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
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New Investigator Travel Award, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, 2022
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Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience Travel Award, UIC, 2018
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Graduate Student Council Travel Award, UIC, 2018, 2019
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Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy Fellowship, City of Hope, 2008