Principal Investigator

Screenshot 2025-10-02 at 3.31.21 PM

Heath D. Schmidt, Ph.D.

Dr. Heath D. Schmidt is the Killebrew-Censits Chair of Undergraduate Education and a Professor of Neuroscience & Pharmacology in the Schools of Nursing and Medicine at Penn. As a neuropharmacologist and Director of the Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Dr. Heath D. Schmidt approaches research on addictive drugs in several ways: 1) to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction-like phenotypes and their co-morbid disorders; 2) to identify novel druggable molecular targets that could be used to develop new medications to treat substance use disorders; and 3) to screen the efficacy of novel anti-addiction pharmacotherapies and therapeutic approaches. Dr. Schmidt’s multi-disciplinary approach combines preclinical models of addiction with molecular biology, single cell, circuit specific, viral-mediated, chemogenetic, and in vivo calcium imaging techniques to understand how the brain encodes motivated behaviors including voluntary drug-taking and -seeking behaviors.Dr. Schmidt also explores how food, especially the Western diet consisting of foods high in sugar and fat, changes the brain to produce aberrant food-seeking behaviors that can lead to obesity.
hschmidt@nursing.upenn.edu  

Post Doctoral Fellows

Yafang Zhang, Ph.D.

Yafang’s primary research interest is studying the molecular and behavioral mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. Yafang got her Ph.D. in the lab of Thomas A. Green at the University of Texas Medical Branch. After graduating from UTMB, Yafang continued her research with Dr. Heath Schmidt in 2016.  Yafang expanded her research interests to include neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying drug- taking and seeking behaviors. Cocaine addiction and prescription opioid analgesics abuse are two major public concerns. Using drug self-administration and reinstatement paradigms together with RNA sequencing and fiber photometry techniques, her current project aims to identify novel molecular targets, including GLP-1 and amylin systems, for the development of new medications to treat drug addiction and comorbid disorders. yafangzh@nursing.upenn.edu

Graduate Students

Rae Herman, Ph.D.

Neuroscience Graduate Group

Rae is a fifth year student in the Neuroscience Graduate Group. Before arriving at Penn, she graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2018 with a BS in Cognitive-Behavioral Neuroscience. Afterwards, she spent a year researching the neural basis of nicotine relapse at the VU Medical Center in Amsterdam. She is interested in understanding the neural circuits of addiction to uncover novel treatments. Outside of lab, she enjoys live music, powerlifting, and exploring Philadelphia restaurants. rherm@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Ricardo Petrilli Fortuna

Neuroscience Graduate Group

Ricardo is a second year graduate student in the Neuroscience Graduate Group. Before joining Penn’s PhD program in 2024, he graduated from Temple University also in Philadelphia in 2022 with a B.S. in Neuroscience. For the next two years, Ricardo worked studying the neurocircuitry of cocaine-context memory at the Center for Substance Abuse Research at Temple University Medical School. He is interested in the behavioral and molecular mechanism of substance abuse disorders and assessing novel treatments for such disorders. Besides science, he is passionate about going to concerts, running on the Schuylkill river trail and playing soccer. rfortuna@pennmedicine.edu

Yoonjae Lee, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

PhD Student, Penn Nursing

Yoonjae Lee is a third-year PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing), where she is mentored by Dr. Schmidt. Originally from South Korea, She earned her BSN from Ewha Womans University in South Korea and her DNP from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 2023. She is a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner in Pennsylvania with nearly ten years of RN experience. Before starting her PhD, she gained extensive clinical experience and developed a strong interest in the prevention of opioid-related adverse outcomes while ensuring optimal pain management. For her dissertation, she is using machine learning and natural language processing methods to identify and prevent persistent opioid use and subsequent problematic opioid use after surgery. Outside of research, Yoonjae enjoys playing tennis and traveling. yoonjael@nursing.upenn.edu

International Scholars

Cajsa Aranäs, Ph.D.

University of Gothenburg

Cajsa is a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden. She holds a master’s degree in pharmacology and developed a keen interest in neuroscience, particularly focusing on alcohol and substance use disorders during that period. Cajsa got a scholarship from Swedish society for medical research which enabled her to travel to the US for a collaboration between the Schmidt lab and Jerlhag Lab.cajsa.aranas@gu.se

Christian Edvardsson

University of Gothenburg

Christian is a PhD student in the Jerlhag lab at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He holds an MSc in pharmacology and focuses on appetite-regulating peptides in substance use disorders, particularly how GLP-1 and GIP receptor drugs alter neurochemical signaling underlying drug-seeking behavior. Christian collaborates with the Schmidt Lab to investigate whether these neurochemical changes reduce drug-seeking and drug-taking in preclinical behavioral pharmacology models.christian.edvardsson@gu.se

Research Specialists

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Grace Zhang, B.A.

