Students

Current Students

Research mentor: Brad Walters, PhD, Department of Otolaryngology
Research focus: I am interested in disease states of the inner ear. My current focus is on genetic and environmental risk factors associated with formations of neoplastic masses on or around the cochlea and cranial nerve VIII.
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, St. Vincent College, Psychology

Research mentor: Donna M. Platt, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, Millsaps College, Neuroscience & Cognitive Studies

Research mentor: Matthias Krenn, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery
Research focus: My research aims to understand the effect of electrical stimulation of large afferents on spinal motor control in human spinal cord injury. We intend to accomplish two goals: to manage lower extremities spasticity caused by the injury and to augment residual volitional control. We utilize transcutaneous spinal stimulation to modify the neurological state of the lumbosacral circuitries to examine specific aspects involved in spinal motor control.
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, Alvernia University, Chemistry

Research mentor: Kedra Wallace, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, Delta State University, Biology

Research mentor: Kevin Freeman, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, University of Alabama – Birmingham, Neuroscience

Research mentor: Harry Pantazopoulos, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Research focus: My work seeks to characterize transcriptional alterations in substance use disorder, notably pathways related to the extracellular matrix in human postmortem brains, and further to test how genetically modifying a microglial protease signaling cascade in mice may alter drug-related memories. I study condensed forms of extracellular matrix, known as perineuronal nets, as a prism to explore substance use disorder pathophysiology. Understanding the role of perineuronal nets in maintaining drug addiction will provide important insights for the development of novel pharmacotherapies to promote recovery.
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BA, Rivier University, Psychology

Research mentor: Sally Huskinson, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Research focus: I am interested in the role of environmental factors in substance use disorders. My current focus is on the role of uncertainty in negative consequences as a contributor to the development and maintenance of substance use disorders.
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BA, University of Mississippi, Biochemistry

Research mentor: Barbara Gisabella, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, Millsaps College, Biology; MS, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Biomedical Sciences

Research mentor: James Rowlett, PhD, and Lais Berro, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BA, Framingham State University, Psychology

Research mentor: Kevin Freeman, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, Millsaps College, Neuroscience & Cognitive Studies

Research mentor: Hong Zhu, PhD, Department of Otolaryngology
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, William Carey University, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology

Research mentor: Eric Vallender, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Undergraduate/graduate degree: BA, University of Mississippi, Biological Science, Psychology; MS, Mississippi College, Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Undergraduate/graduate degree: BS, University of Houston, Kinesiology-Exercise Science; MS, Mississippi College, Biology