Lab Alumni
| |
Laren GarrettResearch Assistant Laren is a native of the Iowa City area and graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She has had the privilege of working with adults in an inpatient psychiatric setting here at the University of Iowa Hospital for the last few years. Laren hopes to use her clinical and research experience to contribute to better patient outcomes for those struggling with neuropsychiatric illnesses. She plans to enroll in a clinical psychology graduate program in the future. In her free time she enjoys reading and spending time with her dog. Laren is now a counselor in Cedar Rapids. |
 |
Amanda HeinzerlingGraduate Research Assistant Amanda is a Missouri native (go Cardinals!) and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Truman State University in 2015. She joined the Trapp lab in 2018 and completed her Master of Science in Epidemiology at University of Iowa College of Public Health in 2021. Amanda has transitioned into industry work to put her epidemiology skills to good use. |
 |
Victória Muller Ewald, Ph.D.Postdoctoral Fellow Although originally from Southern Brazil, Victória moved to the American Mid-west for her scientific training. She received B.S.s in Biology and Psychology from Luther College and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Iowa. During her graduate training, Victória studied the role of the rodent infralimbic cortex in the inhibition of cocaine seeking. In the Parker laboratory, Victória’s work focuses on investigating neural oscillation patterns in patients with psychiatric disorders and exploring the use of cerebellar modulation to rescue frontal activity. Victória greatly enjoys mentoring the students in the laboratory, and one of her main goals is to increase the number of women involved in coding. In 2020, Victória was named an INSPIRE fellow in the Dept. of Psychiatry. In her spare time, she likes to spoil her dog and listen to podcasts. Victória has moved on to a teaching position at St. Mary's College of Maryland. |
 |
Brandan Penaluna, M.D.Psychiatry Resident Brandan Penaluna is an Iowa City native. He graduated in 2014 from the University of Iowa with a Major in Biomedical Engineering and minor in Psychology, followed in 2019 with a dual MD/MBA degree. He is now a Psychiatry Resident at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He is interested in a career in interventional psychiatry. |
 |
Arshaq SaleemUndergraduate Research Assistant Arshaq is an Iowa native and has lived in Iowa City for 15 years. Arshaq joined the Trapp lab in 2020. He is an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa studying Neuroscience on the pre-medicine track. He is interested in neurology/neurosurgery and psychiatry at the moment. In his free time, Arshaq enjoys playing chess, following the NBA, and watching movies. Arshaq is currently a medical student at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. |
 |
Nathen SpitzMedical Student Nathen is an Iowa native (who still dislikes corn) and graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Psychology in 2018. After a brief stint at the National Institutes of Health as a post-baccalaureate research intern, he returned back to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, where he currently is a medical student and new member in the Trapp lab as of 2020. When not studying, you can find Nathen up in the gym just working on his fitness, binging the latest Netflix show, or planning his next concert. Nathen has moved on to Psychiatry residency in New York City. |