We study how experience shapes aggression—whether it’s early life stress, traumatic events, or learned patterns of behavior—and we’re on a mission to uncover the brain circuits behind it. While it’s well known that adversity in early life can lead to chronic aggression, the specific neural pathways that link experience and behavior remain a mystery. That’s where we come in. 

Our lab combines state-of-the-art techniques—including viral vectors, fiber photometry, optogenetics, chemogenetics, electrophysiology, and detailed behavioral analyses—to dissect the neural circuits that drive maladaptive aggression. From synaptic plasticity to circuit-level changes, we aim to understand how experience rewires the social brain. 

Our team is a dynamic group of neuroscientists with diverse backgrounds, united by a shared curiosity about how the brain encodes and expresses social behavior under stress. We're especially interested in identifying novel therapeutic targets that could one day help prevent or reverse the long-lasting effects of traumatic and learned aggression. 

We’re passionate about science, collaboration, and communication. Thanks for stopping by—feel free to reach out if you’d like to learn more or explore ways to work together.