I was interviewed for a podcast. Check it out to hear me chat about science, mentorship, and challenges past and present: You can listen to the episode here: spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/vP9S1vT3l4b

Advancing Neuroscience Through Research and Mentorship with Dr. Melissa Herman by Her Path to Success

In this episode of Her Path to Success, I sit down with Dr. Melissa Herman, a neuroscientist dedicated to advancing our understanding of the brain while mentoring the next generation of researchers. W...

spotifycreators-web.app.link

Bring your kid to work 🧠

Interesting article in @washingtonpost.com today on cannabis and sleep that I was interviewed for along with friends and colleagues Nicole Bowles and Ryan Vandrey. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

The new science of cannabis and sleep

Research suggests cannabis suppresses REM sleep, raising questions about memory, emotion and the purpose of dreams.

washingtonpost.com

Hot off the press [release] 🔥 This recently published @npp-journal.bsky.social paper explored the impact of synthetic cooling agents on nicotine reinforcement and mesolimbic dopamine signaling www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Synthetic cooling agents enhance nicotine reinforcement and mesolimbic dopamine signaling - Neuropsychopharmacology

Neuropsychopharmacology - Synthetic cooling agents enhance nicotine reinforcement and mesolimbic dopamine signaling

nature.com

Fun time celebrating Herman and Rupprecht lab student Ericka's bday with wisdom and sugar 🧁🧁🧁🧁

Dying. DYING.

Opinion: I Was Not Allowed To Type Prompts Into ChatGPT During My Chalk Talk And This Is Discrimination

By Dr. Rachel Simmons, Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University

inpreparation.substack.com

Hey #RSA2026 come check out @juliamitchell.bsky.social 's poster tonight to see cool data on the effects of alcohol and nicotine 🧠🍸🚭

Thousands of NC teachers from around the state and their allies marched in Raleigh to demand that the NC Republican leaders stop blocking a budget with increased teacher salaries. Invest in education and invest in our future. www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

Thousands from across NC join teachers protest in Raleigh. Catch up on Friday’s rally

NCAE said thousands of educators and public education supporters joined Friday’s “Kids Over Corporations” march in Raleigh.

newsobserver.com

I am looking for a new reserach technician. This is an entry level position ideal for a graudating senior. Please re-post and send candidates my way! zoemce@email.unc.edu

So fun to be part of such a rockstar panel with @rcbagot.bsky.social @mayoonthebrain.bsky.social and Friede Holze. If you look carefully you can see @deffinger.bsky.social 👀 whose beautiful work is now in press at Nature Communications 🧠

Liisa Galea@liisagalea.bsky.social · 3mo ago

up next with Sex-specific effects of psilocybin ? @melissaherman.bsky.social the imp of preclinical work because no expectation bias exists! Melissa looks at PVT paraventricular nucleus of thalamus. In humans 5HT7 increases with psilocybin in animals? More cfos+ in PVT in females but not males

Supreme Court Overturns ‘Right v. Wrong’ https://theonion.com/supreme-court-overturns-right-v-wrong-1819573211/

So excited to see this out! More evidence of sex-specific effects of psychedelics 🧠🧠🧠

Bertoglio lab (FMC/UFSC)@bertogliolab.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Sex-specific increased reactivity of the PVT and prolonged PVT→CeA circuit engagement following psilocin administration www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The lab decided to do some cloning for my birthday 🤣🤣🤣 Getting older can be rough, but getting to do it surrounded by such fun, kind, and hilarious people makes it all worth it

Fun lab hang to celebrate an outstanding senior honor's thesis defense by superstar undergrad Arushi🧠

I’m just frustrated with how cog neuro loves to move fast and break things while standing on the shoulders of preclinical animal work, while in parallel also saying look we don’t need preclinical animal work anymore because in cog neuro we can move fast and break things.

