Principle Investigator

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Ph.D. Candidate
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Jessica graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a Spanish minor from University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2020. She then received her Master’s here at UTK in 2024 investigating the effects of steroid hormones on mechanisms of neuroplasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex. As a PhD student, she is studying the effects of developmental stress on adult social behavior and how this is regulated within the brain and neuroimmune system.

PhD Candidate

awebb71@vols.utk.edu

Aly graduated with an Associate’s in Psychology from Georgia Military College in 2021, then received a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Georgia College and State University in 2024. She is currently developing a project that will investigate the effects of dietary choline supplementation and chronic variable stress during prenatal development on ɑ7 or ɑ4β2 nAChR expression in the basolateral amygdala or mPFC. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

sgrubbs4@vols.utk.edu

Sara is a Neuroscience major, with biology and pre-health minors. She is expected to graduate in December of 2026, and is currently working with PhD candidate AJ Castaneda to investigate the neural mechanisms behind the effects of reproductive experience on social and emotional behaviors. Sara’s post-grad goal is to attend medical school and study neurology, with the objective of specializing in pediatric neurosurgery.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

dsmit306@vols.utk.edu

Dylan is a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB) major with an anticipated graduation date of Summer 2026. He is currently working with PhD candidate AJ Castaneda to investigate how developmental stress influences neuroplasticity and social behavior. Following graduation, Dylan plans to attend medical school to pursue a career in neurosurgery.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

ckelly51@vols.utk.edu

Connor is a biochemistry major with a pre-med track, minoring in public health. He is expected to graduate in the spring of 2027. After graduation, Connor hopes to go to medical school with the goal of going into cardiology.

Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Shaferlillian@gmail.com

Lillian is majoring in neuroscience and is expected to graduate in 2029. After graduation she intends to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. Currently she is working with AJ Castaneda on investigating social learning between male and female hamsters with repeated exposure. Part of the research includes using keyence microscope to image brains and count PNNs.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

idavis12@vols.utk.edu

Isabel is a neuroscience major minoring in anthropology and pre-health professions. She is expected to graduate in the spring of 2027. After graduation, Isabel hopes to go to medical school with the goal of going into neurosurgery or pathology.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

csheph10@vols.utk.edu

Josie is a neuroscience major with a pre-health minor. She is expected to graduate in December of 2027. She is working alongside PhD candidate Jessica Tremblay to assess the effects of prenatal and adolescent stress on perineuronal nets in the medial prefrontal cortex. After graduation, Josie plans to attend PA school and pursue a career in pediatrics.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

mhx281@vols.utk.edu

Emma is a Psychology major with a Neuroscience minor. She is expected to graduate in December of 2026. She is working alongside PhD candidate Jessica Tremblay to assess the effects of prenatal and adolescent stress on perineuronal nets in the medial prefrontal cortex. After graduation, Emma plans to further her studies and obtain a PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a focus in Neuropsychology.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

fbq564@vols.utk.edu

Rachel is a senior majoring in Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology (BCMB) with a minor in Hispanic Studies. She works with Dr Schulz and the Lawrence Lab on PNN function in pubertal mice. After graduation, Rachel plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in gastroenterology or neurology.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

yoderserena5@gmail.com

Serena graduated with her undergraduate degree in psychology in the spring of 2026 and is pursuing post bacc research experience at Schulz Lab. Her work currently is around PNN (perineuronal net) function in pubertal field mice. Following her work at Schulz Lab, Serena aims to receive her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a goal of specializing in female sexuality. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Chargis2@vols.utk.edu 

Camden is a Neuroscience major with a Pre-Health Minor. His work focuses on the effects of prenatal stress on extracellular matrix structures (PNNs) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as well as how Alzheimer’s Disease affects anxiety. Following graduation, Camden aims to attend medical school and become a Neurologist specializing in dementia.  

Undergraduate Research Assistant

uabdulhu@vols.utk.edu

Ula is an undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Arabic Studies and Pre-Health Professions. She anticipates graduating in Spring 2028. She is participating in research in the Schulz Lab and is working alongside Dylan Smith and Dr. Schulz on a project collaborating with Lawrence University about PNN function in mice and working on most of the imaging with the Keyence microscope. Following graduation, Ula plans to pursue an MD with the goal of becoming a doctor.