Alumni | Office of Research and Graduation Education

Corrine Ahrabi-Nejad

Graduate Degree: MD / PhD in Biostatistics in 2020 (Alumni)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Christina Duncan

Corrine is in her third year of the Clinical Psychology PhD program in the child clinical track. This is her first year as a trainee on the training grant. She previously held the position as an associate scholar. Her research interests are broadly in the area of pediatric psychology with special interests in chronic illness management among children and their families. Corrine’s specific research interest focuses on the transition from pediatric to adult care among adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Being a part of the Behavior and Biomedical Sciences program will give me the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research and work with an integrated team of medical professionals and researchers. This opportunity will allow me to further develop my research skills within behavioral science and increase my knowledge of how research can inform public health initiatives.

Molly Crowe, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2016 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Steven Kinsey
Research Project or Topic: Endocannabinoid modulation of secretory and inflammatory causes of gastric pathology
Current Position: Postdoctoral, Gastrointestinal Physiology, Virginia Commonwealth University

Former BBS Trainee now a Postdoctoral Researcher in Physiology and Biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University

The BBS Training Program has helped expand my research, provided necessary skills for future grant submissions, as well as advanced my development as a researcher. Being a T32 trainee opened up multiple opportunities to meet people outside of my department/program/college and make connections that otherwise would not have been made.

Danielle Davidov, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Public Health Sciences in 2010 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Jeffrey Coben
Research Project or Topic: Mandatory Reporting in the Context of Home Visitation Programs
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Research and Grants Coordinator, WVU; Assistant Director of Education and Training, WVU
Current Position: Assistant Professor (tenure track), Dept of Social and Behavioral Sciences, WVU School of Public Health

Danielle Doll, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience in 2015 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: James W Simpkins
Research Project or Topic: Role of Mitochondria in TNF-alpha Neurotoxicity in Stroke
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Staff Research Scientist, Mylan Pharmaceuticals
Current Position: Medical Science Liaison, Sanofi

Danielle Doll received her PhD in Neuroscience from WVU in 2015. Danielle worked in Dr. Jim Simpkins lab and her work focused on the role of mitochondria in TNF-alpha neurotoxicity in stroke. After graduating, she worked at Mylan Pharmaceuticals for 2 years as a research and development scientist, where she developed cell-based assays and release test methods. Then she transitioned into her current role as a medical science liaison. She currently lives in West Virginia and covers the northern part of West Virginia and western part of the Pennsylvania as an MSL with Sanofi Genzyme. Her therapeutic area of interest is neurology.

Alexa Ebert

Graduate Degree: PhD in Clinical Psychology (Alumni)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Julie Hicks Patrick

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Dr. Julie Hicks Patrick

"Alexa's research interests are broadly in the area of geropsychology with special interests in improving quality of life and well-being in persons with dementia and their care-partners through public health initiatives, non-pharmacological interventions, intergenerational relationships, and interventions for formal and informal dementia caregivers. They are currently conducting research that explores psychological and physiological reactions to awe inductions.”

Being a trainee will enabled me to engage in multidisciplinary research collaborations and to dialogue with fellow students, faculty, and medical professionals. Further, it allowed me the opportunity for an enriched research training experience that incorporates behavioral, social, and biological perspectives.

Termeh Feinberg, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Epidemiology in 2016 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Kim Innes
Research Project or Topic: An Exploration of the Relationships between Chronic Pain, Inflammation, and Herbal Medicine
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Postdoctoral, Univ of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine
Current Position: Postdoctoral, Yale University Center for Medical Informatics

Former BBS trainee now a Postdoctoral Researcher at Johns Hopkins University

The BBS T32 has helped my epidemiology training become more translational by enabling me the opportunity to do a clinical immersion and a lab rotation, in addition to my coursework. Additionally, it has allowed me the time to expand my dissertation health project to multiple medical clinics, strengthening my skills in primary data collection as a survey coordinator.

