Predoctoral fellows
| Trainee | Start Date | Terminal Degree(s) Received and Year(s) | Topic of Research Project | Initial Position | Current Position |
| Barkley- Levenson, Emily E. | 09/2007 | PhD (2013) | Risky decision making in stimulant & in people who abused alcohol and healthy controls | Postdoc Psychology USC | Asst. Prof. Hofstra Univ. |
| Groman, Stephanie M. | 09/2007 | PhD (2013) | Dopamine transmission, inhibitory control and methamphetamine -induced cognitive deficits | Postdoc Psychiatry Yale University | Asst. Prof., Dept. Neurosci., Univ. MN |
| Kohno, Milky | 09/2007 | PhD (2013) | Modulators of maladaptive factors in decision making in people who abuse stimulants | Postdoc Psychiatry, UCLA | Asst. Professor Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science Univ. |
| Leblanc, Kimberly H. | 09/2007 | PhD (2013) | Molecular studies of striatum and connections in decision-making related to addiction | Postdoc Neuroscience NIH/NIDDK | Scientific Prog. Manager NIDA Div. Extramural Res. Research- Intensive |
| Morales, Angelica | 09/2007 | PhD (2014) | Emotion control in people who abuse stimulants | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Asst. Professor Psychiatry OR Health & Sci. Univ./2019 Research- Intensive |
| Ashenhurst, James | 09/2008 | PhD (2013) | Translational and genomic analysis of the relationship between risk- taking behavior & substance use disorders | Postdoc Clin. Psychol. Univ. TX Austin | Senior Scientist, 23andMe, Inc. |
| Meyer, Edward | 09/2008 | PhD (2014) | Stress-enhanced fear learning and alcohol consumption in the rat | Asst. Proj. Scientist UCLA Research- Intensive | Senior Client Partner, Futuralis, Seattle, WA |
| Robertson, Chelsea L. | 09/2009 | PhD (2015) | Molecular correlates of impulsive behavior | Research and Scientific Consultant for Private Start-Up Company Research-Related For-Profit | Product Scientist 23andMe |
| Moallem, Natasha R. | 09/2010 | PhD (2016) | Comparisons of impulsivity across alcohol-dependent people who smoke cigarettes and co- morbid populations | Postdoc LA Ambulatory Care Center, Dept. Veterans Affairs Government | Clin. Psychologist, SD Dept. Veterans Affairs |
| Courtney, Kelly E. | 09/2010 | PhD (2016) | Neural correlates of nicotine craving in heavy drinking people who smoked cigarettes | Postdoc Psychology UCSD | Assistant Adjunct Professor, UCSD |
| Perusini, Jennifer N. | 09/2010 | PhD (2014) | Underlying mechanisms of the comorbidity between PTSD and opioid use | Postdoc Columbia Univ./NY State Psychiatric Inst. | CEO of Neurovation Labs |
| Smith, Wesley C. | 09/2010 | PhD (2018) | Large Scale multi- regional electrophysiology of frontostriatal network dynamics after cocaine conditioning | Postdoc Physics and Astronomy UCLA | Brain Pool Sci. Fellow, KIST, Seoul, S. Korea |
| Breiner, Kaitlyn S. | 09/2011 | PhD (2016) | Associations between violations of expectations, peer influence, and risk-taking in adolescence | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Asst. Prof. & Field Experience Coordinator, Child Development, CA State Univ. Dominguez Hills |
| Goldenberg , Diane | 09/2011 | PhD (2017) | Neurological underpinnings of adolescent risk taking | Postdoc Psychology USC | Grants and contracts manager, Critical Innovations LLC Unrelated to Research For-Profit |
| Pennington, Zachary T. | 09/2011 | PhD (2018) | Adenosine 2A receptors and inhibitory control | Postdoc Neuroscience Icahn Sch. Med. at Mt. Sinai | Postdoc Neuroscience Icahn Sch. of Medicine at Mt. Sinai |
| Thompson, Andrew | 09/2011 | PhD (2016) | Aerobic exercise and its effects on addiction- related decision-making deficits | Academic Project Manager, Sovereign Health of California Unrelated to Research Nonprofit | Narcotics Science Advisor US Dept. State Bureau of Int. Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs |
| Collins, Val L. | 09/2012 | PhD (2018) | Striatal acetylcholine in mediating Pavlovian incentive motivation | Postdoc Neurosci. Univ. MN | Postdoctoral Fellow at UCSF |
| Nachun, Daniel C. | 09/2012 | PhD (2018) | IV self- administration paradigm as a model for opiate addiction. | Postdoc Stanford Univ. Pathology | Postdoc Stanford Univ. Pathology |
| Asuncion, James E. | 09/2013 | PhD (2019) In Training (MD) | VMAT trafficking effects on aminergic release and circuit modulation | Medical Student UCLA Medicine | Medical Student UCLA Medicine |
| Hart, Evan E. | 09/2013 | PhD (2019) | Circuit mechanisms and opioid modulation of effortful choice behavior | Staff Fellowship, NIDA IRP Government | Asst Professor, Univ of Maryland College Park (starting Aug 2024) |
| Kosheleff, Alisa R. | 09/2013 | PhD (2018) | Role of insulin in dopamine- mediated cocaine- seeking | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Medical Publications Manager, Supernus Pharmaceuticals Research-Related For-Profit |
