SBN Online Research Symposium
SBN Online Research Symposium Committee
The SBN ORS is comprised of trainee researchers (graduate students, post-docs) across diverse behavioral neuroendocrinology labs. The ORS committee is overseen by the SBN membership committee including Dr. Matthew Paul (University at Buffalo), Dr. Wendy Saltzman (University of California, Riverside), Dr. Stephanie Correa (UCLA) and Dr. Damian Zuloaga (University at Albany).
Dr. Victoria (Tori) Riesgo (co-chair) (she/her) is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Cuarenta Lab at the University of Michigan, studying the interactions of genes, sex, development, and early life adversity. She graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a B.A. in Psychology in 2019, where she studied the influence of neuropeptides on rodent maternal behavior in the D’Anna-Hernandez lab. Upon joining the lab of Dr. Jari Willing at Bowling Green State University, Tori began work investigating the effects of two common environmental factors, endocrine-disrupting phthalates and maternal infection, on neurodevelopment. Tori obtained her PhD from BGSU in 2025, and her dissertation research focused on the role pubertal hormones play in shaping the development of the neurons in the rat midbrain, identifying that pubertal onset coincides with perineuronal net formation in the ventral tegmental area. She is passionate about student mentorship and as a Chicana first-generation academic, she is dedicated to increasing accessibility and inclusivity within neuroscience, guiding similarly under-represented learners through the landscape of higher education with the goal of increasing retention and academic success.
Dr. Dario Aspesi (co-chair) is a postdoctoral fellow in the labs of Drs. Elliott Albers and Debra Bangasser at Georgia State University. He graduated from the University of Turin (Italy) in 2017 with an M.Sc. in Evolution of human and animal behavior. Under the supervision of Professor GianCarlo Panzica, Dario’s master’s thesis focused on the behavioral and neuroendocrine effects of neonatal stress on the onset of activity-based anorexia (ABA) in male and female rats. After graduation, Dario transferred to the University of Guelph (Canada) where he earned a Ph.D. in Psychology and Neuroscience in the laboratory of Dr. Elena Choleris. His PhD thesis focused on the rapid effects of sex steroids on cognition and aggression in male mice. Therefore, as a postdoc In Debra Bangasser’s lab, Dario aims to investigate the effects of the neonatal environment on the production of steroids in the brain (neurosteroidogenesis) and the behavioral implication of this interaction. He also works as a postdoc in Elliott Albers’ laboratory at GSU where he studies the modulation of neuroendocrine pathways by steroids in the regulation of social behaviors in hamsters. Dario’s career goals include becoming a principal investigator and developing his own line of research into how local steroid production in the brain is implicated in normal and abnormal behavior. Dario is passionate about fostering a more inclusive and diverse scientific community, with a particular commitment to supporting LGBTQIA individuals in science. He is dedicated to creating welcoming and equitable environments, advocating for greater representation, and empowering the next generation of diverse scientists to thrive in academia and beyond.
Dr. Alyse Maksimoski (secretary) (she/they) is an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Devaleena Pradhan’s lab at Idaho State University studying the neuroendocrinology of naturally occurring protandrous (male to female) sex change in bluebanded gobies, Lythrypnus dalli. Dr. Maksimoski graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Zoology. During her undergraduate and postbac experiences, she studied the social behaviors of honeybees, spotted hyenas, North American rodents, and kinda baboons. They earned their doctorate with Dr. Lauren Riters at the University of Wisconsin-Madison quantifying the neurobiology of individual differences in social valence in European starlings. Dr. Maksimoski then transitioned to Idaho State University to work under Dr. Lizbeth de la Cruz Ramirez studying the impacts of aging in mice on sympathetic innervation of pancreatic islets before beginning her current position with Dr. Pradhan in the spring of 2025 and was awarded the prestigious NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (PRFB) to conduct her research. She is a staunch advocate for justice in the ivory tower and beyond. She has mentored over 20 trainees in her career and has consistently made representation and retention of women and underrepresented students a priority, most of whom are authors on posters and publications. Dr. Maksimoski is a 2024 SBN Elsevier Award recipient and has served as the ORS Committee Secretary since its inception in 2024.
Dr. Emily Wright is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Lin Tian at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. She completed her undergraduate studies at UC Davis, where she fell in love with neuroendocrinology as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Karen Bales. She continued her academic journey at UC Davis, where she pursued her doctoral studies under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Trainor. Dr. Wright's dissertation work identified puberty as an important organizational period for testosterone to reduce both behavioral and neuronal responses to social stress in adult male California mice. Her current research employs the genetically-encoded serotonin indicator, iSeroSnFR2.0, to understand how antidepressant drugs modulate endogenous serotonin release during freely moving behavior. Dr. Wright is deeply committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment in the scientific community, especially for trainees. She also recognizes the importance of making scientific events accessible to those who have barriers to travel. Inspired by the exceptional mentorship she received early in her career, she prioritizes mentorship both within and outside of the lab.
