Members
Krista Lisdahl, PhD
medinak@uwm.edu
Faculty Page - View CV - Publications
Dr. Lisdahl (formerly Medina) serves as the Director of the UWM Brain Imaging and Neuropsychology (BraIN) laboratory. She completed a Clinical Neuropsychology Internship at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, as well as a NIDA-funded two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of California, San Diego under the mentorship of Susan F. Tapert. Dr. Lisdahl's main specialization is in clinical neuropsychology, addiction, adolescent brain development, and neuroimaging. At UWM, she teaches courses in Neuropsychology, Brain Development, Assessment, Psychopathology, and Drugs & Behavior/ Psychopharmacology. She is also the Chair of Women in Neuropsychology (http://www.scn40.org/piac-win.html) Subcommittee within the APA Society for Clinical Neuropsychology.
Recent Honors:
2013: Received a UW-Milwaukee Graduate School/Foundation Research Award.
November 2012: Named a Kavli Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and invited to attend the Japanese-American Kavli Fronteirs of Science Symposium.
July 2012: Received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from President Obama and the National Institute of Health (NIH).
2011: Received the NIDA Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Behavioral and Brain Development 2011 Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Chase Shankula
shankula@uwm.edu
Chase is a 2nd year doctoral student studying clinical psychology at UWM with an emphasis in neuropsychology. In 2020, he earned his B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego, completing a thesis under Dr. Karen Dobkins on the modeling of ruminative behavior. Upon graduating, he joined Dr. Pietro Sanna’s lab at the Scripps Research Institute to study the effects of HIV-1 viral proteins on substance use and metabolism in transgenic rodent models. He took an interest in brain development while also interning with Cortica Healthcare, where he assisted in monitoring the effects of sensorimotor therapy in children with autism spectrum disorders. Chase is primarily interested in exploring how biological and environmental factors interact to predispose youth to risk-taking and internalizing behaviors. He aims to contribute to the development of early detection methods for these maladaptive behaviors through neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment, aided with the integration of machine learning and complex longitudinal modeling.
Kyle Baacke
Kyle Baacke is a 2nd year doctoral student studying psychology at UWM with an emphasis in Neuroscience. He graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience from Knox College in 2016, where he worked with Dr. Andy Hertel investigating the correlates of nicotine and alcohol addiction. Following his time at Knox College, Kyle worked as a data systems analyst in the Cannabis retail industry where he developed and maintained scalable cloud-based e-commerce solutions. Kyle recently earned his M.S. in Psychological Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as a member of the Decision Neuroscience Lab directed by Dr. Aron Barbey and the Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience of Psychopathology (CANOPY) Lab directed by Dr. Wendy Heller. During his time at UIUC, Kyle collaborated on two projects for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that utilized advanced statistical predictive modeling techniques and approaches: Teaching AI to Leverage Overlooked Residuals (TAILOR) and Measuring Biological Aptitude (MBA). Kyle also collaborated on a variety of projects evaluating dimensionality reduction, feature selection, and data harmonization of publicly available fMRI data for use in machine learning models. Kyle’s primary interest is in understanding and predicting individual differences in cannabis use outcomes, particularly substance use disorder. His current research interest is in the integration of behavioral, neuroimaging, and multi-omics data to produce interpretable statistical and machine learning models to predict and understand the development of cannabis use disorder. To further this goal, he plans to leverage his experience in cloud computing to enable scalable and reproducible preprocessing and analysis of large-scale datasets.navarrog@uwm.edu
Gabriella is a 3rd year doctoral student studying clinical psychology at UWM with an emphasis in neuropsychology. In 2016, she graduated from Stockton University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Behavioral Neuroscience. Later, she received her M.S in Psychology at Drexel University under the mentorship of Dr. Maria Schultheis in the Applied Neurotechnologies lab. In the lab, she worked on a project funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, which examined multitasking performance in individuals with MS, using avocational performance task. Also at Drexel, she assisted on a project that evaluated the role of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in improving visual attention in individuals with right parietal lesions following a stroke.
Upon graduation, she started work at the Coatesville VA Medical Center as a research assistant and psychometrist within the neuropsychology clinic. As a research assistant, she worked on a study that evaluated the relationship between lifetime traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the development of substance use disorder among veterans. As a psychometrist, she worked within patient and outpatient populations with varying degrees of cognitive impairment and/or psychopathology. Gabriella’s research interests are primarily concerned with the etiology and development of substance use disorder. Specifically, she is interested in using both neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods to better understand the factors that contribute to alcohol use within adolescents.
Julia Harris M.A.
Julia is a 4th year doctoral student studying clinical psychology at UWM. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Later, she received her M.A. at American University working with Dr. Laura Juliano studying mindful strategies for smoking cessation. Additionally, she worked with Dr. Ethan Mereish at American University on studies investigating minority stressors that LGBTQ youth and adults experience and the effects on mental health and substance use. During her M.A., she worked as a special volunteer at NIDA working with Dr. Lorenzo Leggio on research investigating the biobehavioral correlates that contribute to racial disparity in relation to alcohol use among Black and White individuals.
Julia is primarily interested in researching the etiology, development, and progression of substance use disorder with a particular focus on minority health and health disparities. Julia’s current research interests include examining socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods and factors that may impact the developing brain such as neurotoxin exposure and substance use, utilizing both neuroimaging and biobehavioral/neuropsychological measurements.
Ashley Stinson
stinsone@uwm.edu
Ashley’s primary research interests include examining the impact of childhood adversity on neurocognitive development and health behaviors such as substance use and characterizing potential resiliency factors that may buffer the impacts of stress. She is also interested in examining these questions through a social determinants of health lens to inform policy work.
