Research/Areas of Interest:

Previous work in our lab has shown that gastrointestinal colonization of the fungus, Candida albicans, in a mouse model causes dysregulation in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which results in an anxiety phenotype.  Disruptions in the ECS have been implicated in other psychological disorders such as alcohol use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. My research will focus on studying the involvement of Candida sp. in psychological and substance use disorders through dysregulation of the ECS and other mechanisms, further studying the role of the gastrointestinal mycobiome in the gut-brain-axis.

Education

BS, Microbiology, Genetics, Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN