People

Lab Head

Jacob is an assistant professor in the physiology department at SIU school of medicine. He received his PhD from George Mason University where he studied novel cholinergic signaling pathways in neural development. For his postdoc, Dr. Nordman investigated the neurocircuitry of aggression priming at the National Institutes of Health. Currently, his lab studies the impact of early life stress on the neurocircuitry of aggression and the role of context in complex social behavior. In his free time, Dr. Nordman likes to rock climb, cook, and play with his son Ian.

Postdocs

Jess Jacobs, Ph.D.

Keystone Grant Awardee

Jessica earned a PhD in Neuroscience from Georgetown University, where she studied primate social behavior. Her current work focuses on examining the role of limbic structures in regulating social interaction using a variety of techniques including in vivo electrophysiology, fiber photometry, pharmacology, and optogentics. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family.

Graduate Students

Magdalene Pine Adjei

Florence M. Foote Physiology Scholar

Magdalene Pine Adjei is a PhD student in the Nordman lab. Magdalene received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She is currently working on socially transmitted aggression. When not studying, she enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking.

Mikaela L. Aholt

Mikaela Aholt is a Master’s student in the Nordman lab. Mikaela obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is currently working on the role of the orbitofrontal cortex in aggression modulation. When she is not in the lab or studying, she enjoys hiking, reading, and playing card games with her family.

Undergraduate Researchers

Haresh Kittu

REACH awardee

Haresh is an undergraduate student majoring in Physiology. He is a Chancellor's Scholar and a part of the SIU Honors Program. After graduation, he plans on attending medical school. In his free time, Haresh enjoys weightlifting, martial arts, reading, and playing the piano.

Claire Rose

Claire is an undergraduate student majoring in Physiology. She is a Chancellor’s Scholar and a part of the SIU Honors Program. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school. In her free time, she enjoys painting, cooking, and working out.

Alumni

Elana Qasem - Undergraduate researcher, REACH Awardee, Florence M. Foote Physiology Scholar, and Emma Smith Hough Library Research Scholarship Awardee

Sophia Aaflaq - Undergraduate researcher, REACH awardee, Emma Smith Hough Library Research Scholarship Awardee, and Florence M. Foote Physiology Scholar

Taylor Lineberry - Undergraduate researcher

Caitlyn J. Bartsch - Undergraduate researcher, REACH awardee, Chandrashekhar Memorial awardee, CABRI fellow, and Lonnie Russell Research awardee

Savannah L. Skinner - Undergraduate researcher, REACH awardee, and Chandrashekhar Memorial awardee

Rylee Thompson - Undergraduate researcher

Claudia R. Spotanski - Research Assistant

Molly Smith - MPEE Student

Fletcher Summa - MPEE Student

Oliver Caldwell - MPEE Student

Nooshin Mojahed - Florence M. Foote Physiology Scholar and Chandrashekhar Memorial awardee

Umama Asfar - Undergraduate researcher

Alex Cooley - Undergraduate researcher