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
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.