Rita J. Valentino, Ph.D., Professor
Director, Division of Stress Neurobiology

Dr. Valentino is elucidating the links between stress and behavioral disorders such as depression, attentional dysfunction, and substance abuse. Her work also focuses on brain-visceral communication and has implications for functional bowel disorder and urinary dysfunctions.

Sheryl G. Beck, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Dr. Beck is identifying the cellular basis for individual vulnerability to stress, i.e., why are some individuals more prone to stress-related diseases than others. Additionally, her laboratory is investigating the effects of sex hormones on brain function and behavior.

Seema Bhatnagar, Ph.D.

Dr. Bhatnagar is studying the effects of chronic exposure to stressful stimuli on neuroendrocrine function and behavior. She is also interested in the neuroanatomy of central circuits activated by exposure to stressful stimuli. Finally, she is interested in the long-term effects of manipulations of the prenatal or postnatal environment on neuroendocrine function and behavior and the effects of these early life manipulations on neuronal circuits activated by chronic stress.