Research Specialist
Grace graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 2024 with a double major in Neuroscience (with honors) and Psychology. She also spent significant time studying chemistry and data science. During her undergraduate years, she explored the field of cognitive neuroscience in humans, including analyzing EEG and fMRI data, competitive need studies with mice, and sex differences and stress responses in rats. Grace is interested in combining computational work with animal behavior research and neuronal activity analysis. Outside the lab, Grace enjoys watching anime and playing Steam games.zxinming@upenn.edu

Undergraduate Students

Suraj Neelamagam ’26

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Suraj is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a B.A. in Neuroscience on the pre med track with a minor in Hispanic Studies. He joined the Schmidt Lab in the spring of 2023. He became interested in the field of neuroscience after shadowing his pediatrician and learning about the complex neurological disorders that can affect patients, and is excited to study intrinsic reward pathways that occur within the brain and their effects on drug addiction. Suraj is currently a board member for Penn Autism Awareness and is a member of Penn’s competitive dance team, PennRAAS. Suraj is from East Windsor, NJ, and loves to play tennis and the piano whenever he can. surajn@sas.upenn.edu

Micah Ford ’27

Undergraduate Research Assistant
 Micah is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania planning to pursue a B.A in Neuroscience on a pre-med track. Micah became fascinated with neuroscience after making a biology research project that examined the effects of stress on sleep (and vice versa) with his peers. He joined the Schmidt Lab in May of 2023, when he completed his high school senior capstone project in the lab. Micah’s interest in the injustices of the War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration led to his desire to join a lab that helps people dealing with drug-use disorders. Outside the lab, Micah spends his time lifeguarding, wrestling, and hanging out with friends. micahf@sas.upenn.edu

Mmachi Ezigbo ’27

Undergraduate Research Assistant

 Mmachi is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a B.A. in Neuroscience and minors in Creative Writing and Medical Sociology. She joined the Schmidt Lab in the Fall of 2025 and is currently on the pre-medical track. Her interest in substance use disorders sprang from her field experiences as an EMT, and she is excited to contribute to research in treating them. Outside of the lab, Mmachi can be found watching her favorite comfort movie, cooking rice dishes, or drafting her next story. mmachie@sas.upenn.edu

Oscar Wong ’29

Undergraduate Research Assistant
 Oscar is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing double majors in Neuroscience and Health & Societies. He joined the Schmidt Lab in the Fall of 2025. Oscar become interested in the brain and behavior after working with individuals with substance use disorders. Oscar is excited to learn more about substance use disorders including the underlying neurobiology. Oscar is from New York City and can be seen in the kitchen trying out a new recipe whenever possible. oscwong@sas.upenn.edu

Lab Alumni

Graduate Students

  • Dr. Rae Herman, PhD
    • Visiting Professor, Colby College
  • Dr. Nicole Hernandez, PhD
    • Equity Specialist; CA Institute for Technology & Sciences

Visiting Scholars

  • Lucy Olcott, 2024
    • Pharmacology graduate student, UPenn
  • Camille Carthy, 2021
    • MD/PhD Student, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Research Assistants

  • Riley Merkel, 2021-2024
    • Neuroscience graduate student, Stanford University School Of Medicine
  • Kael Ragnini, 2019-2021
    • Clinical Psychology graduate student, Harvard University
  • Christopher Turner, 2015-2018
    • Post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan
  • John Maurer, 2014-2017
    • Senior Consultant in Life Sciences at Guidehouse
  • Duncan Van Nest, 2014-2016
    • Medical Doctor: Orthopedic Specialist Surgeon
  • Adrian Arreola, 2012-2014
    • Dentist
  • Dr. Thomas Hopkins, M.D., 2010-2011
    • Medical doctor
  • Dr. Blake Kimmey, Ph.D. , 2011-2013
    • Postdoctoral researcher in the Corder Laboratory at Univ. of Pennsylvania
  • Rachel Schassburger-Panas, M.S., 2009-2011
    • Research Compliance Specialist, Penn State College of Medicine

Undergraduate Students

  • Tanisha Johri, B.A. Univ.of Penn ’27
  • Austin Pothikamjorn, B.A. Univ.of Penn ’25
    • Research Assistant, Harvard University
  • Victoria Chinaka, B.A. Univ. of Penn ’24
    • Medicine at Penn
  • Enzo Lavecchia, B.A. Univ. of Penn ’24
  • Jennifer Ben Nathan, B.A. Univ. of Penn ’23
    • MD/PhD Student at Penn State College of Medicine
  • Sana Zeb, B.A. Univ. of Penn ’22
  • Suditi Rahematpura, B.S. Univ. of Penn ’21
    • Georgetown University School of Medicine ’26
  • Riley Merkel, B.A. Univ. of Penn ’21
    • Graduate student at Stanford University School of Medicine
  • Kamryn Stecyk, B.S. Univ. of Penn ’21
    • MD student at Rochester Medical School
  • Amanda Moreno, B.A. Univ. of Penn ’21
    • Harvard Medical School ’26
  • Michelle Kahng, B.S. Univ. of Penn ’20
    • Medical student, Univ. of Minnesota Medical School
  • Vanessa Weir, B.S. Univ. of Penn ’19
    • Medicine at Penn
  • Jordan Wolfheimer, B.S. Univ. of Penn ’17
    • Medical student, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
  • Dr. Kelsey Ige, M.D., B.S. Univ. of Penn ’14
    • Medical doctor: Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Specialist
  • Alycia Lee, B.S. Univ. of Penn ’12
    • Medical student, Heidelberg University
  • Blake Kimmey, Ph.D. , B.S. Univ. of Penn ’11
    • Postdoctoral researcher in the Corder Laboratory at Univ. of Pennsylvania
  • Dr. Michael McMullen M.D., B.S. Univ. of Penn ’10
  • Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins M.D., B.S. Univ. of Penn ’10