Conference Program

Conference  Schedule and Abstracts:

2026 University of Scranton Brain and Behavior Conference Schedule

Registration:

8:00am-9:00am

Welcome:

9:00am-9:10am: Rob Waldeck (Director, Neuroscience Program, University of Scranton) and Daniel Marenda (Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Scranton)

Keynote:

9:10am-10:00am: Lisa Gabel, Ph.D., Lafayette College, “Decoding Dyslexia: Translating Neuroscience Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration”

Faculty Panel:

10:00am-10:15am: Ashafur Rahman, Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, Wilkes University, “Dual-Compound Therapy with Rosmarinic Acid and Ferulic Acid Ameliorates Memory Deficits in Muscarinic Blockade and Alzheimer’s Disease Models.”

10:15am-10:30am: Adore Ferguson-Richards, Haverford University, “Utilizing Zebrafish to Understand How ap2s1 Regulates Habituation Learning”

10:30am-10:45am: Erin Alexander, Susquehanna University, “Sex Differences in the Impact of Beta-Endorphin on the Response to Stress and Alcohol.”

Lunch:

11:00am-11:30am

Poster session 1:

11:30am-12:30pm

Student Panels:

12:30pm-12:40pm: Skylee Eiffert, Binghamton University, “Effect of Social Isolation Stress in Adolescence on Oxycodone Preference, Inflammatory Pain, and Oxycodone Pain Management in Adulthood.”

12:40pm-12:50pm: Jocelyn Miller, Cedar Crest College, “A Molecular Assay to Quantify Differences in Neurogenesis in the Model System Rocio octofasciata.”

12:50pm-1:00pm: Anduela Thaqi, Binghamton University, “Social Isolation Selectively Disrupts the Blood-Brain Barrier in a Sex-Dependent Manner and Contributes to Vascular Cognitive Impairment.”

1:00pm-1:10pm: Rebecca Voss, Haverford University, “5-HTR2 serotonin receptor subtypes bidirectionally modulate acoustically-evoked behavior selection in zebrafish.”

1:10pm-1:22pm: Abhijay Mudigonda, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, “Evaluating the Selectivity of “Selective” Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: A Quantitative Analysis.”

1:22pm-1:34pm: Brittany Thomas, Duke University, “Exploring the Neuroimmune Landscape and CSF Dynamics in Krabbe Disease.”

1:34-1:46pm: Declan Sawchuck, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, “Education and Income Influence County-Level Medical Cannabis Certifications Rates for Cancer in Pennsylvania.”

Poster Session 2

1:50pm-2:50pm

Awards and Closing

3:00pm

Abstracts for talks can be accessed here: 2026 Brain and Behavior Talk Abstracts 

Abstracts for posters can be accessed here: 2026 Brain and Behavior Poster Abstracts