The latest on our trainees
Current Trainees

Emma Brett
Postdoctoral fellow, King Lab
I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University and am now completing my post-doctoral training in the Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Andrea King. I am interested in understanding factors that influence engagement in substance use with a focus on nicotine/tobacco products and alcohol as well as brief interventions for health risk behaviors. Additionally, I am interested long-term substance use outcomes in underserved populations and how psychiatric disorders impact substance use behaviors and responses.

Matthew Zammit
Postdoctoral Fellow, Chin-Tu Chen Lab

Chad Heer
Doctoral Student, Sheffield Lab

Francis Lee
Postdoctoral Fellow
Francis Lee is a new postdoctoral NIDA T-32 trainee. He received his PhD from UC Irvine in Sociology focusing on network modeling for HIV research. His current work seeks to examine how stimulant use affects HIV diffusion, treatment, and prevention in Chicago via agent-based network models. This has the potential to better inform policy targets for treatment and prevention in order to achieve a “functional zero” level of HIV incidence by 2030.

Ross Mansouri-Rad
Doctoral Student, McGehee Lab
I am receiving my Ph.D. training in the lab of Dr. Daniel McGehee, investigating the neural circuitry underlying aversive effects of nicotine exposure, addiction and withdrawal. It is my goal to uncover the biological mechanisms behind mammalian decision making and methods of encouraging individuals to make better choices.

Caroline Szujewski
Doctoral Student, Garcia Lab
I am receiving my PhD training in Dr. Alfredo Garcia III ‘s lab at the University of Chicago. I am investigating the brainstem circuitry involved in opiate mediated respiratory depression and how environment influences the efficacy of opiates on central mechanisms of breathing. Specifically, I am examining how anticipation of a drug reward turns on reward circuitry and how this leads to tolerance to opiate overdose via respiratory depression.

Seetha Krishnan
Postdoctoral Fellow, Sheffield Lab
Former Trainees

Shana Augustin
Postdoctoral Fellow

Jeff Beeler
Chair of Department of Psychology, Queens College, CUNY

Mazen Kierbek
Tenured Associated Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UCSF

Leah Mayo
Assistant Professor at Linkoping University

Nelson Medina
Doctoral Student, Margoliash Lab
My research focuses on understanding how the intrinsic excitability of neurons, a fundamental plasticity mechanism, is involved in learning and how it is is altered by neural modulators like dopamine and acetylcholine. I address these questions by studying the complex learned behavior of songbirds, and performing exvivo electrophysiology experiments alongside pharmacology.

Elisa Pabon
Doctoral Student, DeWit Lab
I am receiving my PhD training in Dr. Harriet de Wit’s psychopharmacology lab at the University of Chicago. My research focuses on the physiological, subjective, and behavioral effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis. I am interested in the neurobiological interactions between estrogen and exogenous cannabinoids. My dissertation study aims to provide critical information regarding hormonal mechanisms underlying female-specific individual differences in physiological and subjective response to acute THC.

Meera Patel
Doctoral Student, Zhuang Lab
I am receiving my PhD training in Dr. Xiaoxi Zhuang’s lab at the University of Chicago. My research focuses on how the loss of dopaminergic signaling can lead to long-term changes in basal ganglia circuitry. I am also interested in how this rewiring affects motor learning and behavior.

Ted Russel
Postdoctoral Fellow, Green Lab

Scott Schepers, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I received my PhD under Dr. Mark Bouton at The University of Vermont. Currently, I am completing my post-doctorate under Dr. Harriet de Wit at The University of Chicago. I am interested in understanding the behavioral and neural mechanisms associated with the initiation, maintenance and relapse of drug abuse. I am especially interested in understanding the factors that contribute to relapse after the behavior has been suppressed through treatment.

Ashley Vena, PhD
Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at U of C
I received my PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. Now I am completing my post doc in the Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory at the University of Chicago. I am interested in understanding the psychological and neuropharmacological effects of drugs of abuse, and how these effects may contribute to the development of drug dependency in individuals. Additional interests include the role of gender in the subjective effects of drugs and the therapeutic potential of THC, MDMA, and psilocybin in psychiatric disorders, such as depression and PTSD.

Wanhao Chi
Postdoctoral Fellow, Zhuang Lab
I received my PhD in Genetics under Dr. Xiaoxi Zhuang at the University of Chicago. My research in post-doctoral training focuses on understanding the role of dopamine in reward, foraging decision-making, and fitness. I am also interested in exploring other genetic factors that may affect the decision-making process in a foraging environment.

Connor Murray
Postdoctoral fellow, DeWit Lab
Dr. Murray received his PhD in neuroscience under Dr. Marina Wolf, studying how pathways in the brain strengthen during withdrawal to motivate relapse behavior. Currently, he is in his first year of a postdoctoral fellowship receiving training on the neurobiology of addictive behaviors under Dr. Harriet de Wit. Dr. Murray’s research interests include the subjective, behavioral, and physiological effects of drugs on healthy human volunteers, with particular emphasis on content analysis.