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Jessica F

- Research Program Mentor

PhD at Florida International University

Expertise

Neuroscience, Psychology, fMRI, neuroimaging, mental health disorder, substance abuse, developmental neuroscience, reward processing, cognitive control, statistcis, experimental design, research methods

Bio

I am a researcher at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. My work uses neuroimaging to investigate how the human brain functions when thinking and feeling. I also examine how this brain function relates to behaviors like social media use, drug use, risk-taking, and mental health. A lot of my research has focused on how the brain responds to rewards (like winning money) and what this can tell us about teens’ risk for developing drug use disorders later in life. I love science and the creative problem-solving it requires. When I am not in the lab, I like to paint and do various art projects. I also love to get outside and go hiking or paddle-boarding with my friends and dog Skyler! Although, my favorite pastime is discussing psychology, neuroscience, and human behavior with those who share my curiosity!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

The good, the bad, and the ugly of social media use among teenagers

How does social media use impact well-being in teenagers? This project investigates certain negative (social-comparison, validation-seeking) and positive (social connection, inspiration) social media use behaviors and their impact on mental health and well-being.

Cigarette smoking, vaping, and the brain

How does the brain of cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users function differently? This project will explore how the striatum, insula, and other brain regions process rewards differently among those who regularly use nicotine. This project will consider how to scientifically disentangle the impact of repeated nicotine use and the risk factors leading to nicotine use.

Coding skills

Python, R, AFNI, Linux/Unix

Teaching experience

I have mentored undergraduate students when I was pursuing my Ph.D. in graduate school. Specifically, I mentored one student who was doing a scientific project on e-cigarette use, brain function, and sleep problems. This student went on to present this project as a poster at an undergraduate conference. Now that I am a postdoc, I am currently mentoring two graduate students on scientific projects and I regularly host journal clubs, and training workshops in the psychology department. I have also given guest lectures for undergraduate courses at Florida International University and The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Credentials

Work experience

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (2021 - Current)
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Education

Grinnell College
BA Bachelor of Arts (2015)
Psychology with a consentration in Neuroscience
Florida International University
MA Master of Arts (2018)
Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
Florida International University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy (2021)
Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience

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