Education

Doctor of Philosophy

Neuroscience

Vanderbilt University

Bachelor of Arts

Biochemistry

St. Mary’s College of Maryland

About

Nick holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor’s in biochemistry from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

He currently works as a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Dr. J Nicholas Betley where he is examining how animals learn to associate environmental cues with food rewards. Nick has a long term interest in the brain’s reward system, and particularly how anatomically and genetically-defined neural circuits determine behavioral strategy.

Nick uses in vivo calcium imaging, patch clamp electrophysiology, opto- and chemogenetics, and operant behavior to investigate motivational neural circuits.

When Nick is not in the lab, he enjoys bird watching, reading spy novels, and spending time chasing his toddler and his cats.