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Michael earned his bachelor’s degrees in human biology and theatre in 2011 from the University of Southern California and his Ph.D. in psychology in 2020 from UCLA with Dr. Michael S. Fanselow. His thesis work focused on the effects of stress severity and chronicity on the subsequent behavior and biology of the organism. He is excited to continue work in the stress research field at Utah. In his free time, Michael enjoys running, hiking, baking, and playing board games with his wife Leanna.

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Sewon received her bachelor’s degrees in life science and chemical and biomolecular engineering from Sogang University in 2012 and her Ph.D. from the interdisciplinary program in neuroscience at Seoul National University in 2019 with Dr. Sukwoo Choi. After graduating, she spent three years as a postdoc at Seoul National University. Her thesis work focused on the processing of the value information in the basal amygdala. In her free time, Sewon enjoys traveling, swimming, watching animation and playing games.

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NIH NRSA F31 Fellow

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from Western Washington University in 2017, Rachel spent two years working as a technician at the Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research before starting her PhD in neuroscience here at Utah. In her free time, Rachel enjoys teaching neuroscience, doing yoga, baking, and watching cat videos.

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NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Jordan graduated from the University of Alabama in 2020 with a B.S. in biology and a minor in neuroscience. She had previously done research on the impacts of brain stimulation (tDCS) on language learning, the social behavior of Hydra, and the innate immune response in Drosophila. Jordan is excited to study the neural mechanisms of behavior. In her free time she enjoys hiking, snowboarding/skiing, watching Netflix, and playing with her two cats.

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Jason is a post-baccalaureate student from Santa Ana, California. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Vanguard University. He hopes to attend a Ph.D. program after his time here. During his free time, he enjoys working out, listening to music, and being outdoors.

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Kevin earned a bachelor’s in philosophy from Arkansas State University in 2010. And a bachelor’s in neuroscience from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018. After graduating, Kevin spent a year as a research technician at UT Austin. His previous research has focused on the mechanisms of learning and memory as well as studying addiction paradigms. During his PhD at the University of Utah, Kevin wants to focus on elucidating the neuronal circuitry that can be responsible for various mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Other than research, Kevin spends his time hiking, running, reading, and playing video games (not necessarily in that order).

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Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation Fellowship

Becca graduated in 2020 with her bachelor’s in cell biology and neuroscience from Montana State University where she conducted undergraduate research through the McNair Scholars Program. Following graduation, Becca pursued a postbaccalaureate position at the Mayo Clinic where she used genome engineering to study novel genes involved in the stress response. She is currently a Curci Foundation Fellow in the Neuroscience Program and is interested in stress resiliency, stress susceptibility, and psychiatric disease. Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and playing board games.

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Ford Foundation Honorable Mention

Donzelle graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2021 with a bachelor’s in experimental psychology. During her bachelor’s, Donzelle spent three years researching the neuroendocrinology of obesity. As a neuroscience PhD student, Donzelle is interested in studying behavior. Outside of research, she spends her time traveling, reading, and practicing embroidery.

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Erin is studying biology with an emphasis in anatomy and physiology at the University of Utah. She enjoys learning about relationships between organisms and is interested in how social behavior can be affected. Erin likes writing and spending time outside, especially in the mountains and the desert.

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Tom joins the lab after completing a bachelor’s in psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado and a master’s in neuroscience at the University of Florida. With a background in researching motivation, Tom is interested in exploring the neural circuits which underlie the effects of stress on social decision making. When he’s not in the laboratory, you’ll probably find Tom in the mountains or eating Indian cuisine.

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Ashley graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and an emphasis in biology. During her undergrad, Ashley participated in research investigating the impacts of environmental enrichment on mouse behavior and the effects of social isolation on mouse ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). In her spare time, Ashley enjoys watching documentaries and spending time outdoors.

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Jordyn is an undergraduate student studying health society and policy with minor’s in chemistry and psychology at the University of Utah. She is interested in disparities within healthcare and hopes to one day work with underserved communities. She also enjoys learning about the brain and mental illnesses. Jordyn likes to spend her free time outdoors, especially hiking and boating.

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Veronic is an undergraduate student from Montreal, Canada, majoring in biology with an emphasis in anatomy and physiology as well as minoring in psychology. She’s on the cross country and track teams at the University of Utah and aspires to take her passion for sports into a medical career as a sport medicine/orthopedic physician. She’s interested in researching the diverse effects of stress/anxiety on the body and how to prevent certain injuries and diseases by knowing their potential causes. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, volunteering at the hospital, and playing sports/doing outdoor activities.

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Michaela is currently a fourth-year pre-medical student at the University of Utah, majoring in biology with an emphasis in anatomy and physiology and minoring in psychology. She has had a passion for mental health and neurology ever since she was a little girl and is currently working towards a career as a doctor, specializing in pediatrics or family medicine. In her free time, Michaela enjoys reading, singing, playing guitar, playing video games and theater.

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Addison is an undergraduate student studying biology with an emphasis in biochemistry as well as minoring in both chemistry and spanish. He loves learning and plans to attend medical school in the future. Addison is from Utah and loves the mountains. He spends his free time backpacking, fly fishing, trail running, rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, and doing anything else that gives him an excuse to get outside.

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Lorrin is an undergraduate at the University of Utah majoring in biochemistry and minoring in applied ethics. She is interested in research that explores neurobiology and varying aspects of social behavior. Lorrin is from the Seattle area, currently works as an Anatomy TA, and ultimately plans to attend medical school. In her free time she enjoys working out, hiking, watching movies, and cooking.

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Eccles Distinguished Scholar; U.S. Presidential Scholar

Alan is pursuing a five-year BS/MS in software development and computer science as an Eccles Distinguished Scholar. His focus is on computational neurobiology, aiming to use technology for advancements in medicine. Raised in Hawaii and Utah, Alan enjoys swimming, running, music, and technology.

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Eva is an international student from Berlin, Germany. She is a pre-med student majoring in biology with an emphasis in anatomy and physiology. In her spare time she works as a teaching assistant in the anatomy lab. After finishing her undergraduate studies, Eva plans to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a heart surgeon.

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Nicholas is an undergraduate student at the Honors College at the University of Utah . He is majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry and psychology. Originally from Minnesota, he plans to go to medical school after graduation. In his free time he enjoys watching and playing sports, watching movies and being outside.

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Caitlin is an undergraduate student studying biology with an emphasis in neurobiology. She enjoys working as a math tutor with kids of all ages. She is also a teaching assistant for a microbiology lab course at the University of Utah. She hopes to continue to work in biology either in a lab or in a clinical setting. Backpacking is her favorite past time as she gets to immerse herself in a living textbook, with no stressors or expectations. She also loves to travel to new places, interact with passionate people, eat delicious food, and kiss her dog on his forehead.

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Rene is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah majoring in kinesiology with a minor in chemistry. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, he has been a Utah Utes fan since day one. Outside of school Rene enjoys spending his time working out, hiking, skiing, and camping. Inspired by his experience as a Spanish interpreter for a clinic providing care to uninsured and underprivileged individuals, Rene hopes to attend medical school and to one day be able to provide care to those who need it most.

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Kayla is an undergraduate at the University of Utah studying biochemistry with a minor in psychology. After graduation, Kayla wants to work on improving access to healthcare and mental health resources for underserved populations. Kayla enjoys getting involved in her community through volunteering and community health activism. Kayla is interested in research on the physiological and psychological effects of trauma and hopes to contribute to the development of more effective treatments for PTSD in the future. In her spare time, Kayla enjoys running, hiking, and playing music.