The SOCIAL Neurobiology lab (Verpeut)

Dr. Jessica Verpeut is an alumnus of Pennsylvania State University where she studied migratory behaviors and neuroendocrine signaling with Professor Paul Bartell. She received a Bachelor's degree from Penn State in 2010 with a double-major in Animal Science and Psychology. She went on to study behavioral outcomes of a ketogenic diet on neural mechanisms in Engrailed-2 mice with Nicholas T. Bello and obtained her doctorate in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences from Rutgers University in 2015. Continuing her interests in autism and neural development, Dr. Verpeut joined the laboratory of Professor Samuel S.-H. Wang to study cerebello-cortical pathways and the cognitive cerebellum. Dr. Verpeut was awarded a New Jersey Brain Injury Research Fellowship as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Princeton Neuroscience Institute and developed reversible viral manipulations in mice to map cerebello-cortical connections that contribute to social and flexible behavior. In 2021, Dr. Verpeut joined ASU to start the SOCIAL (Study of Circuits in Adolescent life) Neurobiology laboratory. Outside of the lab, she enjoys exploring national parks with her wife, Danielle, and their dog.

Doctoral Students

Tristan Lyle, Doctoral Student. I received my BA in Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado and MS in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University in 2021. As part of my master’s journey, I was able to gain direct experience applying behavior analytic interventions to develop and grow communicative and social skills in individuals with developmental disorders (e.g., ASD). I am eager to further develop Dr. Verpeut’s research on the effects of cerebellar function during sensitive developmental periods and the signaling pathways associated with cognitive and social functions.  

 

 

 

 

 

Olivia Law, Doctoral Student. Olivia received her Honors BA in Psychology from Idaho State University in 2022. During her time at Idaho State, she examined health and decision-making behaviors (e.g. delay discounting) in both human and rat models. Additionally, she gained experience in a personality psychology lab which focused on making personality judgments of others. For her graduate studies, she is interested in the development of mental and genetic disorders and how they affect neural circuits and structures within the brain. In her free time, she enjoys writing and playing with her cat.

 

 

 

Alexandria Melick, Doctoral Student. Alexandria received her Honors BS in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State in 2021. During her time at ASU, she sought to explore the biological basis of behavior and how physiological dysfunction can directly impact mental health. In her senior honors thesis, she examined the connection between malnutrition and increased mental illness prevalence in regions called food deserts, and ultimately highlighted the significance of the gut-brain axis in the relationship between the body and the brain. For her graduate studies, she is interested in the development of neurodegenerative disorders and how external variables, like food and stress, can affect the progression and severity of these disorders.

 

Undergraduate Researchers

Lori Abbas: Lori is a senior at Barrett, the Honors College majoring in Medical Microbiology. She is currently working on her honors thesis, which investigates the role of the fastigial nucleus in feeding and reward-related behavior. She aspires to become a physician. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, reading, and exploring the outdoors. 

David Lukacik: David is a senior at Barrett, The Honors College, pursuing concurrent degrees in Neuroscience and Philosophy of Science, Nature, and Mind with a minor in English Linguistics. David's research interests involve a wide range of topics, including cerebellar injury, social behavior, and autism spectrum disorder. David is currently working on a thesis project concerning the coordinated role of the hippocampus and the cerebellum in spatial-social processing. Outside of lab work, David enjoys cooking, baking, buying more books that end up dusty on shelves, and raising a cat named Bagel. 

Nazareth Salgado: Nazareth is a senior at Barrett, The Honors College, majoring in Neuroscience on a pre-medical track. Her research interests focus on Alzheimer’s disease, particularly its progression, the cognitive deficits it causes, and its impact on memory. She is also interested in exploring how the disease affects males and females differently and the specific brain areas involved. She looks forward to completing her honors thesis on this topic in the SOCIAL lab. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and going on walks. 

Vincent Truong: Vincent is a Senior at Barrett, the Honors College double majoring in Biochemistry and Psychology with a minor in Disability Studies. He has engaged in multiple projects in the lab, including an aging study, an outreach project, and is now conducting an Honors Thesis centered on Aging and Autism. Specifically, he is modulating the cerebellar nuclei during critical periods of development to assess social changes with age in mice using chemogenetic techniques. His goal is to become a neurologist or psychiatrist to serve medically underserved populations. Outside of the lab, he loves playing with his dog, training in taekwondo, and exploring different cuisines. 

Henrique Vieira: Henrique is a senior at Barrett, The Honors College, double-majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. He is interested in how drugs and other substances can alter neurotransmission and how these changes can affect cognition and observable behaviors. Henrique is conducting an honors research thesis on how nisoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, can affect neurotransmission in the cerebellum, cognitive flexibility, anxiety, and repetitive behaviors. In his free time, Henrique enjoys running, playing tennis, and cooking.

JOIN THE LAB!!

There are a variety of opportunities available in the lab:

Graduate students

Prospective students must meet the minimum qualification for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology Graduate Program and submit a formal application. Students with animal science, neuroscience, computational science, and biology backgrounds are highly desirable. The lab is actively searching for highly motivated, responsible, independent, and creative individuals to work with rodent models to solve big questions in neuroscience. Please contact Dr. Verpeut directly with questions or if interested in submitting an application.

Undergraduate researchers

There are various opportunities for undergraduate students in the lab and volunteers are welcome. Students studying neuroscience or computational sciences will be given highest priority. To participate, at least two semesters and a minimum of ten hours per week must be dedicated to the lab. It is expected that students are responsible, motivated, organized, and respectful. All students must adhere to proper safety procedures, maintain proper data records, and laboratory notes. It is an overarching goal of the laboratory that students from all backgrounds can engage in learning and discussion free of judgement or criticism. Please complete this application to apply as an undergraduate research assistant.

• ASU News story: Lab teaches neuroscience to students from North Carolina: A brain road trip: Exploring the neural map by Rob Ewing 3/14/2022
• ASU NOW story: More than a 'little brain' by Kimberlee D’Ardenne 12/10/2020
• The SOCIAL Neurobiology lab recently opened in January 2021 and is recruiting at all levels to study the cerebellum, behavior, and development.