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About

My love for neuroscience started with investigating the neural control of simple behaviors in the medicinal leech. While serving as a technician and lab manager in Dr. Scott Kanoski's lab at the University of Southern California, my interest in neuroscience developed into a lifelong goal of understanding the neural and hormonal processes that dictate ingestive behaviors.

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Originally from Torrance, California, I found a love for living in the midwest in Chicago. I dabble in brewing beer, woodworking, and coding in MATLAB, python, and R.

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"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew."

-- Charlie Papazian

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Education

2016-2023

University of Illinois at Chicago

Ph.D., Graduate Program in Neuroscience

Advisor: Dr. Mitch Roitman

I studied how signal of physiological state modulate dopamine signaling evoked by food and food-cues.

2010-2012

University of California, San Diego

M.S., Biological Sciences

Advisor: Dr. Kathleen French

I studied the neurophysiology of inhibitory circuits in the medicinal leech central nervous system.

2006-2010

University of California, San Diego

B.S., Biological Sciences

B.A., Human Development

Awards, Scholarships and Grants

  • New Investigator Travel Award, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, 2022

  • Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience Travel Award, UIC, 2018

  • Graduate Student Council Travel Award, UIC, 2018, 2019

  • Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy Fellowship, City of Hope, 2008

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