Nick Felicione, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Psychology (In Progress)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Melissa Blank
Research Project or Topic: Characterizing effects of short-term abstinence in electronic cigarette users

Richard Felix, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience in 2011 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Albert Berrebi
Research Project or Topic: Encoding of Temporal Sound Features in the Rodent Superior Paraolivary Nucleus
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Postdoctoral, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Research Faculty, Washington State University @ Vancouver
Current Position: Clinical Neurophysiologist, SpecialityCare Intraoperative Neuromonitoring

Joshua Gross, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology (In Progress)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: David P. Siderovski
Research Project or Topic: G protein signaling-dependent mechanisms of opioid and monoamine neurotransmission
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Postdoctoral at Duke University
Current Position: Postdoctoral at Duke University

Rebecca Hagedorn

Graduate Degrees: PhD in Animal Food Sciences (In Progress)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Melissa Olfert
Research Project or Topic: Evaluating college food insecurity and promoting solutions for student well being
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Science Policy Fellow - American Society for Nutrition
Current Position: Science Policy Fellow - American Society for Nutrition

Rolf Hansen, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience in 2013 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: HanTing Zhang
Research Project or Topic: Functional characterization of Phosphodiesterase-4A in behavior and obesity
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Postdoctoral, University of Pennsylvania
Current Position: Medical Science Liaison at Teva Pharmaceuticals

Rachel Hostetler

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Ariel Agmon

Rachel is in her second year as a trainee on the training grant. She is a fourth year PhD student in the Neuroscience Program, within the Biomedical Sciences Program. Her lab focuses on uncovering the structure, function and development of the cerebral cortex. Her projects focus on investigating the diverse roles of cortical somatostatin-containing inhibitory interneurons, and how changes in their activity underlie associative learning.

Being on the training grant will give me the opportunity to work with researchers outside of my field. As a student in a biomedical focused program, having the chance to work with those involved in behavioral research will allow me to gain a more well-rounded understanding of my own project and will help me answer my research questions on a multifaceted level.

Shane Kaski

Graduate Degrees: MD/PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology (In Progress)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: David P. Siderovski
Research Project or Topic: Evaluation of G protein-biased kappa agonists as dose sparing adjuvants to opioid analgesics
Current Position: Returning to 3rd year MD curriculum (clinical clerkships) of the MD/PhD program

Lindsay Lueptow, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience in 2015 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: O’Donnell
Research Project or Topic: Behavioral Effects of Inhibition of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) in Mice
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Postdoctoral, New York University
Current Position: Postdoctoral, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Tyler McGaughey

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience (Alumni)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Victor Finomore

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Dr. Victor Finomore

Tyler worked with Dr. Finomore at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute focuses on understand the role of chronic stress in the perception of chronic pain.

Being a trainee on the training grant provided me with a unique opportunity to interact with students and faculty outside my discipline. These interactions not only allowed me to develop my professional skills but gave me a unique perspective on research.

Sylwia Mrowka, MD, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience in 2016 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Bernard G Schreurs
Research Project or Topic: Cholesterol diet-associated changes in the hippocampus- a prelude to Alzheimer’s disease

Cecelia Nelson

Graduate Degree: PhD in Clinical Psychology (Alumni)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Christina Duncan

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Dr. Christina Duncan

Cecelia’s research focused on the development of health disparities between males and females in pain, health outcomes in pediatric pain conditions, and the interaction between biological and behavioral components of pediatric pain conditions.

Being a trainee on the T32 grant offered me the unique opportunity to make long-lasting collegial connections with the biological researchers and medical professional in my field of interest. I gained knowledge from my fellow students and faculty members involved with the grant.

Deidre O'Dell

Graduate Degrees: PhD in Neuroscience (In Progress)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Bernard G. Schreurs
Research Project or Topic: Studying the role of the perineuronal net (PNN) in cerebellar learning and memory by using localized enzymatic degradation or drug repurposing to manipulate the PNN in the deep cerebellar nuclei.

Erienne (Pedersen) Olesh, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience in 2017 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Valeriya Gritsenko
Research Project or Topic: The Investigation of Motor Primitives During Human Reaching Movements and the Quantification of Post-Stroke Motor Impairment
Current Position: Associate Director, WVU Health Sciences Innovation Center

Jenny Ozga-Hess, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Behavioral Analysis in 2019 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Karen Anderson
Research Project or Topic: Probability discounting of Lewis and Fischer 344 rats: Strain comparisons as baseline and following acute administration of d-amphetamine
Current Position: Postdoctoral Position at West Virginia University

Keyana Porter

Graduate Degrees: PhD in Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences (In Progress)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: James W Simpkins
Research Project or Topic: In vivo assessments of over-expression or knockout of miRNA 34a on stroke severity, and functional recovery

Paula Prentice, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2013 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Kevin Larkin
Research Project or Topic: Stress and Obesity: Facilitation of Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Nervous System Recovery from Stress while Eating Comfort Foods?
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Medical Psychology Resident, Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VAMC
Current Position: Program and Project Manager, Director and Developer, Arts Council of Johnson County, Kansas City, MO

Cameron Randall, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Psychology in 2017 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Daniel McNeil
Research Project or Topic: Fear of Pain and Dental Care-Related Fear: Associations with the MC1R Gene
Current Position: Senior Fellow, Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Dentistry

