Meet Our Team
Michele Brumley, Phd
Principal Investigator
Haley Ledbetter |
Katie Weedn |
Sidney CAtes, BS |
Hannity Johnson |
Reed Munson |
Kaden LEe |
Undergraduate Student |
Undergraduate Student |
Undergraduate Student |
Lab alumni
Julie Meredith
Makenzie Kohler
Hillary Swann-Thomsen received her PhD in Experimental Psychology at ISU under the supervision of Dr. Brumley in Summer 2019. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow for the Idaho Center for Health Research and St. Luke’s Applied Research Division in Meridian, ID. Her research examines pediatric care coordination practices in children with special health care needs within the St. Luke’s Health System. Her research interests broadly include health psychology and developmental psychobiology.
|
Nicholas Burgett graduated in Fall 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He continued to work in the lab as a research assistant, until his departure in Fall 2018.
Derek Viall recently graduated in May 2018 from ISU with a Bachelor of Science in both Biology and Psychology. He currently is in a Ph.D Neuroscience program at University of Idaho studying the process of adult retinal regeneration using a zebrafish model. He also hopes to eventually begin working on projects involving retinal development using embryonic zebrafish. Currently, he is interested in pursuing academia after his graduate studies. Derek was a part of the INBRE program twice, the first time with Dr. Brumley, and the second with his current lab at UI. Over his three-year span working with Dr. Brumley, Derek was able to work on multiple research projects, attend several research conferences , and develop a lifelong love for the field of developmental psychobiology.
Blaine Kempe recently graduated in May 2018 from ISU with a Bachelor of Science in both Psychology and Nursing. He currently works at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. He plans on returning to school to pursue a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Blaine was part of the INBRE program and worked with Dr. Brumley for five years. During those years, Blaine was able to work on multiple research projects and attend several conferences presenting data from his research.
Sierra Kauer received her PhD in Experimental Psychology at ISU in Summer 2016 and is currently a post-doc at Yale School of Medicine with Dr. Cafferty. Her lab utilizes anatomical, behavioral, electrophysiological, genetic and in vivo imaging methodology to define the extent of plasticity and regeneration within the damaged central nervous system (CNS) . Her research aim is to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie plasticity and regeneration and exploit these mechanisms to enhance functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI).
Steven Boomhower recently defended his doctoral dissertation at Auburn University. He will be receiving his PhD in May 2018 in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. In June 2018, he will be a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health where he will research the integrative genetics genetics/genomics of environmental diseases and exposures. His research interests include developmental neurotoxicology and pharmacology, heavy metal exposure during sensitive periods of development, mathematical modeling of operant behavior, and behavioral assays of executive functioning in animal models.
Starlie Belnap is a doctoral student at Florida International University where she conducts research on the development of sensory coordination in animals, with a particular interest in the role of motor coordination in perceptual processing, learning and memory. Her research focuses on the influence of prenatal sensory stimulation on neural and physiological development of coordinated movement and its subsequent influence on the developing system. In particular she investigates the role of motor coordination in hemispheric lateralization, social facilitation, and behavioral preferences.
Megan Roberto received her MS in Experimental Psychology at ISU. After graduation, she become a Statistical Analyst with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), where she analyzes Medicaid data that legislators use to evaluate current and proposed programs for clients in Colorado. She likes to ski, sail, and raft in Colorado, Idaho, and wherever there is water, frozen or not.
Tiffany Doherty was accepted into Dr. Brumley’s lab as an undergraduate INBRE summer fellow. When she first became interested Dr. Brumley’s work, there were no open positions in the lab, but she didn’t let that deter her. She employed some creative tactics to wiggle her way into the hearts of the muffins, thus earning her “ida stalker muffin” namesake. After about two amazing years with the muffins, Tiffany headed off to graduate school at the University of Delaware to study stress and the developing epigenome with Dr. Tania Roth. Since then, a collaboration has developed between the muffin lab and the Roth lab, and Tiffany feels incredibly lucky to be involved in the pilot work for that collaboration. Once a muffin, always a muffin! Tiffany will graduate with her PhD in the spring of 2019 and head off to the wild world of postdocs.
Kira Hunter joined Dr. Brumley's lab as an undergraduate INBRE summer fellow from University of Idaho. She is currently studying science writing and biology at the University of Idaho, as well as documenting research conducted by University of Idaho undergraduates.