Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences

Former BBS Trainees

    Alumni

  • Corrine Ahrabi-Nejad

    MD / PhD in Biostatistics in 2020 (Alumni)
    PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2022 (Alumni)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Christina Duncan

    Training Program

    Current Position
    Former BBS Trainee now a Pediatric Psychology Resident at Cleveland Clinic Children's

    Corrine is an alum of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program in the child clinical track. She is also an alum trainee on the training grant. She previously held the position as an associate scholar. Her research interests are broadly in the area of pediatric psychology with special interests in chronic illness management among children and their families. Corrine’s specific research interest focuses on the transition from pediatric to adult care among adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

    Being a part of the Behavior and Biomedical Sciences program will give me the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research and work with an integrated team of medical professionals and researchers. This opportunity will allow me to further develop my research skills within behavioral science and increase my knowledge of how research can inform public health initiatives.

  • Cecily Conour

    Headshot of Cecily Conour
    PhD in Psychology (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Christina Duncan

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Christina Duncan
    Research Project or Topic
    adolescent involvement and adherence to treatment regimen in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

  • Oliver Cook

    Headshot of Oliver Cook
    PhD in Biology (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Andrew Dacks

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Andrew Dacks
    Research Project or Topic
    How serotonin signaling within sensory networks shape food-seeking behaviors and general arousal levels. To address these questions, I leverage genetic tools available in Drosophila melanogaster to genetically manipulate serotonin cells under various internal and external contexts of the animal. 

  • Molly Crowe, PhD

    PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2016 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Steven Kinsey
    Research Project or Topic
    Endocannabinoid modulation of secretory and inflammatory causes of gastric pathology
    Current Position
    Former BBS Trainee now a Research Scientist at PPD Pharmaceuticals

  • Danielle Davidov, PhD

    PhD in Public Health Sciences in 2010 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Jeffrey Coben
    Research Project or Topic
    Mandatory Reporting in the Context of Home Visitation Programs
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Research and Grants Coordinator, WVU; Assistant Director of Education and Training, WVU
    Current Position
    Associate Professor (tenure track), Dept of Social and Behavioral Sciences, WVU School of Public Health

  • Danielle Doll, PhD

    Headshot of Danielle Doll
    PhD in Neuroscience in 2015 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. James W Simpkins
    Research Project or Topic
    Role of Mitochondria in TNF-alpha Neurotoxicity in Stroke
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Staff Research Scientist, Mylan Pharmaceuticals
    Current Position
    Field Medical Scientific Associate Director, Sanofi Genzyme

    Danielle Doll received her PhD in Neuroscience from WVU in 2015. Danielle worked in Dr. Jim Simpkins lab and her work focused on the role of mitochondria in TNF-alpha neurotoxicity in stroke. After graduating, she worked at Mylan Pharmaceuticals for 2 years as a research and development scientist, where she developed cell-based assays and release test methods. Then she transitioned into her current role as a medical science liaison. She currently lives in West Virginia and covers the northern part of West Virginia and western part of the Pennsylvania as an MSL with Sanofi Genzyme. Her therapeutic area of interest is neurology.

  • Ashley Douglas

    Headshot of Ashley Douglas
    PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Melissa Blank

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Melissa Blank
    Research Project or Topic
    Substance use initiation, maintenance, and cessation in vulnerable populations

    Ashley is a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Melissa Blank in the Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience. She uses human models of drug dependence to study the effects of nicotine and tobacco products. Her current research focuses on the abuse liability of electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarette use has become a primary public health concern over the past several years, especially among adolescent and young adult populations.

    “I am thrilled to be an associate scholar through the BBS training program. The opportunities provided by the program allow me to extend my professional training beyond the scope of my training area and to explore multidisciplinary methods of research.”

  • Alexa Ebert

    PhD in Clinical Psychology (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Julie Hicks Patrick

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Julie Hicks Patrick

    "Alexa's research interests are broadly in the area of geropsychology with special interests in improving quality of life and well-being in persons with dementia and their care-partners through public health initiatives, non-pharmacological interventions, intergenerational relationships, and interventions for formal and informal dementia caregivers. They are currently conducting research that explores psychological and physiological reactions to awe inductions.”

    Being a trainee enabled me to engage in multidisciplinary research collaborations and to dialogue with fellow students, faculty, and medical professionals. Further, it allowed me the opportunity for an enriched research training experience that incorporates behavioral, social, and biological perspectives.

