical Center
Destinee L. Chambers
Dissertation Title: "Understanding Occlusion Inhibition: A Study of the Visual Processing of Superimposed Figures"
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Wesleyan University, Department of Psychology, Middletown, Connecticut
Amanda M. Dettmer
Position: Post Doctoral Fellow at National Institutes of Health
Iris L. Price
Dissertation Title: "Visuospatial Reasoning in Toddlers: A Correlational Investigation of Door Task Performance"
Position: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Coordinator, Office of Research Affairs, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass
Marianne Seney
B.A. Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts (May 2001)
Ph.D. Neuroscience and Behavior, UMass Amherst (September 2009)
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
2008
Dena A. Jacob
Dissertation Title: "The Role of Cell Death in the Development of a Sexually Dimorphic Neuromuscular SysteN"
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Weinberg Institute for ALS, Thomas Jefferson University
Brian J. Kelly
B.S. Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2003
M.S. Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2006
Ph.D. Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts Amherst, May 2008
Dissertation Title: Thesis: Comprehension of a Scale-Model Task by Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Dissertation: Processing Spatial Information from Photographs, Video, and Scale Models: Complex Mental Representation in Children (Homo sapiens) and Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Position: Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Fitchburg State University
Julie Laroche
Dissertation Title: Neuroendocrine Effects of Peripubertal Stress Exposure in the Female Mouse
Position: Canadian Government
Ashvin K. Shah
Dissertation Title: "Biologically-Based Functional Mechanisms of Motor Skill Acquisition"
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Adaptive Behaviour Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, U.K.
2007
Melissa A. Birkett
Dissertation Title: "Investigation of Serotonergic and GABA-ergic Interactions in Physiological and Bheavioral Measures of Anxiety"
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Angela N. Duke
Dissertation Title: "GABA A Receptor Mechanisms in Benzodiazepine Physical Dependence and Tolerance"
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Mentor Dr. Mike Nader Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Jeremy D. Houser
Dissertation Title: "The Invasion of Linyphia triangularis (Araneae Linyphiidae) in Maine: Ecological and Behavioral Interactions with Native Species"
Position: Native Plant Nursery Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy, Martha's Vineyard,
Primary Job; Vineyard Conservation Society, Communications Coordinator
Veronica Lopez
Dissertation Title: "Transiently Expressed Progestin Receptors in the Perinatal Rat Isocortex"
Position: Formerly Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Arts/Art History Graduate Student at Stanford University
Brian J. Piper
Dissertation Title: "Adolescent 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy) Exposure in Rats: Behavioral, Neurochemical, and Pharmocokinetic Activity
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Husson Univeristy, Bangor, Maine
Christa D. Skow
Dissertation Title: "Jumping Spiders and Aposematic Prey: The Role of Contextual Cues During Learned Avoidance"
Position: Laboratory Instructorship, Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts
2006
Matthew D. Davenport
Dissertation Title: "Physiological Aspects of Chronic Stress in the Rhesus Monkey: Effects of Self-Injurious Behavior"
Position: Senior Scientist at Biotrofix, Inc.
Christina Metevier
Advisor: Melinda Novak
Dissertation Title: "Tool Using in Rhesus Monkeys and 36-Month-Old Children: Acquisition, Comprehension, and Individual Differences"
Position: Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Heather A. Molenda-Figueira
Dissertation Title: "Nuclear Receptor Coactivators Modulate Hormone-Dependent Gene Expression in Brain and Female Reproductive Behavior in Rats"
Position: Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
Robert J. Polewan
Dissertation Title: "Physiological and Behavior Studies of Rabbit Eyeblink Conditioning Under Temporal Uncertainty: Purkinje Cell Response and Compound Conditioning"
Position: Assistant Professor, Psychology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Previous position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Trisha K. Prunty
Dissertation Title: "Comparison of Child (Homo sapiens) and Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) Search Strategies on Invisible Displacement Tasks"
Position: Associate Professor, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Lindenwood- Belleville University
Sarah C. Strand
Dissertation Title: Impact of Early Rearing Environment on the Behavior and Physiology of Juvenile and Adolescent Mother-Peer, Surrogate-Peer, and Peer-Only Reared Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Position: Staff Research Associate III-Supervisor, Brain, Mind and Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California
Lecturer in Psychology, California State University Sacremento
2004
Princy Quadros Mennella
Dissertation Title: "New Insights into Steroid Hormone Regulation of Progesterone Receptor Expression: Age, Sex and Region Predict Estradiol Action in the Rat Brain"
Position: Director, Neuroscience Program, Bay Path College
Erich N. Ottem
Advisor: Sandra Petersen
Dissertation Title: "Glutamatergic and GABAerigic Regulation of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Neurons"
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan
2003
Stephan Froggett
Dissertation Title: "Endocytosis Dependent Critical Periods Mediated Proper Giant Fiber Escape Circuit Development in Drosophila melanogaster"
Position: Science Advisor, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA/OSTA/NTPMD, Washington, D.C.
