• Associate Professor of Psychology
• PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota
• Conducts research in the Reward and Addictive Disorders (RAD) Lab on addictive behaviors
• Teaches courses in biopsychology and neuroscience
• 2021-22 Psi Chi Professor of the Year in Psychology

Background

"I began my professional career as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which is within the National Institutes of Health. I then came to Miami as an assistant professor in 2016."

"I can't think of anything more complicated and fascinating to study than the brain. I am very interested in understanding how changes in brain function lead to maladaptive behaviors. I love that neuroscience brings together so many fields of study, from psychology to biology, philosophy, chemistry, and many others."

Teaching

"I currently teach courses in biopsychology and neuroscience, such as Introduction to Biopsychology, Psychopharmacology, and Advanced Biological Bases of Behavior."

"My favorite thing about teaching is finding ways to make very complex concepts approachable to students. I hope my courses foster an appreciation for the brain and its central role in our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions."

Research

"In my Reward and Addictive Disorders (RAD) Lab, we use animal models to study how drugs and alcohol change the brain to produce addictive behaviors. We are especially interested in how factors such as biological sex and stress make individuals vulnerable to addiction."

"I work with both PhD students and undergraduate students, and they are integral to everything we do in the lab. Students in my lab conduct experiments, analyze data, present their work at conferences, and co-author publications."

"In my research, we have recently demonstrated that female rodents are more likely to tolerate punishments in order to obtain drug and alcohol rewards. Female subjects have actually been ignored in neuroscience studies for a long time, so I hope our findings will encourage other researchers to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to this potential female vulnerability to addiction."

Outside the Classroom

"I am motivated to help others, which is why I love teaching, mentoring students in the lab, and conducting research with potential clinical implications. I hope my work and life will leave the world a little better than I found it."

"I spend my free time with my children and family. I am happiest outside on a sunny day taking a hike or working in my garden."

[May 2022]