Elizabeth Avegno, Ph.D.

Degree:  Ph.D., Columbia University
Advisors: Nicholas Gilpin, Ph.D.
Research: Relationship between the ventral tegmental area and central amygdala in rodent model of alcohol dependence
Email: eavegn@lsuhsc.edu

Udita Datta, Ph.D.

Degree:  Ph.D., Bowling Green State University
Advisors: Nicholas Gilpin, Ph.D.
Research: Understanding the neurobiological basis of addiction and factors that contribute to individual differences in addiction trajectories.
Email: udatta@lsuhsc.edu

Lucas Albrechet-Souza, M.A., Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D., University of Sao Paulo-Brazil, Psychobiology
Advisor: Nicholas W. Gilpin, Ph.D.
Research: The role of basolateral amygdala interneurons and endocannabinoid signaling in mediating post-stress escalation of alcohol drinking in rats
Email: ldesou@lsuhsc.edu

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My research has focused on investigating changes in brain mechanisms induced by traumatic stress in rodents, with emphasis in the involvement of endocannabinoids in discrete brain areas on stress-induced escalation of alcohol consumption

Elizabeth A Fucich, Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D., UTHSC-San Antonio
Advisor: Patricia Molina, Ph.D.
Research: Traumatic brain injury and alcohol use
Department: Physiology
Email: efucic@lsuhsc.edu

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My research addresses the neural mechanisms underlying the interaction between traumatic brain injury and alcohol use. I am also interested in how stress interacts with this relationship as well as identifying ways to improve negative outcomes of these concurrent conditions.

Joshua Oakes, Ph.D.

Degree:  Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine
Advisors: Jason Gardner, Ph.D. and Xinping Yue, Ph.D.
Research: Effects of inhalable nicotine on the development of cardiopulmonary disease
Email: joake1@lsuhsc.edu

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My long term research interest is how the airborne inhalation of nicotine leads to the development of cardiac disease. More specifically, my research is looking at the effects of nicotine on the renin-angiotensin system and its effects on cardiac function.

Danielle E. Levitt, Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D., University of North Texas
Advisors: Patricia Molina, M.D., Ph.D., and Liz Simon, Ph.D.
Research: Alcohol- and gonadal hormone loss-mediated mechanisms
of metabolic dysregulation in SIV
Email:dlevit@lsuhsc.edu
 
My long-term research interest is to elucidate alcohol-mediated
mechanisms of metabolic dysregulation in order to develop effective methods to counteract such changes in health and disease states.
Currently, my research focuses on alcohol and gonadal hormone
loss-mediated mechanisms of mitochondrial dysregulation in insulin-producing and insulin-sensitive tissues using a simian model of HIV.

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Amanda R. Pahng, Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D., Tulane University 
Advisors: Scott Edwards, Ph.D.
Research: Neurobiological mechanisms of altered cognitive behavior and relapse propensity in alcohol dependence
Department: Physiology
Email: apahng@lsuhsc.edu

Awards/Honors:

• Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 39th Annual Scientific Meeting Junior Investigator Award
• 4th International Congress on Alcoholism and Stress held in Volterra, Italy NIH Travel Award
• 2017 Outstanding Young Scientist Travel Award from the Association for Women in Science-Southern Louisiana (AWIS-SL) Chapter
• Central Nervous System Section Research Recognition Award, American Physiological Society, Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting

Publications:

Pahng AR, Paulsen RI, McGinn MA, Edward KN & Edwards S. (In press). Neurobiological Correlates of Pain Avoidance-Like Behavior in Morphine-Dependent and Non-Dependent Rats. Neuroscience.

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My long-term research interest is to determine how specific cellular changes influence cognitive deficits and relapse propensity in alcohol-dependent animals. In addition, I am interested in investigating cognitive mechanisms affected by chronic pain in rodents as well as altered signaling in reward-, pain-, and cognition-related circuitry in non-human primate models of HIV/alcohol comorbidity.

Marcus Weera, Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D. Purdue University
Advisors: Nicholas Gilpin, Ph.D.
Research: Neural mechanisms underlying substance use and co-morbid disorders.
Department: Physiology
Email: mweera@lsuhsc.edu

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Matthew Auten, M.D., Ph.D.

Degree: : Ph.D., LSUHSC-New Orleans
Degree: M.D. from LSUHSC May 2016
Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, Ph.D. 
Email: matthew.auten@hsc.wvu.edu
Currently a Pathology resident at West Virginia University School of Medicine.

Emily A. Roltsch Helland, Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D., Texas A&M University
Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, Ph.D.
Email: roltsch@medicine.tamhsc.edu
Currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Jun Wang at Texas A&M University.

Megan L. Armstrong, Ph.D.

Degree: : Ph.D., University of Florida
Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, Ph.D.
Currently working in private practice as a clinical psychologist.

Tracy Y. Dodd, Ph.D.

Degree:  Ph.D., University of South Alabama
Advisor: Patricia Molina, Ph.D.
Email: tdodd@lsuhsc.edu
Currently a medical student at LSUHSC-New Orleans.

Paige S. Katz, Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D., LSUHSC-New Orleans
Advisor: Patricia Molina, M.D., Ph.D.
Currently Associate Director and Medical Science Liasion at Novartis Oncology.
 

Christy A. Itoga, Ph.D.

Degree:  Ph.D., University of Michigan
Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, Ph.D.
Currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California-Irvine.

Karina Villalba, MPH, Ph.D.

Degree:  PhD., Florida International University
Advisor: Patricia Molina, M.D., Ph.D.
Currently working at Florida International University.

Anthony A. Duplanty, Ph.D.

Degree:  Ph.D., University of North Texas
Advisor: Patricia Molina, M.D., Ph.D.
Research: Muscle Physiology and metabolic dysregulation in SIV/HIV
Email: adupl4@lsuhsc.edu
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Currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Texas Women's University.