Christine A. Rabinak, PhD, Associate Professor & Lab Director

I am an Associate Professor (tenured) in the Departments of Pharmacy Practice, Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Translational Neuroscience Program, and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute at Wayne State University. I received my PhD in Biopsychology from the University of Michigan in 2009 under the mentorship of Dr. Steve Maren.  Following my graduate work, I was accepted as a Postdoctoral Translational Scholar in the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), an NIH- supported institutional multidisciplinary career development award designed to foster the development of individuals with a PhD in biomedical science disciplines for independent careers in translational research. I carried this work out in the Psychiatric Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory and Trauma, Stress, & Anxiety Research Group within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan and the Mental Health Service at the Veterans Administration Healthcare System in Ann Arbor under the mentorship of Drs. K. Luan Phan, Israel Liberzon, and James Abelson. The focus of my current research is to build on my recent work on the neural circuits involved in regulating extinction of fear memories using a rodent model and translate it to humans, to better dissect the neural mechanisms of fear memory-related psychiatric conditions.

Connor Haggarty, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

I completed my PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience researching individual differences in social touch perception at Liverpool John Moores University (UK). I used the skills I learned here to transition into human pharmacology working on a clinical trial in Linkoping, Sweden looking at the effects of endocannabinoids in treating PTSD. I then moved to Chicago to work with Harriet de Wit researching the effect of various drugs (methamphetamine, LSD and MDMA) on social behavior. I have now joined TNP2 to work on the upcoming THC for PTSD clinical trial. 

Allesandra Iadipaolo, Clinical Research Coordinator & Certified Phlebotomist

My main responsibilities as clinical research coordinator include: conducting clinical interviews, data collection, participant recruitment, scheduling study visits, coordinating community collaborations and events, and lab management. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Art from Wayne State University in 2016 and have worked in the TNP2 Lab ever since. I am currently applying to doctoral programs in Clinical Psychology, where I hope to study neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying risk and resilience in order to inform innovative mental health interventions. When I’m not busy being a huge neuroscience nerd, I love to read, paint, do yoga, spend time outdoors, and check out new restaurants in the Detroit area.  Being a part of the TNP2 lab crew is awesome!

Sarah Durack, Clinical Research Coordinator

I graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in 2022. I completed an honors thesis which examined how certain proteins within the dorsal hippocampus affect fear extinction and fear renewal behaviors of rats during contextual fear conditioning. I am currently working on finding my niche in the research field but have an interest in clinical psychology. Outside of the lab, I love to hike, travel, read and take care of my plants.

Christopher Thomas, Research Technologist

Hello! I'm a recent graduate from U-M Dearborn. I majored in data science with an application to behavioral and social sciences. I led basic research projects as an undergraduate as well as developed statistical/machine learning models and data pipelines. I'm interested in social cognition, the relation of emotions/attitudes to rationality in the brain, and language. I plan to obtain a PhD at some point. Also...I guess I like movies, traveling, reading, and hanging out with friends/family

Karen Tucker, Research Assistant

Recently, I decided to venture on a new career path in clinical research. For more than 20 years I have volunteered with an organization for parents who have a lost a child/children and realized that I wanted to pursue a job in which I could continue to help people who have experienced traumatic events. My main responsibilities include recruiting, working with patients and running study visits.  My main purpose is to help people get the services they need.  

In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and friends.  Most of my time is spent with horses and my horse world family.  I am a huge gardener and love to cook—especially French cuisine. My family and I have spent a lot of time traveling around Europe. We lived in Paris for two years, taking cooking lessons and just soaking up the Paris atmosphere.    

Darius Vann, Volunteer Research Assistant

I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Wayne State University in 2022. Over the past three years, I have actively participated in research, with a specific focus on investigating the psychosocial and functional outcomes of individuals affected by neurodegenerative disorders and mental illness. My research interests lie in the field of Clinical Neuropsychology, and I am currently preparing to apply to Clinical Psychology programs with a specialization in this area. Besides my research endeavors, I enjoy engaging in various hobbies during my leisure time, such as taking walks or bike rides in nature, practicing yoga, spending quality time with friends, and caring for my orchid plants.

Alumni

Adam Marszalek, Research Techniologist

Kayleigh Yates, Research Assistant

Tabitha Moses, PhD, MD/PhD Student; Current completing her medical school training at Wayne State University

Nikki Zabik, PhD, Doctoral Student; Currently a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

Craig Peters, Research Technologist

Regina Pacitto, PharmD, Research Scholar

Raquelle Wilson, Medical Student Research Assistant

Tiana De Carolis, Medical Student Research Assistant

Shelley Paulisin, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Xhenis Brahimi, BS, Undergraduate Honors Research Student; Currently a medical student at Michigan State University

Autumm Heeter, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Tylor Zohr, PharmD Student Research Assistant

Stephanie Morgan, BS, Undergraduate Honors Research Student; Currently a medical student at Wayne State University

Ashley Blanchette, Pharm D, Research Scholar

Hilary Marusak, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow: Currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at WSU

Farrah Elrahal, Clinical Study Coordinator

Limi Sharif, Undergraduate Honors Research Student; Currently a medical student at University of Michigan

Aneesh Hehr, Undergraduate Honors Research Student; Currently a medical student at WSU

Amanpreet Bhogal, Undergraduate research assistant; Currently working with Dr. Hilary Marusak as a research assistant

Nicholas Semaan, Masters Student, Basic Medical Sciences, WSU

Natalie Hardy, MS, Masters Student, Basic Medical Sciences, WSU

Austin Morales, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Courtney Mansor

Bob Torrence, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow; Currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at St. Xavier University

Laura Crespo, MA, TLLP, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student at WSU

Kelsey Sala-Hamrick, MA, TLLP, Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute Predoctoral Fellow

Hanan Rakine, Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sajah Fakhoury, Research Assistant

Klara Gellci, BS, Biomedical Engineering Honors Student, WSU

Brian Silverstein, PhD, Neuroscience Predoctoral Graduate Student, WSU

Sarah Berman, Summer Undergraduate Research Assistant

Joshua Hatfield, BMS, Research Assistant; Currently an officer in the United States Navy

Narcis Marshall, Research Assistant; Currently a clinical psychology doctoral student at University of Southern California

Kassem Soufan, MD, Biology Honors Undergraduate Student, WSU; Currently a resident at Beaumont Wayne

Juan Reyes, PharmD, P2 Student, Directed-Study, WSU

Derek Montgomery, PharmD, P3 Student, Directed-Study, WSU

Clara Zundel, PhD, Research Assistant; Currently a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Hilary Marusak

Shomita Rode, Undergraduate Research Assistant, WSU

Sameen Jaffry, Undergraduate Honors Psychology Research Assistant, WSU

Jen Mahn, MPA, Clinical Study Coordinator; Currently Clinic Operations Manager, City of Detroit Public Health STD & TB Clinics

Pranay Ravipati, Pharmaceutical Sciences MS Graduate Student, Rotation, WSU

Miranda Rippin, PharmD, P2 Student, Directed-Study, WSU

Jeremy DeLor, PharmD, P2 Student, Directed-Study, WSU

Nicholas Meshkin, Neuroscience Predoctoral Graduate Student, Rotation, WSU

Shoko Mori, BS, Senior Honors Student, University of Michigan; Currently a medical student at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine

Angie Miller, Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan 

RJ Walls, Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan

Maryssa Lyons, BS, Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan