Collectively, our initial as well as our current findings demonstrate that estrogen and progesterone have divergent effects on memory and neurobiology in aging females. We also have newer data suggesting that the memory effects of ovarian hormone loss and replacement depend on age. Using the rodent model, we are currently testing the cognitive and neurobiological effects of hormones used by women in the clinic, such as Premarin and MPA. These complex interactive relationships between hormones, aging, and memory are a large thrust of our current work here at ASU, which began when the Bimonte-Nelson Memory and Aging Laboratory was initiated in June of 2005. We are also interested in non-pharmacological approaches to protecting the brain and cognition against age-related change. I am thrilled that recently I received tenure with promotion to Associate Professor, here at ASU. When I am not in the laboratory or teaching, I enjoy the beautiful Arizona atmosphere by spending time outdoors with my husband, Matt, and our two young daughters, Hailey and Brooke. I also enjoy painting, music, concerts and writing short stories.

I graduated from Washington High School for the year 2007 in the top 10% in Phoenix, Arizona. I was selected to join the SOLUR (School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research) program as an apprentice in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I was matched up by the SOLUR program to work with Dr. Heather Bimonte-Nelson, in order to study the effects of ovarian hormones and aging on cognition. I have just graduated Arizona State University (2011), majoring in microbiology and minoring in psychology. I have been in the Bimonte-Nelson laboratory for five years. Next year, I hope to enter medical school.

 

As an undergraduate, I attended the City University of New York where I majored in Psychology. After taking an undergraduate class in Physiological Psychology, I was invited to join a team of researchers at the New York University Hospital where I worked with Alzheimer's patients administering a battery of neuropsychological tests. I also worked with Dr. Richard Bodnar examining central opioid receptor systems and pain-inhibition as an undergraduate. As a doctoral student at Arizona State University, I first worked with Dr. Neisewander investigating the role of specific serotonin receptor subtypes in incentive motivation for cocaine. I joined the Bimonte-Nelson laboratory two years ago to pursue my passion of studying the effects of ovarian hormones on cognition, age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. On August 21st, 2009, I defended my dissertation, and completed the doctoral program in the Behavioral Neuroscience program in the ASU Psychology department. My dissertation work was done in the Bimonte-Nelson laboratory, studying how etiology of menopause and hormone therapy impacts cognition in the animal model. I am now a postdoctoral fellow in the lab studying novel models of menopause, and associated interactions with clinically-used hormone therapies.

I attended Fruita Monument High School in Grand Junction Colorado, where I also attended college at Mesa State. I received my BA in psychology with a minor in biology. My undergraduate experience was diverse as I participated in a few performing arts, was the president of the local Psi Chi chapter, and conducted semi-independent research. In my undergraduate research, I examined why humans gossip as well as the prenatal effects of cocaine on the cerebral ventricles in mice. I am currently a 5th year PhD student within the Behavioral Neuroscience program at ASU. My current interests include discovering the molecular mechanisms that underlie memory and aging, as well as how hormones interact with age to affect memory.

 

I am originally from southern California and graduated from Thousand Oaks High School. I attended Arizona State University as an undergrad and earned a BS in Psychology with honors from Barrett, the Honors College, minoring in Spanish. As a member of the Solur Researcher program, I began working with Dr. Bimonte-Nelson in March of 2006 to start work on my senior honors thesis project. This study investigated the effects of ovariectomy at different timepoints during aging in the female rat on water radial arm and Morris maze performance. I spent a semester studying language in Granada, Spain and volunteered for a medical outreach excursion to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, where I served as a student clinician and interpreter. Currently, I am beginning my fourth year in the lab. My research interests include changes in cognition associated with aging, the effects of ovarian hormone loss and changes in other gonadotropins on spatial behavior, and Alzheimer's Disease.

 

I am originally from Frankfort Kentucky and recently graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. I received my BS in psychology with honors and a minor in mathematics. In my undergraduate research I completed an honors thesis on the individual and combined effects of alcohol and the HIV protein tat on hippocampal cell tissue cultures. I was a member of Psi Chi and also participated in a wide variety of community service and intramural athletics. I am currently beginning my fourth year of graduate school. My current interest focuses on the molecular mechanism that underlie hormonal effects on memory and cognition, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

 

I am originally from northern Wisconsin. I graduated from Northland Pines High School. I attended the University of Wisconsin, earning a BA in Psychology. In my undergraduate research I worked in the caloric restriction lab at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. My senior thesis project investigated the impact of age on fine motor movements in the upper limbs of aged rhesus macaques. I stayed on at the WNPRC as a research technician where I worked on projects investigating Parkinson's, the HIV virus, diabetes, influenza, maternal behavior, and dietary restriction. I am currently a second year student in the lab. My research interests include the impact that the aging process has on cognition, the effects of ovarian hormones on memory, and neurodegenerative diseases. 

I am originally from Champagne, Illinois but moved to Arizona when I was very young. I graduated from Gilbert High School in 2006. I went to ASU as an undergraduate, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy, and I worked in the Bimonte-Nelson lab as an undergraduate research assistant. I am thrilled to have joined the Bimonte-Nelson lab as a graduate student this year. I am especially interested in understanding the effects that commonly used hormone therapies have on cognition, and how these effects may differ with menopause history.

 

I am originally from northeastern Ohio where I graduated from Chardon High School. I am beginning my third year at Arizona State University.  I am currently pursuing a B.S. in Biology: Animal Physiology and Behavior, and a B.S. in Psychology, with a minor in Italian.  I am also a student in Barrett the Honors College.  I joined the Bimonte-Nelson lab in the fall of 2009 and the SOLUR program in the spring, and have since enjoyed learning about the effects of hormones and aging on cognition.  In the future I hope to attend graduate school and further work towards my goal of researching the biological mechanisms involved in age-related memory loss.

  

I have lived in Arizona my entire life and loved every minute of it. I graduated from Desert Mountain High School in 2009 and am now enrolled at ASU. I am currently a sophomore pursuing a BS in Psychology. I joined Dr. Heather Bimonte-Nelson's lab in the Summer of 2009 and am looking forward to continuing to aid in research. After graduating I plan to attend graduate school. I am currently interested in many aspects of behavioral psychology.

  

Carmen Gammage, Undergraduate Research Assistant 

 
Itamar Grunfield, Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am from State College, Pennsylvania where I graduated from State College High School in 2007.  I am a psychology major and I have just begun my senior year of college.  I am working on my honors thesis under the dual mentorship of Dr. Bimonte-Nelson as well as Dr. McBeath, who studies cognitive psychology.  I have been part of this lab since last Spring when I began my undergraduate honors thesis, and plan to continue in it until graduation.  I am interested in many facets of behavioral neuroscience.  In my thesis I am translating some of the hormone studies that have been done in the Bimonte-Nelson lab to humans.  I plan on graduating in the Spring, at which point I intend to pursue my interests in psychology and attend graduate school.

   

Originally from Las Vegas, NV and graduating from Coronado High School in 2010, I am now an undergraduate freshman currently pursuing my B.S. Degree in Psychology here at ASU. I was accepted into Dr. Heather Bimonte-Nelson's lab in August of 2010, and have been very fortunate to work with such motivated peers. After graduation I hope to attend medical school to pursue a career in psychiatry.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++