  • Termeh Feinberg, PhD

    PhD in Epidemiology in 2016 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Kim Innes
    Research Project or Topic
    An Exploration of the Relationships between Chronic Pain, Inflammation, and Herbal Medicine
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Postdoctoral, Univ of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine

  • Nick Felicione, PhD

    PhD in Psychology in 2019 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Melissa Blank
    Research Project or Topic
    Characterizing effects of short-term abstinence in electronic cigarette users
    Current Position
    Former BBS trainee now an Assistant Professor at the Univ at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions

  • Richard Felix, PhD

    PhD in Neuroscience in 2011 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Albert Berrebi
    Research Project or Topic
    Encoding of Temporal Sound Features in the Rodent Superior Paraolivary Nucleus
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Postdoctoral, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Research Faculty, Washington State University @ Vancouver
    Current Position
    Clinical Neurophysiologist, SpecialityCare Intraoperative Neuromonitoring

  • Joshua Gross, PhD

    PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology in 2019 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. David P. Siderovski
    Research Project or Topic
    G protein signaling-dependent mechanisms of opioid and monoamine neurotransmission
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Postdoctoral at Duke University
    Current Position
    Postdoctoral at Duke University

  • Rebecca Hagedorn, PhD

    PhD in Animal Food Sciences in 2019 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Melissa Olfert
    Research Project or Topic
    Evaluating college food insecurity and promoting solutions for student well being
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Science Policy Fellow - American Society for Nutrition
    Current Position
    Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Health, and Human Performance at Meredith College

  • Rolf Hansen, PhD

    PhD in Neuroscience in 2013 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. HanTing Zhang
    Research Project or Topic
    Functional characterization of Phosphodiesterase-4A in behavior and obesity
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Postdoctoral, University of Pennsylvania
    Current Position
    Associate Medical Director at Teva Pharmaceutical

  • Rachel Hostetler

    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Ariel Agmon

    Rachel is in her second year as a trainee on the training grant. She is a fourth year PhD student in the Neuroscience Program, within the Biomedical Sciences Program. Her lab focuses on uncovering the structure, function and development of the cerebral cortex. Her projects focus on investigating the diverse roles of cortical somatostatin-containing inhibitory interneurons, and how changes in their activity underlie associative learning.

    Being on the training grant will give me the opportunity to work with researchers outside of my field. As a student in a biomedical focused program, having the chance to work with those involved in behavioral research will allow me to gain a more well-rounded understanding of my own project and will help me answer my research questions on a multifaceted level.

  • Brittany Hughes, PhD

    Headshot of Brittany Hughes
    PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Kathleen Morrison

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Kathleen Morrison
    Research Project or Topic
    Understanding sex-dependent risk factors that contribute to stress-induced deficits in both psychological and physiological health outcomes

  • Jamecia James, PhD

    PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Danielle Davidov

    Training Program

    Research Project or Topic
    Understanding how chronic exposure to psychological and systematic stressors contributes to chronic inflammation, which can impact morbidity, mortality, and quality of life, particularly among women of color

  • Shane Kaski, MD / PhD

    MD/PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology in 2021 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. David P. Siderovski
    Research Project or Topic
    Evaluation of G protein-biased kappa agonists as dose sparing adjuvants to opioid analgesics
    Current Position
    Medical Resident of Internal Medicine at UPMC

  • Brenna Kirk

    PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Ranjita Misra

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Ranjita Misra

    Brenna is an alum of the training program. She is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences within the School of Public Health. Her work with Dr. Ranjita Misra currently focuses on increasing patient and stakeholder engagement in developing a patient-centered outcomes research agenda regarding diabetes disparities and health outcomes for the state of West Virginia. Broadly, she is interested in designing and improving access and utilization of behavioral interventions for people living with diabetes or prediabetes in rural areas, with a special focus on addressing diabetes-related social and mental health needs.

    "As a trainee, I am provided the opportunity to engage and work with students and faculty from diverse fields and perspectives, which will help in preparing me to be an effective collaborator and member of interdisciplinary and translational research teams."

  • Lindsay Lueptow, PhD

    PhD in Neuroscience in 2015 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. James O’Donnell
    Research Project or Topic
    Behavioral Effects of Inhibition of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) in Mice
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Postdoctoral, New York University
    Current Position
    Supervisor at UCLA Behavioral Testing Core and Assistant Researcher at UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

  • Abbey Manning

    Headshot of Abbey Manning
    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Charlie Anderson

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Charlie Anderson
    Research Project or Topic
    Understanding how synaptic zinc affects sound frequency discrimination and cortical sound frequency tuning

  • Mason McCollum

    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Charles Anderson

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Charles Anderson

    Mason is an alumn trainee of the BBS T32 training grant. He is a Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience Department in the Biomedical Science Research Program. As part of his work with Dr. Charlie Anderson he studies auditory processing specifically the effects of synaptic zinc on corticofugal neurons in the auditory cortex. His current research focuses on understanding the cortical mechanisms that shape the activity of corticofugal neurons in the auditory cortex and utilizing this information to investigate how these neurons support sound-driven behaviors.

