Professional Background & Interests
I love teaching, and exploring how networks of linked neurons and glia underlie perception, cognition and behavior. My dissertation in Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU examined nicotine effects on spatial attention, time perception and boredom in non-smokers. Some earlier (pre-2001) studies of nicotine reported cognitive improvements, but assessed changes in habitual smokers, where results may have been related to withdrawal relief. I completed this research in Dr. Barry Oken's lab.
In addition to teaching neuroscience in Psychology at Portland State University, I supervise an OHSU graduate teaching practicum, and routinely bring extra brains (rat, monkey, human) into academic priority K-12 classrooms, houseless youth centers, coffee shops, youth correctional facilities, art museums and pubs. I helped develop PSU’s innovative new interdisciplinary neuroscience minor. I’m fascinated by the power of art to engage students in STEM fields, and several of my courses and outreach efforts involve art projects, and collaboration with artists and arts institutions.
Along with artist, educator and fellow PSU faculty member Jeff Leake, I co-founded Northwest Noggin (Northwest Neuroscience Outreach Group: Growing in Networks, www.nwnoggin.org), a robust, creative, entirely volunteer driven non-profit (EIN: 81-3885713) that brings scientists, artists and students of all ages together to share their expertise, enthuse young people about science and art, share educational resources, and inform and excite the public about ongoing, taxpayer supported psychology and neuroscience research.
Since 2012, we've offered graduate students and undergraduates opportunities to communicate science through the arts to more than 65,000 academic priority students in Portland, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Gresham, Vancouver, San Diego, Chicago, rural Oregon, rural Washington and DC public schools! We’ve arranged free cross-disciplinary public talks and exciting music, art and research events (e.g., NOGGINFEST!) informing thousands of community members about research, and trained graduates to present their work to a lay audience. You can follow our interdisciplinary neuroscience outreach adventures at NOGGIN BLOGGIN. You can learn more about how to get involved in research yourself at What is research like?
We also partner with many local and national institutions, including Portland's p:ear houseless youth center, Portland Art Museum, Roundhouse Foundation, Dana Foundation, Oregon National Primate Research Center, OHSU Brain Institute, Regional Arts and Culture Council, MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, Kúkátónón Children’s African Dance Troupe, Caldera Arts, Latino Network, BioGift, Society for Neuroscience and the American Brain Coalition.
You can learn more at our active NW Noggin Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Please join us - check out nwnoggin.org and get involved!
Undergraduate Courses Taught
- PSY 200 Psychology as Natural Science
- PSY 347 Perception
- PSY 410 Neuroscience Outreach (for those interested in teaching science in local public schools)
- PSY 450 Psychopharmacology
- PSY 451 Introduction to Neurophysiological Psychology
- PSY 452 Advanced Neurophysiological Psychology
Professional Affiliations
- Senior Instructor II, Psychology, Portland State University
- Adjunct Instructor, University Studies (Neuroscience of Creativity FRINQ), Portland State University
- Affiliate Graduate Faculty, Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University
- Neuroscience Coordinator & C-Founder, NW Noggin (nwnoggin.org)
- Board Treasurer, Northwest Noggin
- Member, Society for Neuroscience
- Member, Teacher Advisory Council, Portland Art Museum
- Member, Grants Evaluation Committee, The Roundhouse Foundation
- Partner organization (NW Noggin), American Brain Coalition
- PSU Chapter Representative, Oregon/Southwest Washington Society for Neuroscience