PhD, Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 2018
Research Interests: Broadly, my work aims to characterize the neural, molecular and behavioral mechanisms underlying the development of substance use disorders, to explore how functional impairments within specific systems (e.g., reward and control circuits in the brain) may serve to perpetuate disordered behavior, and, ultimately, to leverage knowledge of substance-induced neurobiological dysfunction to inform treatment. I am particularly interested in combining neuroimaging and molecular biology methods to explore the potential for cannabinoid compounds to mitigate alcohol and/or opiate-induced neuroimmune dysfunction, alleviate withdrawal symptoms and help to manage chronic pain.
About me: I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania where I majored in Biological Basis of Behavior. I then came to the University of Colorado for graduate school, and completed my pre-doctoral internship at the Medical University of South Carolina. In my free time, I am a runner and recently-certified yoga teacher. I also enjoy hiking and camping in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with my partner and our two dogs.