    Being involved in this training program will allow me to gain experience and knowledge in designing and implementing experiments that encompass multidisciplinary approaches and multiple levels of analysis to achieve my research goals. The training I will receive will be invaluable and excellent for my development as both a student and a researcher.

  • Tyler McGaughey

    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Victor Finomore

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Victor Finomore

    Tyler worked with Dr. Finomore at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute focuses on understand the role of chronic stress in the perception of chronic pain.

    Being a trainee on the training grant provided me with a unique opportunity to interact with students and faculty outside my discipline. These interactions not only allowed me to develop my professional skills but gave me a unique perspective on research.

  • Hecmarie Melendez-Fernandez

    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Randy Nelson

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Randy Nelson

    Hecmarie is an alum of the BBS T32 training program. She is a graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. As part of her work with Dr. Randy Nelson, she studies the impact circadian disruption has on health, specifically, when recovering from an ischemic injury. Her current research focuses on how light at night affects recovery after ischemia, and how it changes brain vasculature, cardiac clock genes, and behavior. As part of her graduate work she is interested in studying how circadian rhythm disruption through exposure to light at night, such as that experienced during shiftwork, affects cardiovascular health and impacts behavior and cognition.

    If you need help - any kind - with classes, managing time, adjusting to graduate school, or related to your mental health, don't hesitate to ask for help! Things are better managed when they are tackled early on.

  • Malia Miller

    PhD in Biology (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Kevin Daly

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Kevin Daly

    Malia is an alum of the training grant. She is a PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin Daly in the Biology Department. She studies connections between neural activity and behavior, focusing on a putative corollary discharge circuit, which provides information to mechanosensory processing regions. She conducts this research in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster.

    “As a fellow, I will have the opportunity to look beyond my model organism by learning from those who use different organisms, from mice to humans, to answer similar behavior-centered questions. I am also interested in learning how to approach a single question from multiple different perspectives. Thankfully, I will be able to work with others on the training grant, who collectively represent a diverse group of fields and a wide range of perspectives.

  • Sylwia Mrowka, MD, PhD

    PhD in Neuroscience in 2019 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Bernard G Schreurs
    Research Project or Topic
    Cholesterol diet-associated changes in the hippocampus- a prelude to Alzheimer’s disease
    Current Position
    Resident in Family Medicine at WVU

  • Cecelia Nelson

    PhD in Clinical Psychology (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Christina Duncan

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Christina Duncan

    Cecelia’s research focused on the development of health disparities between males and females in pain, health outcomes in pediatric pain conditions, and the interaction between biological and behavioral components of pediatric pain conditions.

    Being a trainee on the T32 grant offered me the unique opportunity to make long-lasting collegial connections with the biological researchers and medical professional in my field of interest. I gained knowledge from my fellow students and faculty members involved with the grant.

  • Deidre O'Dell

    PhD in Neuroscience in 2021 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Bernard G. Schreurs
    Research Project or Topic
    Studying the role of the perineuronal net (PNN) in cerebellar learning and memory by using localized enzymatic degradation or drug repurposing to manipulate the PNN in the deep cerebellar nuclei.
    Current Position
    Adjunct Faculty member (teaching) at California University of Pennsylvania

  • Erienne (Pedersen) Olesh, PhD

    PhD in Neuroscience in 2017 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Valeriya Gritsenko
    Research Project or Topic
    The Investigation of Motor Primitives During Human Reaching Movements and the Quantification of Post-Stroke Motor Impairment
    Current Position
    Executive Director of Student and Faculty Innovation at WVU

  • Robin Olivero

    Headshot of Robin Olivero
    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Zack Weil

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Zack Weil
    Research Project or Topic
    How enrichment after traumatic brain injury can alter both the rewarding properties of alcohol and the negative symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

  • Jenny Ozga-Hess, PhD

    PhD in Behavioral Analysis in 2019 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Karen Anderson
    Research Project or Topic
    Probability discounting of Lewis and Fischer 344 rats: Strain comparisons as baseline and following acute administration of d-amphetamine
    Current Position
    Lead Research Associate at Westat

  • Keyana Porter

    PhD in Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences in 2020 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. James W Simpkins
    Research Project or Topic
    In vivo assessments of over-expression or knockout of miRNA 34a on stroke severity, and functional recovery
    Current Position
    Scientist II at Thermo Fisher Scientific

  • Paula Prentice, PhD

    PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2013 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Kevin Larkin
    Research Project or Topic
    Stress and Obesity: Facilitation of Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Nervous System Recovery from Stress while Eating Comfort Foods?
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Medical Psychology Resident, Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VAMC
    Current Position
    Director of TRIO Upward Bound at Front Range Community College

  • Cameron Randall, PhD

    PhD in Psychology in 2017 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Daniel McNeil
    Research Project or Topic
    Fear of Pain and Dental Care-Related Fear: Associations with the MC1R Gene
    Current Position
    Assistant Professor at Univ. of Washington School of Dentistry

