Peg Nopoulos is a Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Neurology and the Chair and Departmental Executive Officer of Psychiatry.

Dr. Nopoulos’ research focuses on the study of the brain and behavior. This is done using state of the art neuroimaging techniques, specifically Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Dr. Nopoulos is interested in aspects of understanding normal healthy brains such as differences in brain structure and function between the sexes, as well as understanding how the brain changes with development through adolescence. In regard to the study of disease, her lab has investigated differences in brain structure and function a wide variety of conditions, including: craniofacial disorders such as clefts of the lip and/or palate, Huntington’s Disease and Juvenile-onset Huntington’s Disease, prematurity in infants, and Myotonic Dystrophy type 1.  Dr. Nopoulos has served as Vice Chair for Research for the Department of Psychiatry since 2011. Dr. Nopoulos will talk about her research and career path, with a student-led round-table to follow.

Dr. Sluka's laboratory studies the peripheral and central mechanisms of chronic musculoskeletal pain. These studies primarily involve the use of animal models of muscle pain developed and characterized in Dr. Sluka's laboratory. Current projects are aimed at deciphering the role of descending facilitation from the medulla in initiating and maintaining chronic muscle pain. These studies are examining the neurotransmitters and receptors that mediate the hyperalgesia associated with musculoskeletal pain using behavioral pharmacology, immunohistochemistry, and in vivo microdialysis. Dr. Sluka will talk about her research and career path, with a student-led round-table to follow.

Heather Widmayer from Scientific Editing and Research Communication Core will discuss the essentials of effective grant writing for graduate students. Presentation will be followed by an interactive portion.