NOW RECRUITING

Graduate Training Opportunities
M.S. in Health Psychology: 2026 admission cycle | Priority review by April 15
Ph.D. in Applied Psychology: 2026–2027 academic cycle

Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Research Training Opportunities
Opportunities: Summer research internships and academic-year research internships
Summer internship priority review: May 1
Undergraduate and recent post-baccalaureate trainees interested in behavioral neuroscience research can learn more and apply through neuromdlab.com.

Funding may be available for competitive applicants.

Research Area: Behavioral Neuroscience (preclinical models)

I am a behavioral neuroscientist investigating how adolescent alcohol exposure and other developmental challenges shape sex-specific brain and behavior outcomes across the lifespan. Using preclinical mouse models, my lab examines neuroendocrine and neurodevelopmental mechanisms relevant to addiction vulnerability and mood-related disorders, integrating behavioral assays with molecular and systems-level approaches. I also serve as Interim Associate Chair in the Department of Psychology, supporting graduate education and mentoring while advancing rigorous, career-building training aligned with Applied Psychology Ph.D. training goals.

Highlights

• Behavioral neuroscience research using preclinical mouse models
• Funded research on adolescent alcohol-related neurobehavioral outcomes
• Integration of behavior, neuroendocrine measures, molecular biology, and metabolomics
• Graduate education leadership and mentoring
• Training focused on rigor, reproducibility, and professional development

Research Focus (Behavioral Neuroscience)

My work centers on how sex differences emerging during adolescence influence brain development and long-term behavior. I study how exposures like binge-pattern alcohol and, in some projects, high-fat diet alter neuroendocrine function, mechanistic signaling pathways, and affective- and addiction-relevant behaviors in a sex-specific manner. The goal is to identify developmental mechanisms that drive lasting neuroplasticity and risk trajectories.

Training Opportunities in the Lab

• Behavioral testing in preclinical models
• Hormone and neuroendocrine assays
• Molecular biology and neurobiological methods
• Data analysis, scientific writing, and conference presentation preparation

Career Development and Outcomes

Trainees in my lab build experience that supports graduate training, research careers, conference presentations, scientific writing, and preparation for doctoral or health-related career pathways.

What I’m Looking For in Students

• Curious and mechanism-driven (you want to know why, not just what)
• Reliable and organized (you follow through, communicate early, respect timelines)
• Coach-able with a growth mindset (you take feedback, iterate, improve)
• Ethical and rigorous (you care about clean data, reproducibility, and transparency)
• Collaborative and steady under pressure (science is a team sport)
• Strong communicators (writing, presenting, and asking clear questions)
• Interested in learning across domains (behavior, hormones, circuits, molecular methods, data analysis)

How to Inquire

• Graduate applicants: Email [email protected]
• Please include: CV, brief statement of interests (1–2 paragraphs), unofficial transcripts, and an optional writing sample.
• Undergraduate and recent post-baccalaureate applicants: Learn more and apply through neuromdlab.com

Students interested in behavioral neuroscience, addiction, neuroendocrinology, and developmental psychobiology are especially encouraged to reach out.

Current Graduate Students

 Tamira Lynch Current M.S. Student Expected Graduation: Spring 2027 Thesis Title: Sex Differences in Coping During 72-Hour Alcohol Withdrawal: A Behavior-First Framework Linking BNST/mPFC Recruitment and Adra2a Expression in Mice

 Tatyanna Montgomery Current M.S. Student Expected Graduation: Summer 2027 Next Step: Transitioning to the Ph.D. Program in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience in Applied Psychology Thesis Title: Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Alters Oxytocin Expression and Social Behavior During Chronic Social Instability Stress in C57BL/6J Male and Female Mice