  • Amber Rusch, MD

    Headshot of Amber Rusch
    PhD in Psychology (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Julie Patrick

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Julie Patrick
    Research Project or Topic
    Risk factors for cognitive decline, including examinations of adversity across the lifespan, health disparities (including aging in Appalachia), and social determinants of health as predictors of cognitive decline

  • Margeaux (Gray) Schade, PhD

    PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2016 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Hawley Montgomery-Downs
    Research Project or Topic
    Effects of Systematic Sleep Fragmentation on Tolerance and Threshold in a Pressure Pain Task: Associations with Sustained Attention
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Postdoctoral, Biobehavioral Health at Penn State College of Health and Human Development
    Current Position
    Assistant Research Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State University

  • Lexie Schmidt

    PhD in Biology (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Sadie Bergeron

    Lexie is in her second year as a trainee on the T32 and is about to begin her third year as a PhD student in the Department of Biology, emphasizing in neuroscience. Her lab studies specific genetic and environmental factors that regulate normal neural development and what occurs at molecular, neuroanatomical and behavioral levels when these factors are altered. Her research focuses on an early expressed homeobox gene relating to the development and function of visual neural circuits implicated in neurodevelopmental diseases, such as schizophrenia and autism.

    Working along this training grant will allow me the opportunity to ask and improve on basic science related questions and learn to better communicate research across different disciplines. The training grant also offers the ability to be immersed in clinical and/or industry, in order to better prepare my future as a well-rounded researcher.

  • Michael Seminerio, PhD

    PhD in Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences in 2012 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Rae Matsumoto
    Research Project or Topic
    Pharmacological Characterization of an Optimized Sigma Receptor Ligand
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Postdoctoral, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, University of Chicago
    Current Position
    Global Therapeutic Area Lead at AbbVie

  • Merideth Smith, PhD

    PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2012 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Amy Fiske
    Research Project or Topic
    Giving Support and Mental Health in Older Adults at Risk for Vision Impairment
    Current Position
    Director of Clinical Services, PSIMED Corrections

  • Brittany Smith

    Headshot of Brittany Smith
    PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Alfgeir Kristjansson

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Alfgeir Kristjansson
    Research Project or Topic
    Assess trauma related experiences among mothers in drug-use treatment and their children via the lenses of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the intergenerational transmission of trauma

  • Doug Thornton, PhD

    PhD in Health Services and Outcomes Research in 2017 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Nilanjana Dwibedi
    Research Project or Topic
    Combined use of SSRIs and platelet aggreg- ation inhibitors in those with co-occurring heart disease and depression or anxiety
    Current Position
    Assistant Professor and Director of the PREMIER Center at University of Houston School of Pharmacy

  • Kristen Trexler, PhD

    PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2019 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Steven Kinsey
    Research Project or Topic
    Psychoactive properties of cannabinoid administration, behavioral effects of cannabinoid withdrawal
    Current Position
    Senior Scientist, Canopy Growth Corporation

  • Ryan Turner, MD / PhD

    PhD in Neuroscience in 2015 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Charles Rosen
    Research Project or Topic
    Lessons in Modeling, Preventing, and Treating Neural Injury: Improving Bench-to- Bedside Translation
    Current Position
    Neurosurgery Resident, WVU

  • Allison White

    PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
    Graduate Program Advisor
    Dr. Vincent Setola

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Vincent Setola

    Allison's research in Dr. Vincent Setola’s laboratory focused on G protein signaling mechanisms and understanding the role that Regulator of G protein Signaling-12 (RGS12) plays in regulating monoamine transporters in the brain.

    "The BBS T32 training program provided me with access to potential collaborations and opportunities to be influenced by colleagues using altogether different behavioral, molecular/biochemical, and psychological approaches. As a second year trainee, I was excited to continue receiving the training necessary to help me conduct multidisciplinary research towards clinical and translational outputs.”

  • Tricia Wilkins, PhD

    PhD in Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy in 2012 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Usha Sambamoorthi
    Research Project or Topic
    Healthcare Quality and Expenditure Benchmarks along the Continuum of Care: The Role of Primary Care Use and Community Healthcare Resources
    Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation
    Project Officer and Pharmacy Advisor, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
    Current Position
    Senior Advisor at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

  • Desiree Williford

    PhD in Psychology in 2021 (Alumni)

    Training Program

    Training Program Advisor
    Dr. Christina Duncan
    Research Project or Topic
    Profile-based examination of youth and parent information management strategies and adolescent electronic cigarette use
    Current Position
    NIH T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

The BBS Training Program is supported by a National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) sponsored predoctoral training grant (T32 GM132494).

West Virginia University Research and Graduate Education
Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 9024
Morgantown, WV 26506-9500