Sophia Rogers is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the Bales Lab at the University of California, Davis, where her research focuses on the comparative neurobiology of monogamy and pair-bonding. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Riverside in 2021 and transitioned directly into her doctoral training at UC Davis. Her research examines the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms underlying adult social relationships, with a particular interest in how early-life conditions shape later outcomes. Her current work investigates the behavioral effects of prenatal THC exposure in prairie voles, a model species for studying social bonding. Beyond her research, Sophia is deeply committed to mentorship, outreach, and broadening participation in STEM. She has been actively involved with the STEM Away program, supporting students from diverse backgrounds in accessing research opportunities and navigating academic pathways. She also works closely with younger students through outreach and educational programs, fostering early interest in science and creating engaging, supportive learning environments. Inspired by the mentors who shaped her own journey, Sophia is passionate about encouraging young girls to pursue careers in science.
Christie Dionisos (she/her) is a 5th year Neuroscience PhD student in Dr. Peg McCarthy’s lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore (UMB). Her dissertation research focuses on sex specific effects of gestational THC exposure on the developing amygdala, social play behavior, and maternal behavior. Christie received her B.S./B.A. from Union College in 2019, double majoring in Neuroscience and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s studies. Her undergraduate thesis investigated the interplay between neurological sex differences and socially constructed enforcements of gender that shape society’s understanding of sex differences in the brain. Christie is the current president of the Neuroscience Outreach and Volunteer Association at UMB, which provides neuroscience exposure to grade school students in the Baltimore area with the hope of inspiring the next generation of scientists. She also is the host of the Neuro Networks podcast at UMB which highlights diverse perspectives within the local neuroscience community. Beyond her PhD, she hopes to become involved in science advocacy, bridging gaps between laboratory research and policymakers, highlighting the importance of sex and hormone-specific medicine.
Dr. Celine Camon is a first year postdoctoral fellow in the Zuloaga Lab at Albany Medical College. Celine graduated from University College Dublin in Ireland with a BSc in Physiology in 2019 and subsequently relocated to New Zealand to join the Garratt and Campbell labs at the Centre for Neuroendocrinology for her PhD. A large proportion of Celine’s PhD, including a six-month Visiting Scholar Exchange in the Correa Lab at the University of California, Los Angeles, focused on whether the exclusive delivery of estradiol to the brain could provide protection against metabolic dysfunction in ovariectomized female mice. Now in her postdoctoral research, Celine is continuing to exclusively target the brain with estrogen, with a specific focus on cognition and memory in clinically relevant mouse models of perimenopause and menopause. Celine is extremely passionate about female health and undertaking research which can eventually translate to improvements in menopausal care. Endlessly grateful for the outstanding mentorship she has received, Celine is passionate about mentoring trainees and inspiring the next generation of neuroendocrinologists and is a member of Albany Region’s Brain Bee committee.
Bridgette Weiss is a 3rd-year PhD candidate in Dr. Alexa Veenema’s Neurobiology of Social Behavior lab at Michigan State University. She completed her undergraduate studies also at Michigan State, earning a B.S. in neuroscience with a minor in pharmacology and toxicology. Her current project revolves around characterizing social behaviors and the vasopressin system within the diurnal Nile Grass Rat, a potential novel translational model of social behavior. Beyond the lab, Bridgette enjoys engaging in scientific communication with the broader community through outreach events. Additionally, she aims to improve access to scientific discussion for trainees and community members, alike.
Gianna Perugini is a first-year PhD student in Dr. Melissa Holmes’ Social Neuroscience Lab at the University of Toronto, where she studies the neurohormonal mechanisms underpinning behavior in the eusocial naked mole-rat. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Canisius University, with minors in animal behavior and neuropsychology. During her undergraduate training, Gianna completed an honors thesis examining the neurobiology of hypersexuality, with a focus on dopaminergic regulation of sexual behavior and the challenges of defining, diagnosing, and treating hypersexuality. In addition, she investigated mating behavior in captive polar bears and contributed to research on how testosterone levels in humans differ across social and non-social contexts. Her current doctoral research focuses on the dopaminergic modulation of behavior in naked mole-rats, with the broader goal of understanding how neuroendocrine systems shape motivation, social behavior, and decision-making. Beyond her research, Gianna is committed to supporting undergraduate engagement and development in science. She serves as an undergraduate mentor at the University of Toronto and volunteers as a reviewer for the SPARK Health journal, a peer-reviewed journal aimed at increasing undergraduate access to publication opportunities and research.
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Dr. Eliana (Ellie) Aerts (she/her) is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Matt Butler’s lab at Oregon Health and Science University studying the neuroendocrine connection between nutrition and fertility. Dr. Aerts graduated with a Bachelors in Chemistry from The College of New Jersey where her research focused on developing targeted inhibitors for the biosynthesis juvenile hormone in Lepidopteran insects. She then transitioned to West Virginia University’s Biomedical Sciences program where she gained her PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology in the lab of Dr. Stan Hileman. Dr. Aerts received a 2021 USDA NIFA Predoctoral fellowship for her dissertation research investigating neuroendocrine control of the timing of puberty onset using a sheep model. Her current work focuses on how meal timing contributes to infertility in a mouse model of shift work. She is a 2025 SBN Elsevier Award recipient.
Former ORSC members
Dr. Aaron Fleisher, PhD (2024-2026)
Dr. Laila Ouldibbat, PhD (2024-2026)
Dr. Brigitta Bonaldo, PhD (2024-2026)
Sunny Qureshi (2025-2026)
Dr. Krystyna Rybka, PhD (2024-2025)