Principal Investigator

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. Schmidt approaches research on drugs of abuse in several ways: to understand drug addiction as a disease of the brain, to develop new pharmacotherapies to treat addiction, and to better understand how the brain works. 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

International Scholars

Rae Herman

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

Cajsa Aranäs

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

Research Staff

Riley Merkel, B.A.

Riley is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania (C ’21) where she received her Bachelors of Arts in Neuroscience with Honors. Originally from Chicago, IL, Riley is now a full-time research specialist, continuing her research endeavors from her undergraduate career in the Schmidt Lab. Riley is interested in the neural basis of different psychiatric disorders and how to use our understanding of the biological basis of behavior to forge new treatment interventions. Specifically, Riley wants to learn more about the complex relationship between stress and drug-relapse. Outside of the lab, Riley enjoys photography and spending time with her dog. ramerkel@sas.upenn.edu

Antonia Caffrey, B.A.

Antonia is a graduate from Bryn Mawr College (Class of ’21) where she received B.A in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. Her research interests lie in the neurobiological basic of psychiatric disorders, especially substance use and anxiety disorders. Originally from San Antonio, TX, Antonia is now progressing her research and career at the Schmidt Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of the lab, Antonia enjoys exploring Philly restaurants and you will either catch her spending time with friends or relaxing poolside.  acaff@upenn.edu

Grace Zhang, B.A.

Grace graduated from Bryn Mawr College (C’24) with a Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Neuroscience, earning Honors in Neuroscience. She also spent significant time studying chemistry and data science. Her current research interests lie in the impact of substance use on cognitive functioning, with a particular interest in applying computational methods in neurobiological studies. Originally from Beijing, China, she is currently a research specialist in the Schmidt Lab, where she is further developing her skills in neurobiological techniques. Outside the lab, Grace enjoys exploring Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs with her friends. zxinming@upenn.edu

Undergraduate Students

Austin Pothikamjorn ’25

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Austin is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a B.A. in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Healthcare Management. He joined the Schmidt Lab in 2023. He became fascinated in the field after discovering it in his neuropsychopharmacology course, and is excited to delve deeper into the neural circuitry behind drug reward and motivation. Outside the lab, Austin is an editor for the Penn Healthcare Review’s bisemesterly journal, and volunteers with KDSAP and at the Philadelphia VA Hospital. Austin is from Boise, ID, and loves to play frisbee and find new restaurants in Philly. apothik@sas.upenn.edu

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

Tanisha Johri ’27

Undergraduate Research Assistant
 Tanisha is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a B.A. in Neuroscience on the pre med track with minors in healthcare management and computer science. She joined the Schmidt Lab in the spring of 2024. Tanisha became interested in Neuroscience after neurological diagnoses within her own family, influencing her to explore neural pathways. She is excited to study treatments and the neurobiological basis behind addiction and motivational behavior. Tanisha is currently involved with MERT, Unicef, and CHOP, and is a board member of Penn’s competitive dance team Penn Raas. Tanisha is from Gilbertsville, PA, and loves to travel or cook in her free time. tjohri@sas.upenn.edu

Lab Alumni

Graduate Students

  • Dr. Nicole Hernandez, PhD
    • Equity Specialist; CA Institute for Technology & Sciences

Visiting Scholars

  • Lucy Olcott, 2024
    • Chemistry in Syracuse University
  • 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

  • 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