Mentors

Hanna Stevens, MD, PhD

Rainbo C. Hultman, PhD

Program Start

August 2020

Research Interest

I am interested in the neural mechanisms and circuitry underlying neuropsychiatric disorders in addition to factors impacting individual’s vulnerability to their development. Fascinated by prenatal and early life risk for such disorders, I am further interested in the influence of maternal mental state on offspring neurodevelopment. Thus, I am eager to investigate the intersection of depression vulnerability signatures with maternal neurocircuitry and behavior. By gaining a greater understanding of the maternal brain at the network-level, the long-term objective of this work is to elucidate potential targets for therapies bolstering maternal resilience, thereby benefiting both mother and offspring.

Dissertation Topic

Investigating coordinated neural activity of maternal behavior and stage with intersections of stress networks and experience 

Thesis Defense Date

June 2, 2026