Current Lab Members

Dr. Lisa Briand is the head of the Behavioral Neurophysiology Laboratory and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program at Temple University. She began her neuroscience career as an undergraduate at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine working under the direction of Dr. John Kelsey. Dr. Briand continued on to receive her doctorate in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, where she studied the ability of cocaine abuse to lead to deficits in cognitive function with Dr. Terry Robinson. She then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in the laboratories of Dr. Julie Blendy and Dr. Chris Pierce studying the circuitry and physiological mechanisms underlying reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Since opening the BNL at Temple University in 2014, Dr. Briand has been studying the role of glutamate in vulnerability to substance use and relapse as well as mechanisms underlying the ability of stress to influence drug taking and seeking. In addition to running the lab, Dr. Briand enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, photography and traveling.

Miroslav is a Research-track Assistant Professor. He has solid background in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology and deep interest in studying receptors and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of voltage-gated ion channels, neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. The overall research goal of Dr. Nenov is to identify key signal molecules critical for normal brain physiology and for an effective treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders associated with impairments in neuronal brain circuits.

Dr. Emily Black is currently a post-doctoral fellow in the BNL working on …

Alyssa is currently a fourth year PhD student in the BNL studying the sex-specific role in PKMz in drug taking and motivation. Alyssa graduated from James Madison University in 2020 with a degree in Psychology, minoring in Biology.

Mia is a third year PhD student studying the sex-specific role of PICK1 in drug seeking. Mia graduated from Hunter University in 2021 with a degree in Psychology, concentrating in Physiological Psychology and minoring in Biological Sciences. 

Sofi is currently a first year PhD student in the BNL. Sofi’s project aim is PKMz role in modulating drug-seeking behavior in the Nucelus Accumbens. She graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2023 with a B.S. degree in Biology-Psychology.

Brigham worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the BNL. After graduating with a B.S. in Neuroscience from Temple, he continued his work surrounding how adolescent social isolation impacts the neuroimmune system as the lab research technician. Additionally, Brigham is pursuing his Masters in Bioinnovation from Temple.

Carmen is a second year masters student in the BNL working on analgesic responding between drug naive and oxycodone experienced mice. Carmen graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Psychology in 2022.

Erin is a first year masters student working broadly on oxycodone sensitization. Erin graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology and a Certificate in Neuroscience.

Bridget just recently graduated from Temple University with her B.S. in Neuroscience and is continuing her work in our lab as she applies to PhD programs. During her undergraduate years, she worked in the BNL and is continuing her work on the impact of adolescent stress on microglial quantities and structure in the reward circuitry of adolescent mice.

Matthew is a senior undergraduate research assistant working in the BNL on …

BIO

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BIO

Former Lab Members

Teneisha Myers - Teneisha was a masters student in the BNL from 2021 - 2023. Teneisha is currently pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburg.

William Cuadrado - Will worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the BNL from 2021 - 2023. He currently works as a Research Associate at Spark Therapeutics.

Autumn McBride - Autumn was a masters student in the BNL from 2020 - 2022. Autumn currently works as a Clinical Research Associate at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Emily Blessley - Emily worked as an undergraduate research assistant from 2019 - 2021 in the BNL. Emily is currently working as an associate scientist at Absorption Systems.

Denise Dearring - Denise was an undergraduate research assistant in the BNL from 2021 - 2022 before graduating with her BS in Neuroscience. Denise currently works as a Data Product Consultant for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Abigail Jurewicz - Abigail worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the BNL from 2020 - 2022.

Nylah Miles - Nylah worked in the BNL lab from 2021 - 2022 and was a part of the Mid-Atlantic Neuroscience Diversity Scholars (MiNDS) program during her time in the lab. Nylah is currently finishing her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at Temple University.

Roxanne Perez Tremble - Roxanne was an undergraduate research assistant from 2020 - 2022 in the BNL. Roxanne is currently completing a Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Alana Porter - Alana worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the BNL in 2023. Alana worked in the lab as a BRIDGE research intern and is currently finishing her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience.

Lizzie Birmingham - Lizzie worked as the research technician in the BNL from 2018 - 2023. Lizzie completed her Masters in Social Work during her time as the research technician and is currently a Primary Therapist at Recovery Centers of America.

Melissa Knouse - Melissa worked as a PhD student in the BNL and defended her dissertation in May of 2023. Dr. Knouse currently works as a Scientific Communications Manager for Red Nucleus.

Anna McGrath - Anna was a PhD student in the BNL and defended her dissertation in December of 2021. Dr. McGrath currently works as a scientist at Sanofi working on remyelinating drug development.

Megan Wickens - Megan was a PhD student in the BNL who defended her dissertation in April of 2020. Megan is now working as a project manager at the University of Michigan.

Andre Deutschmann - Andre worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the BNL from 2015-2020. Andre was funded by a fellowship from the DFG, a German Research Funding Organization, and is currently working as a research scientist in Germany.

Julia Kirkland - Julia worked as a research technician in the lab from 2018-2020. Julia is now pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at Albany Medical College.

Troy Houser - Troy worked as an undergraduate in the BNL for two years prior to graduating from Temple University in 2020 with a B.A. in Psychology. Troy is currently working on a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oregon.

Laura Rivera - Laura worked as an undergraduate in the BNL for two years prior to graduating from Temple University in 2020 with a B.A. in French and a minor in Neuroscience. She is currently working as an ophthalmic technologist in California.

Kelsey Lucerne - Kelsey worked as an undergraduate in the BNL for three years prior to graduating from Temple University in 2018 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Kelsey is now pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.

Nicholas Olimpo - Nick worked as an undergraduate in the lab for two years prior to graduating from Temple University in 2018 with B.S. in Neuroscience. Nick has been working at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies and is planning to go to graduate school in the fall to pursue his PhD in Immunology.

Jeff Lenz - Jeff worked in the BNL as our Lab Manager from its inception until the Spring of 2017. He is now working as a Biological Scientist at the University of South Florida.

Anne Fosnocht - Anne graduated from Temple University in 2014 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Spanish. She began work with Dr. Briand as an undergraduate and continued on as a research technician until the Spring of 2017.  Anne received her M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and is now a Research Associate at Spark Therapeutics.

Alexandra Ellis - Lexi worked as an undergraduate in the BNL for two years prior to graduating from Temple University in 2017 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Lexi is now working as a Research Associate at Spark Therapeutics.