People

Our lab studies the brain basis of behavior, integrating ecological, evolutionary and neuroscience perspectives in this work . Our primary research is focused on the neurobiological mechanisms supporting "sociality", a.k.a. life in social groups—using diverse species to assess the universality of specific underlying pathways. We also study sex bias in the use of female and male research subjects, and several other topics

      

At right (lab slide show)

Potential graduate students and postdocs: Contact Annaliese to find out if we're recruiting!

Potential undergraduate research assistants: Please see our new research interest form and/or apply to postings through the URAP portal!

Annaliese Beery, Ph.D

Associate ProfessorShe/herabeery at berkeley.eduOffice: 4098 VLSB, (510) 859-7224‬

Dr. Beery did her undergraduate work at Caltech/Williams College, completed graduate work at UC Berkeley, and was a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar (postdoctoral fellow) at UCSF and UC Berkeley. In 2010 she began a faculty position at Smith College and in 2021 returned to UC Berkeley.  Before graduate school she taught high school Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science, and worked as a software engineer. She still likes to wear hats from different disciplines.  Outside of the lab, Dr. Beery takes care of two humans, 8 chickens, and one cat, and occasionally throws pots.

Graduate Students/Postdocs

Kelley Power (she/her)

Kelley joined the Beery Lab as a PhD student in 2021. She is interested in the mechanisms underlying sociality in seasonally social voles. Before coming to Berkeley, Kelley graduated from Smith College with a degree in Neuroscience. 

Georgia Young (she/her)

Georgia joined the Beery Lab in 2021, and is interested in hormonal changes throughout development. She previously worked with the Amboseli Baboon Project, and graduated from Duke University in 2020

Lexi Black (she/her)

Lexi joined the lab in 2022 as a PhD student. She is interested in studying the neural mechanisms of social reward in prairie voles and other small mammals. Previously, Lexi studied the behavioral and neurological impacts of social stress in California mice at the Trainor lab, UC Davis.  In her free time, Lexi enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and exploring the bay area with her dog.

Daniel Chang Kuo (he/him)

Danny joined the lab in 2024 as a PhD student. Fascinated by the importance of social relationships for animals' health, fitness, and mental well-being, he is excited to explore the biological mechanisms that underlie those relationships. Before joining the Beery lab, he researched mouse social behavior in the Sheehan Lab at Cornell University. 

Research Specialists/Research Assistants

Dante Cantini, MSc

Dante joined the Beery Lab in September 2024 as an Assistant Specialist. He is interested in how oxytocin modulates neuroendocrine systems to influence social behavior. He previously Studied Neuroscience at Dalhousie University and completed a Master of Science in Psychology & Neuroscience at the University of Guelph. In his free time he enjoys running, reading, and climbing. 

Nick Testa

Nick graduated in December 2024 and stayed on to finish his senior thesis project on social behavior across different vole species and to improve lab infrastructure.

Undergraduate Students 

Gautam Naik

Jared Vlchek

Ananya Goenka

Rachel Zhao

Not (yet) pictured: 

Lab Alums

Matt Davis, PhD

Former: grad student affiliate/postdoc/lab manager 
Nikki Lee, PhDFormer: PhD 2021
Current: Assistant Professor, Washington and Lee University
Dan Vahaba, PhDFormer: Postdoctoral Fellow
Current: Director of Communications, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

Allison Anacker, PhD

Former: Eveillard Postdoctoral Fellow
Current: Senior Lecturer, University of VermontPsychology and Neuroscience

Sarah Lopez

Former: Research Assistant
Current: Medical student, University of Pittsburgh

Nastacia Goodwin

Former: Research Assistant
Current: PhD student at  UWashington, Golden Lab

Lucy Bicks

Former: Research Assistant
Current: PhD student Mt. Sinai, Akbarian/ Morishita labs

Some of our former undergrads/MA students/PhD rotations (not a complete set!)