Neuroscience Graduate Program Class of 2024

Martin earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences with a focus in neuroscience from the University of Central Florida. During his undergraduate studies, he investigated the effects of Vitamin C and oxidative stress in neural progenitor cells to understand how molecular changes in brain cells may influence behavior. After graduation, Martin joined the lab of Matthew Disney, Ph.D., at the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology on the Florida Atlantic Jupiter Campus as a postbaccalaureate fellow studying the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

McDonald earned a bachelor’s degree in cell biology from the University of California Davis where he studied how genetic information is exchanged during meiosis. After graduation, he worked as a research assistant at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego to support research characterizing the molecular signature of memory in the dentate gyrus, a region of the brain important to learning, memory and emotional control.

Murphy earned a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Indianapolis and a master’s in experimental psychology from Nova Southeastern University. During her graduate work, she studied a variation in the COMT gene (a gene that breaks down neurotransmitters such as dopamine) and the subsequent stress responses. She also worked as a research assistant, employing molecular biology methodologies to explore stress, inflammation and cognitive function in human participants.

Nott earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Charleston, West Virginia. During her undergraduate studies, she investigated innovative brain imaging technologies. She contributed to research that culminated in achieving a brain scan with free movement in a virtual reality setting. These results highlighted the potential of portable, affordable neuroimaging devices to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.

Origlio earned a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in biopsychology/neuroscience from New College of Florida where she studied white matter pathways in cetaceans (dolphins and whales). Her research investigated the neurological basis of complex social patterns by examining the brains of multiple cetacean species, which revealed patterns between underlying neural connectivity and observable social behaviors.

Patel earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in biology from East Tennessee State University. Her undergraduate research contributed to projects relating to adolescent alcohol use disorder, flavored conditioned cues associated with alcohol in adulthood, associative learning models and overall behavioral neuropharmacology.

Sankey earned a bachelor’s in behavioral neuroscience with a minor in psychology from Florida International University. Her undergraduate research was split between neurocircuitry/cognition and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, she conducted a research project that compared autophagy (the natural recycling process of cells) in two types of brain cells called astrocytes and microglia to help understand cellular/molecular pathways in neurodegenerative diseases.

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Indiana University. As an undergraduate research assistant, she investigated how dysregulation in endocannabinoid signaling in the cerebellum is associated with neurodevelopment disorders like autism spectrum disorder. In the cannabinoid field, she concentrated on cellular, molecular and behavioral neuroscience.