Ashley is currently on external practicum at the Milwaukee VA working in adult neuropsychology. She hopes to continue to pursue these research goals while working towards a career as a clinical neuropsychologist and researcher focusing on the interaction between substance use and trauma and their impact on neurocognition and brain outcomes.
Ryan Sullivan, MS
rmsul@uwm.edu
Ryan is primarily interested in researching etiology, manifestation, and maintenance of substance use disorder and affect-related comorbidities that may follow and/or precede onset. To that end, he is interested in examining these processes with neuroimaging, neurocognitive, and behavioral measures—specifically investigating brain-behavior relationships from a neurodevelopmental perspective. He is additionally interested in statistical methodology and complex modeling in this field.
Right now, he is on external practicum at the Medical College of Wisconsin working in adult neuropsychology. Ryan will continue to pursue these research goals while working towards a career as a clinical neuroscience researcher, chiefly focusing on substance use and neuropsychology in adolescence.
STAFF & RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Caitlin Nelson
Lab CoordinatorBS in Psychology at UWMErick Bernal
Phlebotomist/Data Manager BS in Biochemistry & Minors in Biology & Psychology at UWMZachary Paltzer PESC Coordinator
BS in Psychology & NeuroscienceHailley Moore
Lead Research AssistantBA in Psychology at UWMBo Malames
Undergraduate Majoring in Psychology at UWMKaylin Heusdens
BA is Psychology at UWMIsabelle Wilson BS in Psychology at UWM
Clem Schumacher
BA in Psychology at UWMKisang Yoo Lead Floater BA in Psychology at UWM
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Vivien Blecking Phlebotomist
Abby Wampfler
Lateishah Schultz
Sabrina Arassi
Olivia Andreasen
Niki Ahlgrim
Joseph McKenzie
Makayla Neely
Tierel Hood-Nellum
Kenya Guadalupe Cendejas
Miranda Paltzer
LAB ALUMNI
Kaitlynne Leclaire, MS
leclai22@uwm.edu
Kaitlynne’s current research interests include examining cognitive development across the lifespan and how health factors may influence this process. She is interested in utilizing neuroimaging & neuropsychological methodologies to better understand these changes. Specifically, she is currently working on her dissertation which examines the association between aerobic fitness and network connectivity in the default mode network in healthy adolescents and young adults. Ultimately, upon completing her PhD, Kaitlynne aims to become a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist.
Alex Wallace, MS
walla228@uwm.edu
Alex’s research interests focus on the intersection between externalizing disorders, specifically in comorbid substance use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This interest extends to how early substance use initiation and escalation affect cognition and both structural and functional brain development. Additionally, Alex is interested in how health factors, such as exercise, affect brain development of adolescents and young adults and how these changes in brain development alter neurocognition.
Alex is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychiatry for the University of California - San Diego ABCD site, and prior to was on externship at the pediatric and adult neuropsychology placement at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Alex hopes to continue to expand his understanding of neurodevelopment across the lifespan.
Megan Ritchay (Kangiser), PhD
Megan’s current research interests include examining the effects of marijuana, alcohol, and nicotine use on cognitive functioning and brain structure in young adults using neuropsychological and neuroimaging methods. She is also interested in understanding the relationship between substance use, brain structure and function, and gender, and the underlying mechanisms of these effects.
Megan completed year-long advanced externships in adult neuropsychology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. She is a postdoctoral fellow in adult neuropsychology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her predoctoral internship in the Neuropsychology Track at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Fall 2020. She aims to become a board certified clinical neuropsychologist.
Kyle Jennette, PhD
jennette3@uwm.edu
Kyle’s current research interests focus on the influence of aerobic fitness on functional connectivity in the brain and subsequent effects on cognition, especially executive function, learning, and memory. He is also interested in neuropsychological test development and novel applications of common assessments to better predict risk for, and course of, cognitive function and impairment across the lifespan.
Kristin Maple, PhD
Kristin is interested in the relationship between substance use and neurocognition and emotional processing.
Skyler Shollenbarger, PhD
Skyler's research experiences have broadly focused on addiction and substance use, and specifically how substance use impacts brain structure, functioning, and mental health outcomes. Skyler employs multifactorial approaches (e.g. neuroimaging, genetics, neurocognitive testing, self-report measures) to address particular research questions.
Tasha Wade (Wright), PhD
Tasha is interested in the neurological and biopsychosocial factors in the etiology and effects of substance abuse.
Jenessa Price, PhD
Faculty profile: https://fcd.mcw.edu/?module=faculty&func=view&name=Jenessa_Price_PhD&id=6653MCW Health Psychology Residency page: https://www.mcw.edu/Psychiatry-Behavioral-Medicine/Health-Psychology-Residency-Doctoral-Internship-Program/Core-Faculty.htmAlicia Thomas, PhD
Alicia's research focuses using the application of multimodal brain imaging to better characterize consequences of chronic drug use during adolescence. More specifically, her work examines the effect of marijuana and alcohol use on brain function and neural connectivity. Her research interests also include determining whether lifestyle factors like BMI or activity level moderate the effects of chronic drug use.
PREVIOUS STAFF
Christine Kaiver, BA
Bridgette Knecht, BA
Hailey Wirtz
Kelah Hatcher, MSW
Marin Schmitt
Megan Herdt
Angelina Lochner
Sarah Lehman, MS
Danny Mulligan, MS
Jenna Ausloos, MS
Erika Gilbart, BA
Bridget Stemper, BA
Kristen Leer, BS
Natalia Sotelo
Jose De La O Arechigo, BS
Karina Montoto, BS
MaryBeth Groth Mals, MSW
Michael Esson, BA
Mia Rudolph-Schulta, BA
Jocelyn Jarvis, BS
Allen Hanna
Sofia Mattson, BA