In a @fens.org article, based on an interview with @tvvde.bsky.social, neuroscientists Michelle Monje and Frank Winkler, the 2025 Brain Prize winners, made clear that animal research remains essential to their work. 🔗 www.eara.eu/news/brain-p... #AnimalResearch #Brain #BrainPrize #neuroscience #mice

EARA | News - Brain Prize winners assert animal research as irreplaceable

2025 Brain Prize winners, Michelle Monje of Stanford Medicine and Frank Winkler of Heidelberg University Hospital, made clear that animal research remains essential to their work.  In an FENS…

eara.eu

I defended my PhD 10 years ago today. That was the least remarkable thing that happened that day. Sharing something I wrote about it last year. Since then "the horrors persist but so do we." And with dignity.

Amazing visit to @uthsc.bsky.social packed full of great people, great science, and some really inspiring conversations. Thanks so much to @mhpatton.bsky.social for the invite!! So happy you have such an excellent home for your lab and excited to see what comes next🧠🧠🧠

In celebration of Women’s History Month, RSA proudly recognizes the leadership and contributions of Rajita Sinha, PhD, who served as RSA President from 2024–2025. We are proud to celebrate her impact and contributions to the field and to RSA. #WomensHistoryMonth #RSACommunity #RSA

UAB is recruiting neuroscience faculty at two different levels - come join our vibrant neuroscience community!

UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center@uabneuro.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is seeking to recruit up to 16 new research-intensive faculty as part of a major strategic investment in neurosciences. Faculty will be housed in a brand new research facility at the heart of campus, which is scheduled for completion this summer.

Amazing visit to UCLA to share some new and evolving science. So great to get to catch up and chat with old f ie ds and new ones. Thank you @massalyniko.bsky.social and Catherine cahill for the kind invitation and excellent hosting!

Nice article on how alcohol impacts your body. I spoke to author about alcohol and brain. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/w...

What Alcohol Does to the Body

nytimes.com

A history of how the #NIH came to be. The purpose of the NIH is to support science innovation. Government support of science grows the economy, brings power and prosperity to the country. This was part of the budget increase after WWI. It became our backbone. 🧪 theconversation.com/how-the-nih-...

How the NIH became the backbone of American medical research and a major driver of innovation and economic growth

The agency’s budget has grown steadily since the 1960s, fueling an industry that creates lifesaving medicines and attracts billions of dollars in investment.

theconversation.com

I was just watching this online last night (I was registered online) and it was such a good session. Anyone who hasn't watched it yet and had access to the recordings should make sure they watch it while they still have access (before Feb 16 ) Thanks to the speakers for sharing their experiences

NPP-Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience (DPN)@dpn-journal.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Recapping the #ACNP2026 study group, “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” We asked the panelists, what could NIH leadership do to be more supportive of trainees with non-traditional career paths, which is common among researchers with lived experience of mental illness?

They brought “The Muppets Show” back and it’s a certified HOOT. Sabrina Carpenter is a great first guest.

So grateful that have heard these impactful researchers offer their perspectives at #ACNP2026 . These are some of the unique voices that NIH should be supporting

NPP-Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience (DPN)@dpn-journal.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Recapping the #ACNP2026 study group, “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” We asked the panelists, what could NIH leadership do to be more supportive of trainees with non-traditional career paths, which is common among researchers with lived experience of mental illness?

Diversity supplements weren’t just for folks from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds. Eligibility extended to first gen college students and researchers with disabilities, among others Cancelling these supplements limits opportunities for the next generation of scientists, as explained here

NPP-Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience (DPN)@dpn-journal.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Recapping the #ACNP2026 study group, “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” We asked the panelists, what could NIH leadership do to be more supportive of trainees with non-traditional career paths, which is common among researchers with lived experience of mental illness?

Ongoing debate about psychological support versus psychotherapy in psychedelic trials often stems from vague definitions. Clarifying these constructs is essential for rigorous study of safety and efficacy.

If you haven't seen the judge's order grants by the release of the 5 yr old and his father that were detained in Minnesota it is WELL worth the read ... It's only 3 pages (linked and screenshots below) STOP 🧊🧊🧊🧊 storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Sadie Blue hopes all our NC neighbors stay warm ❄️🥶