Predoc Mentees

Holly Chapman graduated from the University of Texas in  Austin, Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Biology and Social Work in 2015. Following graduation, she worked for two years as a lab technician for the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department at the University of Texas in the lab of Dr. Robert Messing, where she focused on the neurobiological substrates of alcohol use disorder. She then graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in Webster, Texas with a Master of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2019. Simultaneously with her master program, she worked full time at UTMB in the Center for Addiction Research in the lab of Dr. Noelle C. Anastasio, where she focused on the neurobiological underpinnings of substance use disorders and impulsivity. At UTMB, Holly is a member of the Anastasio Lab in the Center for Addiction Research. Her research focuses on the potential therapeutic effects of psychoplastogens, through receptor interactions between N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and serotonin 2A (5-HT2A), for comorbid substance use disorders and mood disorders. Holly is involved in the Society for Translational Research (STR) and the Women’s Association of Minority Scientists (WAMS) at UTMB and participates in community outreach programs bringing STEM learning to underserved minority communities. She enjoys spending time with her Doggos (Killian [actual dog] and Keetaun [cat]) and volunteering for the science communication efforts of Enventure and The Science Review.

Education
B.S. University of Texas, Austin, TX

M.S. University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, TX

Education

Education
B.S.West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX

Ryan was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2019, he graduated in with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Biological Chemistry Track from Texas A&M University in College Station. As an undergraduate, he spent a year researching the iron-sulfur cluster biosynthetic pathway in Dr. David Barondeau's lab. Immediately following graduation, Ryan entered the Pharmacology & Toxicology graduate program at UTMB. With mentor Dr. John Allen, Ryan is currently exploring the signaling mechanisms of orphan receptor GPR52, as well as pharmacologically evaluating novel GPR52 ligands as potential therapeutics for neuropsychiatric diseases and substance use disorders.

Education B.S. Texas A&M, College Station, TX

Kehinde received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Prairie View A & M University, graduating cum laude. Thereafter, she went on to completing her Master of Science degree in Physiology from the University of Michigan. Kehinde became a part of the Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine program at UTMB in 2018 and began conducting research under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Hommel. Kehinde’s research focuses on the investigation of upstream regulatory circuits and their involvement on major reward neural pathways using novel viral tracing techniques. She also serves as an officer of both the UTMB Women’s Association of Minority Scientists and Society for Translational Research, highlighting her investment in increasing diversity in science, science communication, and a long-term career in translational research.

Education

B.S. Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX

M.S. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Leah Salinsky graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor's of Science in Neuroscience with minors in Sociology and Forensic Science in 2019. Following graduation, Leah spent 8 months at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology as a research technician in the laboratory of Dr. John Tainer where she focused on the ASCC1 protein complex in various cancers under the mentorship of Dr. Roopa Thapar. At UTMB, Leah is a member of the Cunningham laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Kathryn Cunningham in the Center of Addiction Research. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of various psychedelic compounds and their potential towards becoming therapeutics for substance use disorders. Leah is involved in the UTMB Student Government Association, the Pharmacology and Toxicology Student Association, as well as the Jewish Student Association at UTMB. She spends her free time reading fantasy books and rock climbing around Texas. 

Education

B.S. University of Texas, Austin, TX

Education

B.S. Baylor University, Waco, TX

Joshua grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology from The University of Texas at Austin in 2015. During his time at UT, Joshua investigated gene-ethanol interactions that underlie craniofacial defects in a zebrafish model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder under the mentorship of Dr. Johann Eberhart. Following graduation, Joshua worked as a research assistant in the laboratory of Drs. William Clarke and Kelly Berg at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Here, he characterized the mechanisms of action of several kappa opioid receptor and mu opioid receptor ligands. Joshua joined the Pharmacology and Toxicology graduate program at UTMB in 2019 and is conducting his dissertation studies in the laboratory of Dr. Kathryn Cunningham. His research focus is on discerning the biochemical and pharmacological properties of a novel 5-HT_2A:5-HT_2C receptor heteromer.

B.S. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX