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Pyramidal Cell by Cajal in Purple

“If you want to find people who've tested weird crap talk to a scientist, man!” 

- Adam Savage -

ABOUT ME

I received my Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from the Psychology Department at Michigan State University in 2013, with Dr. Laura Smale studying how brain regions downstream of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) differ in their responses to light between nocturnal and diurnal rodents and the effect of these regions on light responsiveness. I have also  completed two postdoctoral fellowships (1) at Michigan State University under the advisement of a prominent molecular imaging specialist, Dr. Erik Shapiro, to increase my understanding of preclinical models and begin to integrate my own research ideas into biomedical research. (2) My second postdoctoral fellowship at the NIH Neuro-Oncology Branch working with Dr. Terri Armstrong to investigate the relationship between circadian rhythms and the development of hypersomnolence in patients receiving cranial irradiation both in the clinic and laboratory. I established a mouse model of radiation induced hypersomnolence, an issue observed in the primary brain tumor population, and explored the impact of treatment on the brain and behavior. was given a unique opportunity to better explore the impact of treatment on physiological sleep and circadian rhythms in patients, by writing and running a clinical trial (NCT04669574) in the branch.

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* updated October 2021 using Google Scholar and Research Gate

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RESEARCH INTERESTS

Circadian Rhythms 

MRI

Neuroscience

Neuro-Oncology

Masking

Cancer Nanotechnology

Chronotherapy

Rodent Models

EDUCATION

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2009 - 2013

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Ph.D.  Behavioral Neuroscience

Dissertation: Masking: The acute effects of light on the brain and behavior
Advisor: Laura Smale

Albion College Coat of Arms

2005 - 2009

ALBION
COLLEGE

BA  Biochemistry 

​Thesis: An Exploration of Circadian Rhythms: Pheromones Hormones and Phase shifts

Advisor: Tammy Jerucha

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

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Armstrong Lab

2017 - present

Neuro-Oncology Research examining preclinical and clinical studies to understand the impact of disease and treatment on sleep and circadian rhythms.

National Institute of Health
Neuro-Oncology Branch

PI: Terry Armstrong

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Shapiro Lab

2013 - 2017

Molecular Imaging Research examining the use of MRI and CT techniques to understand the early identification and monitoring of disease.

Michigan State University
Radiology Department

PI: Erik Shapiro

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SYN Lab

2009 - 2013

Circadian Rhythms Research examining the evolutionary importance of the circadian visual system on diurnality in arvicanthis niloticus.

Michigan State University
Department of Psychology

PI: Laura Smale

AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES

2019
Diversity Career Development Program Fellow

2008

FURSCA Summer Research Award

2006

FURSCA Summer Research Award

2018
Cold Spring Harbor
Brain Tumors Course

2008

Richard K. Vitek Chemistry Scholarship

2005

Presidential Academic Scholarship

2011-2012

NIH Training Grant
(T32 MH070343)

2007

Lepard Family Pre-Medical Scholarship

2009

Ned Garvin Prize for Neuroscience

2007

FURSCA Research Grant

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