• What is your area of research or scholarship? I study how stress during pregnancy affects the brain development of offspring, as well as exploring potential therapeutics for both the mother and developing fetus.
• In simple terms, why does this research matter? Maternal anxiety or depression during pregnancy may have detrimental effects on fetal brain development, but the effects of drugs to treat such conditions may be even worse. My research aims to discover a way to treat mothers with depression or anxiety while protecting proper neurodevelopment.
• What is your degree program and expected graduate date? I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, expected graduation in 2021.
• Hometown: Ankeny, IA
• Faculty mentor/advisor: Hanna Stevens and Andrew Pieper
• What are your career goals? I want to teach neuroscience at a university.

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