PhD Student
BS (2017), Texas A&M University
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Email: saf266@cornell.edu
Research Interests:
Neuroethology, Evolutionary Neuroscience, Social Behavior, Mate choice, Neurogenetic Manipulation, Early life cognitive development.
Specific Interests:
I am interested in how early life social experiences, genetics, and environmental factors shape the animal brain. By looking at the neural and genetic bases of how evolution has shaped animal behavior, I look to provide a means of defining the mechanisms of brain development and linking behavior to neural networks. By objectively studying natural behaviors of animals and identifying the neural mechanisms involved, I hope to begin to develop a greater understanding for their evolutionary ontogeny and their necessity for adaptation. In the lab, I look to identify brain development being translated into cognitive function. Using behavioral assays, I hope to create abnormal behaviors that give me a chance to explore consequential abnormalities in the brain. In order to regulate these abnormalities, I will be exploring neuroendocrinological methods as well as neurogenetic manipulation techniques.
Papers (from the lab):
| Undergrads | Date Joined |
| Sydney Liu | 2021-2022 |
| Nicole Sullivan | 2019-2022 |
| Pedro Guicardi | 2019-2020 |
| Aiste Gircyte | Spring 2020 (from Newcastle University, UK) |
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| Teaching 5th graders about the brain | Hands on with middle school kids |