Department of Physiology Postdoctoral Fellows

Alejandra Jacotte Simancas, PhD Degree: PhD, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD and Nicholas Gilpin, PhD Research: Traumatic brain injury and alcohol use Department: Physiology Email: mjacot@lsuhsc.edu Currently, my research seeks to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying escalation of post-TBI alcohol drinking.
Andrea Jones, PhD Degree: PhD, Tulane University School of Medicine Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD Research: The role of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) in chronic inflammatory pain Department: Physiology Email:ajon41@lsuhsc.edu The goal of my research is to determine how the MC4R changes with chronic pain. I am interested in sex- and age-specific differences in the way the MC4R functions within brain circuits associated with chronic inflammatory pain. Additionally, I am interested in the role of alcohol use disorder in the transition from acute to chronic pain. View Curriculum Vitae
Franciely Paliarin, PhD Degree: PhD, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Advisor: Rajani Maiya, PhD Research: The molecular mechanisms that underlie social defeat stress-induced escalation of alcohol consumption Department: Physiology Email:fpalia@lsuhsc.edu The goal of my research is to understand molecular mechanisms that underlie alcohol use disorders and stress-escalated drinking. View Curriculum Vitae
Sydney Vita, PhD Degree: PhD, University of Mississippi Medical Center Advisors: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD and Patricia Molina, MD, PhD Research: Alcohol exposure exacerbates inflammation and anxiety-like behavior induced by repeated mild traumatic brain injury during adolescence Department: Physiology Email:svita@lsuhsc.edu I am interested in the mechanisms through which functional alterations occur from early to chronic periods following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), especially during periods of neural development. Furthermore, I am interested in how these alterations accumulate in response to repeated mTBI, and/or are exacerbated by additional insults, such as exposure to alcohol. The overarching goal of my research is to identify potential therapeutics that can preserve or restore brain functions following TBI. View Curriculum Vitae
Marcus Weera, PhD Degree: PhD Purdue University Advisors: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD Research: Neural mechanisms underlying substance use and co-morbid disorders. Department: Physiology Email: mweera@lsuhsc.edu I am interested in elucidating the neural circuits and neurobiological factors that underlie substance (primarily alcohol) use disorders. Further, my research seeks to understand the neural bases of co-morbid substance use and psychiatric (e.g. post-traumatic stress) disorders, as well as between different types of substance use disorders. The goal of my research is to inform prevention and treatment strategies for substance use and related psychiatric disorders. View Curriculum Vitae

Former Post-Doctoral Fellows

Patrick McTernan, PhD Degree: PhD, University of Georgia Advisors: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD Currently Research Scientist, Department of Physiology, LSUHSC New Orleans
Christian Montanari, PhD Degree: PhD, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD Currenty Research Assistant Professor Tulane University
Danielle E. Levitt, PhD Degree: PhD, University of North Texas Advisors: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD, and Liz Simon, PhD Currently Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Texas Tech University
Kandasamy Neelamegam, PhD Degree: PhD, Annamalai University, India Advisors: Jason Gardner, PhD, Xinping Yue, MD, PhD, Eric Lazartigues, PhD Currently Post-Doctoral Associate Department of Internal Medicine Texas Tech University Health Science Center
Elizabeth Delery, PhD Degree: PhD, Tulane University School of Medicine Advisor: Scott Edwards, PhD Currently Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Immunology College of Osetopathic Medicine at Marian University.
Elizabeth A Fucich, PhD Degree: Ph.D., UTHSC-San Antonio Advisor: Patricia Molina, PhD Research: Traumatic brain injury and alcohol use Currently Professor of Practice in Neuroscience at Tulane University.
Amanda R. Pahng, PhD Degree: Ph.D., Tulane University Advisor: Scott Edwards, PhD Currently Research Health Scientist Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
Joshua Oakes, PhD Degree: PhD, Baylor College of Medicine Advisor: Jason Gardner, PhD and Xinping Yue, PhD
Udita Datta, PhD Degree: PhD, Bowling Green State University Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD
Matthew Auten, MD, PhD Degree: PhD, LSUHSC-New Orleans MD from LSUHSC May 2016 Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD. Currently a Pathology resident at West Virginia University School of Medicine.
Emily A. Roltsch Helland, PhD Degree: PhD, Texas A&M University Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD Currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Jun Wang at Texas A&M University.
Megan L. Armstrong, PhD Degree: : Ph.D., University of Florida Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD Currently working in private practice as a clinical psychologist
Tracy Y. Dodd, PhD Degree: PhD, University of South Alabama Advisor: Patricia Molina, PhD Currently a medical student at LSUHSC-New Orleans.
Paige S. Katz, PhD Degree: Ph.D., LSUHSC-New Orleans Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD Currently Associate Director and Medical Science Liasion at Novartis Oncology.
Christy A. Itoga, PhD Degree: PhD, University of Michigan Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD Currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California-Irvine.
Annie Whitaker, PhD Degree: PhD, LSUHSC-New Orleans Advisor: Nicholas Gilpin, PhD Currently a biology teacher at St. Scholastica Academy.
Karina Villalba, MPH, PhD Degree: PhD, Florida International University Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD Currently working at Florida International University.
Anthony A. Duplanty, PhD Degree: Ph.D., University of North Texas Advisor: Patricia Molina, MD, PhD Currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Texas Women's University.

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