Current Members
Christina Ragan, PhD"I earned my PhD in Neuroscience in 2011 from Penn State University, and then I went on to do Postdoctoral research in Dr. Joseph Lonstein's lab at Michigan State University. I'm very excited to be including undergraduate students in my research program. My primary research interests are to determine 1. early-life predictors of adult sibling differences in anxiety-related behavior and physiology and 2. examine neurobiology of postpartum anxiety. Specifically, I am curious about how variability in maternal care during the early postnatal period plays a role in sibling and mother differences in anxiety found later in life with a particular focus on serotonergic and noradrenergic systems. Please contact me if you would like to know more or if you are interested in getting research experience.
In my free time I love to cook, snuggle with our cat, be outdoors, and travel with my family." |
Harika KosarajuI am a 4th year Neuroscience major from Alpharetta, GA, with minors in Health, Medicine, and Society (HMS) and Physiology. I joined the MoMMA Lab in May 2022. Outside of the lab, some of my other involvements include GT Tour Guides, Public Health Student Association, DramaTech, and Greek life. In my free time, I love to read, watch movies, see musicals, and try new coffee shops! After college, I plan on applying to medical school to become a physician. I am extremely passionate about maternal/child and women's health, as seen through my involvement and love for this lab, and I hope to work in the field in the future!
My project studies the long-term serotonergic effects of postnatal exposure to clomipramine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor prescribed to treat OCD. I specifically am studying the amount of serotonin (5-HT) in the prelimbic cortex (PrL) of adult mother rat brains after the postnatal exposure to clomipramine, which is the equivalent of the prefrontal cortex in human brains, using HPLC. We also aim to study the mRNA gene expression of 5-HT2A (a subtype of serotonin receptor) in relation to this using quantitative real-time PCR techniques. With this project, we hope to better understand the long-term biobehavioral effects of clomipramine so that physicians and patients can be more informed about this medication in order to improve the physical and mental health of both mothers and offspring. |
Mia BecharaI am a third-year Neuroscience major with minors in French and Health and Medical Science. Fascinated by the intricate connections between mothers and their offspring, I first joined the MoMMA lab in June 2022 to dive deeper into the field. Apart from this research lab, I am involved in the Neuroscience Student Advisory Council, Spreading Messages in Love and Encouragement (SMILE), serving as a Resident Assistant, and mentoring students as a first-year Team Leader. When I am not doing school, I love to travel, bake, read, and take walks with my friends!
My research journey began with the Zoo ATL project, investigating the social behaviors of mother-offspring dyads in foster and biological settings. Currently, I am examining the long-term effects of early exposure to clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat OCD. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), I am analyzing the differences in adult dopamine levels within the hippocampus of rat mothers postnatally exposed to clomipramine compared to saline. The goal of this project is to better understand the long-term biobehavioral effects of clomipramine to provide healthcare professionals with comprehensive insights into the drug's mental and social effects on both mothers and offspring. I plan to use what I've learned with these projects to deepen my understanding of mother-offspring interactions and provide optimal care in my future career as a physician assistant. |
Gracie WilliamsI am a third year Neuroscience major with a Health and Medical Sciences minor. I have been a student research assistant in MoMMA Lab since January 2023, where I joined project Zoo ATL, studying maternal social behaviors between biological and foster orangutan family units. Since then, I have expanded the project to studying the neuroendocrinology of foster and biological primate family units. My project involves both a literature review of baseline oxytocin levels involving both biological and foster mother-offspring pairs, followed up by an analysis of baseline oxytocin levels from biological samples via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The goal of the project is to provide a deeper understanding of the neuroendocrinology behind maternal behavior, with an emphasis on comparing biological and foster mother-offspring pairs.
I am both academically and personally invested in this project; I have always been fascinated by maternal behavior and the bonding between a mother and offspring, with a special interest in adoptive mother-child relationships. My other hobbies/interests include volleyball, snowboarding, nutrition, animal welfare, and music. My personal goal in this project is to provide a deeper understanding of maternal behavior, as well as apply my research and passion for the field throughout my future career as a physician. |
Aneesah ShaikhI am a first year Neuroscience major from Canton, Ga, with minors in Health and Medical Sciences and Physiology. I joined the MoMMA lab as a research assistant in January of 2024 assisting Gracie with her project studying the neuroendocrinology of biological and foster primate family units. The project involves an analysis of baseline oxytocin levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in an effort to compare biological and foster mother-offspring pairs, hoping to deepen the understanding of the neuroendocrinology background of maternal behavior in primates.
Outside of the lab, some of my other involvements include the Pakistani Students Association, Muslim Students Association, and being a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling, walking my dog, and some good food. By engaging in this research, I hope to gain insight into neuroscience at a deep level that will help me to diagnose, treat, and improve the lives of patients in my future practice as a neurologist. |