Susan Kralian
Dissertation Title: "Stabilization of the Frog Neuromuscular Junction: Terminal Schwann Cells and the Actin Cytoskeleton"
Position: President and Chief Medical Writer, Oncology Medical Writing Services, Inc., New York
2002
Amy L. Bennett
Dissertation Title: "An Investigation of the Mechanisms by Which Mating Stimulation Facilitates and Terminates Sexual Receptivity in Female Rats"
Position: Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology, Villa Julie College, Stevenson, Maryland
Tina Han
Dissertation Title: "Sexual Differentiation of Arginine Vasopressin Expression in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis and Medial Amygdala in Rats"
Position: Field Applications Specialist, Affymetrix, Inc. Santa Clara, California
Juli Jones
Dissertation Title: "Neuroendocrine Bases of Nutritional Infertility in Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)"
Position: Principal Scientist, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Alison McReynolds
Dissertation Title: "An in vivo Investigation of the Role of the 5-HT 1A Receptor in Brain Development"
Position: Professional Education Scientific Manager, Teva Neuroscience (field based position in Aurora, Colorado)
Susan L. Zup
Dissertation Title: "The Role of Bcl-2 Family Members in Sexual Differentiation and Adult Neural Plasticity"
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston
2001
Meredith Curran-Rauhut
Dissertation Title: "The Role of Brainstem Noradrenergic Neurons in Communicating Steroid Hormone Signals to Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Neurons"
Position: Adjunct Faculty, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Skirmantas Janusonis
Advisor: Katherine Fite
Dissertation Title: Anatomical and Functional Analysis of the Subdivisions of the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus in the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)
Position: Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of California Santa Barbara
Stefan Tiefenbacher
Dissertation Title: "The Pathophysiology of Self-Injurious Behavior in Rhesus Macaques"
Position: Associate Vice Presiden, Labcorp, Esoterix, Inc., Englewood, Colorado
2000
Jerry Russell Keath
Dissertation Title: "An Analysis of the Desensitization of PC12 Cells to ATP"
Position: Study Director, ChanTest Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio
Young-Ho Koh
Dissertation Title: "Synapse Assembly: Role of DLG in Synaptic Plasticity and its Regulation by Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Kinase II"
Position: Associate Professor, Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Republic of Korea
Yue Ma
Dissertation Title: "Characterization and Functional Analyses of Sox Genefish-hook in Drosophila Embryonic Development"
Position: Professor, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing China
Constanza A. Villalba
Dissertation Title: "Neurochemical Control of Social Behavior in Male and Female Prairie Voles"
Position: Medical Writer and Editor, Health Dialog, Inc. Boston, Ma; Executive Editor, Health News at Massachusetts
1999
Catherine J. Auger
Dissertation Title: "The Role of Progestin Receptors in Arginine Vasopressin Cells in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminals and the Centromedial Amygdala of Rats and Mice"
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Darlene H. Brunzell
Advisor: Jerrold S. Meyer
Dissertation Title: "The Long-Term Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure on Learning in Rats"
Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
June Seek Choi
Dissertation Title: "Classical Eyeblink Conditioning with Mixed Interstimulus Intervals: Temporal Integration of Response Topography and Neuronal Correlates"
Position: Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Lucille M. Collins
Dissertation Title: "Neurotensin Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure"
Position: Educational Information Consultant, Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies
Anitha K. Panicker
Dissertation Title: "Neural Mechanisms Regulating Metabolic Fuel Deprivation-induced Infertility in Syrian Hamsters"
