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Faculty and Staff

by | Sep 5, 2023

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Faculty

Graham A. Cousens

Associate Professor of Psychology

Education

  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Yale School of Medicine and UCSF
  • Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in Psychology, Rutgers University

Recently Taught Courses

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience Research Methods
  • The Global Burden of Mental Illness
  • Models of Addiction
  • Health Psychology

Selected Publications

  • Cousens, GA (2020). Characterization of odor-evoked neural activity in the olfactory peduncle. IBRO Reports, 9, 157-63.
  • Hesp, ZC, Cousens, GA, Becker, L, Zee, MC, & Mickley, GA (2016). Nu Rho Psi, The national honor society in neuroscience: A decade of progress. Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 14(2), e9-12.
  • Cousens, GA, Kearns, A, Laterza, F, & Tundidor, J (2012). Excitotoxic lesions of the medial amygdala attenuate olfactory fear-potentiated startle and conditioned freezing behavior. Behavioural Brain Research, 229(2), 427-32.
  • Cousens, GA, Skrobacz*, CG, & Blumenthal*, A (2011). Nucleus accumbens carbachol disrupts olfactory and contextual fear-potentiated startle and attenuates baseline startle reactivity. Behavioural Brain Research, 216, 673-80.

* Denotes Drew undergraduate authors

Research

Prof. Cousens’ research utilizes electrophysiological and behavioral techniques to examine how the brain represents sensory information and how it maintains information over time. Areas of research interest include olfactory learning and memory, emotional processes, and addiction.

Roger Knowles

Professor of Neuroscience and Biology

Education

  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Harvard University
  • Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Harvard University
  • B.S. in Human Factors, West Point

Recently Taught Courses

  • Introduction to Neuroscience
  • Cell and Molecular Neurobiology
  • Diseases of the Brain

Selected Publications

  • Laura Frese*, Barbara Petrack, Ron Samia, Gillian Bradley*, Eric Law, and Roger Knowles: Secreted factors of rat placental derived adherent  stem cells attenuate inflammatory response of LPS activated glia. The New York Stem Cell Foundation’s Translational Stem Cell Research Conference at Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York on October 10-11th, 2012.
  • Katherine LaClair*, Barbara Petrack, and Roger Knowles: Examination of mitochondrial dynamics in a cellular model of Alzheimer’s disease and the evaluation of methylene blue as a potential disease modifying treatment. Northeast Undergraduate  Research Organization for Neuroscience (NEURON), NYC,  April 24, 2010.
  • Le, R., Cruz, L., Urbanc, B., Knowles, R.B., Hsiao-Ashe, K., Duff, K., Irizarry, M., Stanley, H.E., and Hyman, B.T. (2001) Plaque-induced abnormalities in neurite geometry in transgenic models of Alzheimer Disease: Implications for neural system disruption. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 60: 753-758.

* Denotes Drew undergraduate authors

Research

The three pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) are senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss.  However, the biochemical pathways that link plaques and tangles to neuronal degeneration are unclear.  In Prof. Knowles’ laboratory, students choose research projects that focus on trying to elucidate these pathways and to identify novel targets to protect neurons.  Examples of projects include: modifying of receptor activation that can protect neurons from damage; use of growth factors to enhance neuronal health; and altering immune cell activity to promote healthier responses.

Christina McKittrick (Program Director)

Associate Professor of Biology

Education

  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Rutgers University
  • Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Rockefeller University
  • B.S. in Biology, Davidson College

Recently Taught Courses

  • Systems Neurobiology
  • Neuroscience Research Methods
  • Endocrinology
  • Neuroethics

Research

Prof. McKittrick’s lab explores how various central neurotransmitter systems are affected by pharmacological and environmental manipulations, and how these changes, in turn, are related to behavior. Her research has focused on the biological consequences of stress and the neurochemical effects of drugs of abuse. Investigation of neurochemical changes in response to these stimuli may provide clues about the neural circuitry underlying the behaviors and physiological states associated with drug addiction and stress-related mental illnesses.

Christopher Medvecky

Associate Professor of Psychology

Education

  • Ph.D. and M.A. in Psychology, Rutgers University
  • B.A. in Psychology, The College of New Jersey

Recently Taught Courses

  • Learning and Behavior
  • Sensation and Perception
  • Brain, Behavior, and Drugs Seminar

Research

Prof. Medvecky’s prior research has utilized animal models to study topics including Parkinson’s disease and the influence of the gut microbiome on mental health. Other areas of interest include quantitative models of drug abuse.

Staff

Arthur Wamback

Animal Care Specialist