| Harvey, Eric A. | 09/2014 | PhD (2019) | Epigenetic regulation of gene transcription in the incubation of cocaine craving | Technical Copywriter Samba Scientific Unrelated to Research Other | Technical Copywriter in a life sciences marketing agency |
| Lichtenberg , Nina T. | 09/2014 | PhD (2019) | Probing the neural pathways of associative memories in a normal and disordered state: neuromodulatory mechanisms & cortico- amygdala dynamics | Scientific technical writer Kelly services Inc., on contract to NINDS Research-Related Other | Scientific technical writer Kelly services Inc., on contract to NINDS |
| MacIntyre, Lauren | 09/2014 | PhD (2021) | Role of amyloid beta in food and drug addiction | Data Science Fellow, The Data Incubator For-Profit | Life Sciences Digital Marketing Strategist, Supreme Optimization |
| Gold, Adam R. | 09/2015 | PhD (2021) | Cocaine intravenous self- administration in a rodent model | Medical Science Liason NS Pharma, Inc Research-related For-Profit | Medical Science Liason NS Pharma, Inc Research-related For-Profit |
| Guttman, Zoe | 09/2015 | In Training | Effects of methylphenidate and prefrontal brain stimulation in methamphetamine use | Sci & Technology policy Fellow, CA Council on Sci & Technology Other | Sci & Technology policy Fellow, CA Council on Sci & Technology Other |
| Lim, Aaron | 08/2015 | PhD (2021) | Negative mood states, stress, fear, depression | Clinical Psychology Intern, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Government | Postdoctoral Fellow, Univ Southern CA, |
| Green, ReJoyce | 08/2016 | PhD (2022) | Varenicline effect on smoking cessation | Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical University of South Carolina | Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, MUSC |
| Munier, Joseph | 08/2016 | PhD (2022) | Neuronal mechanisms of HPA dysregulation in alcohol dependence | Postdoctoral Researcher, Antharis Therapeutics, Inc. For-Profit | Postdoctoral Fellow, Ionis Pharma, Inc., |
| Trott, Jeremy | 09/2016 | PhD (2022) | Interaction of stress and opioid learning; Sex differences and hippocampal function in contextual fear and defensive behavior | Lecturer, UCLA; Psychology Assistant Research Scientist; UCLA; Psychology Research and Teaching | Lecturer, UCLA; Psychology Assistant Research Scientist; UCLA; Psychology |
| Sias, Ana | 08/2017 | PhD (2022) | Neural circuits underlying maladaptive behavior in addiction | Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA, Psychology | Neurocrin Biosciences |
| Dagher, Merel | 09/2017 | PhD (2022) | Investigating monoamine changes induced by stress | Postdoctoral Fellow, Semel/Psychiatry UCLA | Lecturer. Semel/Psychiatry UCLA |
| Rohrbach, Ethan | 09/2017 | PhD 2023 | Principles of Aminergic Signaling | Postdoctoral Fellow Semel/Psychiatry UCLA | Postdoctoral Fellow Semel/Psychiatry UCLA |
| Gordon, Alexander | 09/2018 | In Training | The role of prediction errors in memory encoding | ||
| Meredith Broussard, Lindsay R. | 09/2018 | In Training | Clinical Area: Neurocognition in Alcohol Use Disorder | ||
| Lamparelli, Alex | 09/2018 | In Training | Cortico-amygdalar regulation of reward memories | ||
| Mondello, Jamie | 09/2018 | In Training | The impact of stress on opioid- related learning | ||
| Donato, Suzanna | 09/2019 | In Training | Investigating AUD Severity as a potential moderator of treatment response to novel pharmacotherapie s for AUD | ||
| Hoang, Ivy | 09/2019 | In Training | Probing a hypothalamic- midbrain circuit for model-based learning and aberrant decision- making following methamphetamine | ||
| Long, Charltien | 07/2020 | In Training | Rapid effects of dopamine release exerts on the neural dynamics of the ventral striatum (VS), reward learning, and motivated behaviors | ||
| Henry, Brittany | 09/2021 | In Training | Age-Dependent Effects of Inhaled Delta-9- Tetrahydrocannabi nol | ||
| Rice, Myra | 09/2021 | In Training | Chronic pain states and terpenes |
Postdoctoral Fellows
| Trainee | Start Date | Topic of Research Project | Initial Position | Current Position |
| Payer, Doris E. | 10/2009 | Methamphetamine and Emotion Regulation | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Knowledge Broker, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| Wassum, Kate | 04/2010 | Neurochemistry of Desire | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Prof. Psychology UCLA |
| Cervantes, Martha C. | 08/2010 | Genetic influences in addition in an impulsivity- based animal model | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Research Engineering Scientist Assistant, Coll. of Pharmacy, U Texas Austin |
| Laughlin, Ricky E. | 09/2010 | Dopamine transients in rodents performing translational addiction- related tasks | Postdoc Neurobehav. Genetics UCLA | Faculty, OR Coast Community College Teaching |
| Roussotte, Florence F. | 10/2011 | Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on structural connectivity | Postdoc Neurology UCLA | Manager, Medical Writing, Sunovion Research-Related |
| Mendez, Ian | 12/2011 | Opioid receptors underlying reward seeking | Postdoc Neurobiology UC Irvine | Assistant Professor Pharmaceutical Sciences, Univ. Texas El Paso |
| Roche, Daniel | 07/2012 | Determinants of smoking lapses in the human laboratory | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Asst. Professor Psychiatry University of MD Sch. Med. |
| Ballard, Michael E | 12/2012 | Relationship between temporal discounting of rewards and D2/3 receptor availability in drug dependence | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Clinical Scientist, Neumora Therapeutics Research |
| Malvaez, Melissa F | 05/2013 | Neurocircuitry and neurochemical systems involved in reward learning and decision- making | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Project Scientist Dept. Psychol. UCLA |
| Achiro, Jennifer | 01/2014 | Catecholamine Regulation of Transcription During Long- Lasting Plasticity | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Asst. Project Scientist, Biol. Chemistry, UCLA |
| Al Hashimi, Omar B | 08/2014 | Effects of cognitive manipulation with nicotine dosing | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA |
| Peña, David F | 10/2014 | Involvement of mu receptors on D1- and D2- expressing cells in addiction- related behaviors | Postdoc Biomed. Sci. Marquette Univ. | Chief Science Officer, Pluri, Inc. Research |
| DePasque Swanson, Samantha D | 10/2014 | Ontogenetic changes in adolescent striatum: implications for feedback-based learning | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Research Manager, Branding Science Research-Related |
| Cservenka, Anita | 09/2015 | Executive functioning and craving in methamphetami ne dependence | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Asst. Professor OR State Univ. |
| Mcclintick, Megan N. | 01/2017 | Varenicline effects on impulsivity, dopamine receptors and brain function in Stimulant Use Disorder | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA (promotion to Assistant Research Faculty in progress) |
| Grodin, Erica | 01/2018 | Ibudilast as a pharmacother apy for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Associate Project Scientist UCLA (Project Scientist Faculty Series) |
| Perez Diaz, Maylen | 01/2018 | Neural substrates of cigarette withdrawal and negative reinforcement: sex differences | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Medical Science Liaison / Biogen Research-Related |
| Lueptow, Lindsay M. | 08/2018 | Chronic pain, opioid-seeking behaviors, and reversal by inhibiting microglia | Postdoc Icahn Sch. Med. Mt Sinai | Assistant Researcher Department of Psychology UCLA (Research Scientist Faculty Series) |
| Severino, Amie L. M. | 08/2018 | Kappa opioid receptor circuits involved in fear learning | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Histology and Imaging Core Manager, NIDA Research |
| Shirazi, Anaheed | 10/2018 | Cannabidiol effects on craving and relapse prevention in Opioid Use Disorder | Psychiatry Resident Olive View UCLA Med. Ctr. | Psychiatry Resident UCSD |
| Hall, Baila | 02/2019 | Amygdala encoding of reward memory | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Scientific Review Officer (SRO), NIH Center for Scientific Review Research Government |
| Lee, Sungeun Melanie | 07/2019 | Methamphetami ne addiction and gut microbiome | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Board Certified Psychiatrist Private Practice |
| Ye, Tony | 08/2019 | Signaling signatures of frontocortical regions in flexible reinforcement learning | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Research Scientist, Lundbeck, Research |
| Giovanniello, Jacqueline | 01/2020 | Understanding the neuronal mechanisms underlying stress- potentiated habit formation in mice | Postdoc Psychology UCLA | Postdoc Psychology UCLA |
| Nieto, Steven | 01/2020 | Applying behavioral economics to screen medications for Alcohol Use Disorder | Postdoc Psychology UCLA , | Postdoc Psychology UCLA |
| Mahmoudie, Tarannom | 08/2020 | Regional cerebral mGlu5 receptor and associated cognitive performance in individuals with Methamphetami ne Use Disorder | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA | Postdoc Psychiatry UCLA |
| Mueller, Lauren | 09/2021 | Neural representations supporting decision making and its implications for addiction. | Senior Research Scientist, Protagenic Therapeutics, Research Intensive | Senior Research Scientist, Protagenic Therapeutics, Research Intensive |
| Kirsch, Dylan | 09/2022 | The interplay between stress and decision making in alcohol use disorder | Postdoc, Psychology UCLA | Postdoc, Psychology UCLA |
| Nett, Kelle | 11/2022 | Circuits encoding appetitive inhibitory associations | Assistant professor, Gustavus Adolphus College | Assistant professor, Gustavus Adolphus College |