Position: Postdoc, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Anthony S. Rauhut
Dissertation Title: "A Reanalysis of Cue-Competition Effects in Pavlovian Fear Conditioning in Rats: Implications for Neuronal Theories of Learning and Memory"
Position: Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of Neuroscience Program, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
1998
Anthony P. Auger
Dissertation Title: "A Novel Pathway for Progestin Receptor Activation that influences Both Neuronal Response and Behavior in Female Rats"
Position: Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Horacio O. de la Iglesia
Advisor: Eric L. Bittman
Dissertation Title: "Interactions Between the Circadian and Reproductive Systems of the Female Syrian Hamster"
Position: Professor, University of Washington, Department of Biology, Seattle
Ping Jin
Dissertation Title: "Neural Plasticity and its Molecular Mechanisms in Drosophila"
Position: Clinical Pain Fellow, MGM Pain Center, Massachusetts General Hospital (teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School), Boston, Massachusetts
Robert Mangels
Dissertation Title: "Effect of Photoperiod on Steroid Receptors and Responsiveness to Sociosexual Stimuli in Female Syrian Hamsters"
Position: Assistant Dean, Science & Engineering, Yale University Graduate School, New Haven, Connecticut
Janice E. McPhee
Dissertation Title: "Latently Inhibited Stimuli are Weakened in their Ability to Serve as Blockers and Second Order Reinforcers in Pavlovian Fear Conditioning"
Position: Professor of Psychology, Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft Myers, Florida
Suman Reddy
Dissertation Title: "Characterization of stalled, A Grooming Mutant that Interacts with Laminin"
Position: Associate Scientist, Cambria Biosciences, Bedford, Massachusetts
1997
Yuzhi Chen
Dissertation Title: "Simian Virus 40 Signaling Promotes Viral Entry to Caveolae and MAB Against MHC Class I Induces Adhesion of Fibroblasts to T Cells"
Position: Assistant Professor, Dept of Geriatrics and Dept of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Arkansas
Anna Dunaevsky
Dissertation Title: "The Role of Target Muscle Fibers in the Maintenance of the Frog Motor Nerve Terminals"
Position: Associate Professor of Developmental Neuroscience at the Munroe Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Lei Zhou
Dissertation Title: "Programmed Cell Death and Central Nervous System (CNS) Midline Function in Drosophila Embryonic Development"
Position: Associate Professor, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville
1996
José E. Burgos
Dissertation Title: "Computational Explorations of the Evolution of Artificial Neural Networks in Pavlovian Environments"
Position: Full Professor and Researcher, Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Comportamiento, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Andrew A. Hill
Dissertation Title: "Synaptic Dynamics and Neuronal Integration in the Cricket Cercal Sensory System"
Position: Assistant Professor, Dept Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey
Zheng Li
PhD, University of Massachusetts, 1996
Dissertation Title: "GABAergic Organization in the Visual System of the Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens"
Position: Vice President,
Head of Neuroexcitation Discovery Performance Unit,
R&D Neuroscience,
GlaxoSmithKline
Lauren P. Shearman
Dissertation Title: "Cocaine-Sensitive Monoamine Transporters in Rat Placenta Labeled with [125I]RTI-55 and [3H]Nisoxetine
Position: Associate Director, Scientific Liaison, External Scientific Affairs, Merck & Co., Inc West Point, Pennsylvania
Joanne C. Turcotte
Dissertation Title: "Projections From the Estrogen Receptor-Rich Region of the Hypothalamus to Other Estrogen-Containing Sites in Female Guinea Pigs"
Position: Formerly Assistant Research Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass
Christopher J. Tyler
Dissertation Title: "The Retinofugal Projection in Rana Pipiens: I. The optic projection within the perichiasm and evidence for the realignment of the dual retinotopic organization. II. Morphological Organization of the optic nerve and tract."