Margeaux (Gray) Schade, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2017 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Hawley Montgomery-Downs
Research Project or Topic: Effects of Systematic Sleep Fragmentation on Tolerance and Threshold in a Pressure Pain Task: Associations with Sustained Attention
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Postdoctoral, Biobehavioral Health at Penn State College of Health and Human Development
Current Position: Postdoctoral, Biobehavioral Health at Penn State College of Health and Human Development

Lexie Schmidt

Graduate Degree: PhD in Biology (In Progress)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Sadie Bergeron

Lexie is in her second year as a trainee on the T32 and is about to begin her third year as a PhD student in the Department of Biology, emphasizing in neuroscience. Her lab studies specific genetic and environmental factors that regulate normal neural development and what occurs at molecular, neuroanatomical and behavioral levels when these factors are altered. Her research focuses on an early expressed homeobox gene relating to the development and function of visual neural circuits implicated in neurodevelopmental diseases, such as schizophrenia and autism.

Working along this training grant will allow me the opportunity to ask and improve on basic science related questions and learn to better communicate research across different disciplines. The training grant also offers the ability to be immersed in clinical and/or industry, in order to better prepare my future as a well-rounded researcher.

Michael Seminerio, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences in 2012 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Rae Matsumoto
Research Project or Topic: Pharmacological Characterization of an Optimized Sigma Receptor Ligand
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Postdoctoral, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, University of Chicago
Current Position: US Medical Lead (Migraine and Headache), Teva Pharmaceuticals

Merideth Smith, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2012 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Amy Fiske
Research Project or Topic: Giving Support and Mental Health in Older Adults at Risk for Vision Impairment
Current Position: Staff Psychologist @ PSIMed, Behavioral Health Management Company

Doug Thornton, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Health Services and Outcomes Research in 2017 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Nilanjana Dwibedi
Research Project or Topic: Combined use of SSRIs and platelet aggreg- ation inhibitors in those with co-occurring heart disease and depression or anxiety
Current Position: Assistant Professor (tenure track), University of Houston School of Pharmacy

Alaina Tiani

Graduate Degree: PhD in Clinical Psychology (Alumni)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Kevin Larkin

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Dr. Kevin Larkin

As part of her work with Dr. Kevin Larkin, she studied behavioral physiology and cardiovascular reactivity to stress. Her research focused on the association between sleep and autonomic reactivity. Specifically, she was interested in understanding whether sleep quality is associated with changes in the magnitude of cardiovascular reactivity to a stressor.

“Being a T32 associate scholar allowed me to interact and collaborate with individuals who offer in-depth knowledge of basic science research and methodology, and fostered a transdisciplinary environment in which I was prepare for a future career as a clinical health psychologist working with medical professionals and researchers.”

Kristen Trexler, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2019 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Steven Kinsey
Research Project or Topic: Psychoactive properties of cannabinoid administration, behavioral effects of cannabinoid withdrawal

Ryan Turner, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience in 2015 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Charles Rosen
Research Project or Topic: Lessons in Modeling, Preventing, and Treating Neural Injury: Improving Bench-to- Bedside Translation
Current Position: Neurosurgery Resident, WVU

Allison White

Graduate Degree: PhD in Neuroscience (Alumni)
Graduate Program Advisor: Dr. Vincent Setola

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Dr. Vincent Setola

Allison's research in Dr. Vincent Setola’s laboratory focused on G protein signaling mechanisms and understanding the role that Regulator of G protein Signaling-12 (RGS12) plays in regulating monoamine transporters in the brain.

"The BBS T32 training program provided me with access to potential collaborations and opportunities to be influenced by colleagues using altogether different behavioral, molecular/biochemical, and psychological approaches. As a second year trainee, I was excited to continue receiving the training necessary to help me conduct multidisciplinary research towards clinical and translational outputs.”

Tricia Wilkins, PhD

Graduate Degree: PhD in Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy in 2013 (Alumni)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Usha Sambamoorthi
Research Project or Topic: Healthcare Quality and Expenditure Benchmarks along the Continuum of Care: The Role of Primary Care Use and Community Healthcare Resources
Post Graduate Position Upon Graduation: Project Officer and Pharmacy Advisor, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
Current Position: Director of Pharmacy Affairs, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy

Desiree Williford

Graduate Degrees: PhD in Psychology (In Progress); Master of Public Health (MPH) (In Progress)

Training Program

Training Program Advisor: Dr. Christina Duncan
Research Project or Topic: Profile-based examination of youth and parent information management strategies and adolescent electronic cigarette use