Position: Biology Teacher, Harrison High School, Harrison, New York
1995
Rocio Vegas
Dissertation Title: "Appetitive Vlassical Conditioning of the Swallowing Response in the Pigeon (Columba Livia): Effects of the CS-US and CS-UR Relations"
Position: Director of the Institute of Psychology, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Faculty of Humanities and Education, Caracas, Venezuela
1994
Graeme W. Davis
Dissertation Title: "Synaptic Matching in the Cricket Cercal Sensory System"
Position: Albert Bowers Professor and Chair
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
University of California San Francisco
Thomas P. Goodness
Dissertation Title: "The Neural Response of Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster) to Conspecific Odors"
Position: Development Assistant Director, Technology Transfer, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Frank W. Grasso
Dissertation Title: "PAN: A Model of Knowledge Representation in the Visual Cortex"
Position: Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Director of Biomimetic and Cognitive Robotics Lab, Brooklyn
Hui-Yun Yi
Dissertation Title: "Neural Mechanisms and Pathways Involved in Fuel Restriction-Induced Changes in Estrous Behavior in Syrian Hamsters"
Position: Associate Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Oregon
1993
Hussien A. Al-Shamma
Dissertation Title: "The Development of Morphology of the Sexually Dimorphic Vasopressin System of the Rat Brain"
Position: Senior Director of Pharmacology, Arena Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, California
Sandra J. Berriman
Dissertation Title: "Expression of fos-like Proteins in Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GNRH) Neurons in Syrian Hamsters: Effects of Estrous Cycles and Metabolic Fuels"
Position: Senior Regional Medical & Research Specialist, Urology/Sexual Medicine, Pfizer US Medical, Highland Park, Illinois
Rick A. Bevins
Dissertation Title: "A Simple Model System for Studying Pavlovian Conditioning: One-trial Context Fear Conditioning"
Position: Willa Cather Professor & Chair of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kathleen A. Parks
Advisor: Melinda Novak
Dissertation Title: "Longitudinal Study of the Social Aspects of Aging in Captive Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)"
Position: Senior Research Scientist, SUNY Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, New York
Kirsten Ricciardi
Dissertation Title: "Progestin Receptor and Substance P Containing Neurons in the Ventrolateral Hypothalamus and their Efferents in Guinea Pigs"
Position: Formerly Postdoctoral Research Associate, Physiology and Biophysics Dept, University of Washington, Seattle
Thomas N. Ricciardi
Dissertation Title: "Neural Elements and Motor Patterns Underlying Egg Progression in the Cricket, Acheta Domesticus"
Position: Consultant & Director of Informatics, Blackbird Solutions, Inc.
Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University
Marc J. Tetel
Dissertation Title: "Intraneuronal Convergence of Environmental and Hormonal Stimuli Associated with Female Reproduction in Rats"
Position: Associate Professor, Neuroscience Program, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts
1992
Anita J. Bhatia
Dissertation Title: "Effects of Pregnancy and Ovarian Steroids on Energy Balance in Syrian Hamsters"
Position: Health Insurance Specialist, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Quality Improvement Group, Division of Quality Improvement Policy for Acute Care, Baltimore, Maryland
Kevin C. Clements
Dissertation Title: "Patch Departure Decisions of Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) Foraging in a Multiple Patch, Closed Economy System"
Position: 1995-present Computer Consultant, Pen-Link, Ltd., Lincoln, Nebraska
Yvon Delville
Dissertation Title: "Localization of Sites for Estradiol Priming of Progesterone-Facilitated Sexual Receptivity in Female Guinea Pigs"
Position: Professor, Psychology Department, University of Texas Austin
1991
Walter J. Atwood
Dissertation Title: "Major Histocompatibility Complex Encoded HLA Class I Proteins Are Cell Surface Receptors for the Simian Virus 40"
Position: Professor of Medical Science Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Diane Hayden-Hixon
Dissertation Title: "Glucocorticoids and Agonistic Responding in Male Hamsters: A Behavioral Neuroanatomical and Neurochemical Analysis"
Position: Team Leader, Research, Osteoporosis Progressive Resistance Training (PRT) Exercise Program
1990
Melody L. Albert
Dissertation Title: "Conditioning to a Compound CS and the Observation of CS-Elicited Defensive Behavior in 1-Trial Simultaneous and Backward Conditioning Procedures Using Tone and Light CSs"
Position: Department of Psychology, Condordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota
Diana E. Jennings
Dissertation Title: "Computational and Behavioral Investigations of Real-Time Models of Classical Conditioning"
Position: NIAC Associate Director
