Members of the Grippo Lab
Current Team Members
Angela Grippo, PhD, Principal Investigator
My name is Angela Grippo. I am a Professor of Psychology at NIU. I received a BS from Drake University (1998), and a MA (2000) and PhD (2003) from the University of Iowa. I completed two postdoctoral fellowships, at Loyola University Medical Center (2003-04) and the University of Illinois at Chicago (2004-08). In 2008, I joined the Department of Psychology at Northern Illinois University. The research program in the Grippo Lab is focused on the association between mood disorders and heart disease, and also mechanisms involved in social stress, emotion, behavior, and physiology. In my free time, I spend time with my husband and son, and I enjoy traveling and outdoor activities.
Alex Amidei, BS, Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistant
My name is Alex Amidei. I am a post-baccalaureate research assistant in multiple labs at NIU. I have been working in research ever since I graduated with a BS of psychology in 2021. My current plan is to continue working in research with Angela Grippo and others in an effort to enter a graduate program and continue my education. I have been working in the Grippo lab ever since October of 2021 and have greatly enjoyed the varied experience that it has offered thus far. I look forward to all the continued work the lab has to offer!
Alex joined the lab in the fall of 2021. He received funding through NIH, and has been assisting with our research focused on stress, emotion, the immune system, and aging.
Alex joined the lab in the fall of 2021. He received funding through NIH, and has been assisting with our research focused on stress, emotion, the immune system, and aging.
Nathan Campbell, BS, Graduate Research Assistant
My name is Nathan Campbell. I received a BS in Psychology from NIU in 2023. My research interests include the neurobiology of stress, emotion and spatial navigation. My current curiosity lies within the neurobiology of vicarious stress, and how this stress is transferred between animals. When I have free time, I like to read books and manga, watch anime, play video games as well as the piano.
Nathan joined the lab during the summer of 2023. He is receiving funding through the NIU Great Journeys Program. He is assisting with studies focused on social buffering of stress, and is preparing his MA research project focused on vicarious stress and physiology.
Nathan joined the lab during the summer of 2023. He is receiving funding through the NIU Great Journeys Program. He is assisting with studies focused on social buffering of stress, and is preparing his MA research project focused on vicarious stress and physiology.
Yessenia Chavez, BS, Graduate Research Assistant
My name is Yessenia Chavez, and I am a graduate student in the Neuroscience and Behavior training program. I graduated with my bachelor’s in psychology at Illinois State University in December of 2021. I am interested in anxiety and stress and how they can manifest themselves physically and neurologically.
Yessenia joined the lab in the fall of 2022. She is receiving funding through the NIU Great Journeys Program and the Department of Psychology. She is assisting with studies of stress, inflammation, and mental health, and she recently completed her MA thesis focused on stress and anxiety.
Yessenia joined the lab in the fall of 2022. She is receiving funding through the NIU Great Journeys Program and the Department of Psychology. She is assisting with studies of stress, inflammation, and mental health, and she recently completed her MA thesis focused on stress and anxiety.
Elitzia Ocasio, Undergraduate Research Assistant
My name is Elitzia Ocasio. I am a sophomore majoring in psychology with a minor in biology and Spanish. After my undergrad, I hope to attend Physician Assistant (PA) school and spend some time specializing in psychology and obstetrics and gynecology. Growing up I’ve learned that I really enjoy the patient care aspect of medicine and science. However, I do see myself going back to school to pursue a doctorate in psychology and focus on research. I’m so excited to work with Dr. Grippo and learn more about the complexity of our brains and what happens when stress is involved.
Elitzia joined the lab during the spring of 2024. She has been assisting with our research focused on music and cognitive function, and research on the interactions of stress and social support.
Elitzia joined the lab during the spring of 2024. She has been assisting with our research focused on music and cognitive function, and research on the interactions of stress and social support.
Laboratory Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows
Neal McNeal, PhD
2008-2016
Dr. McNeal joined the Grippo Lab in 2008 as a graduate student. He completed his PhD in 2015, and remained on the team as a postdoctoral fellow. His research focused on the behavioral, neuroendocrine, and cardiovascular consequences of disrupting social bonds using the prairie vole model, as well as the potential protective effects of antidepressant treatment. He is an author on multiple joint publications, and is the first author on recent publications in Social Neuroscience (2018) and Autonomic Neuroscience (2019). He has contributed to several presentations, and is the first author on conference presentations such as for the Society for Neuroscience and Experimental Biology. He has won several awards as a student, including a Dissertation Completion Fellowship and an Outstanding Graduate Student Award from NIU. He now works as a Research Psychologist for the United States Navy (currently stationed in Maryland).
Melissa-Ann Scotti, PhD
2010-2014
Dr. Scotti was a postdoctoral fellow in the Grippo Lab from 2010-2014. Her research explored the role of oxytocin and other hormones in the link between depression and heart disease. She is an author on multiple publications, and had an NIH Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. She is the first author on a publication in Hormones and Behavior (2015) and several presentations at conferences, including Experimental Biology, Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, and the Illinois Brain, Behavior and Immunity Conference. She now works in the Human Research Protection Office at Northwell Health (New York, NY).
Graduate Students
Oreoluwa Akinbo, MA
2017-2022
Ore was a graduate student in the lab from 2017-2022. She assisted with our ongoing studies focused on stress, behavior, and the brain. Her master's project used the prairie vole model to investigate how mild stress during early life may protect against behavioral and endocrine consequences of social stress later in life. She is a first author on a publication in Affective Science (in press). She received awards for her research, including the Gladys M. Gunther Scholarship from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at NIU and a Diversity Travel award from Midwestern Psychological Association. She is currently completing her PhD in Dr. Matuszewich's laboratory in the Department of Psychology.
William Colburn, MA
2012-2016
Wil was a graduate student in the Grippo Lab from 2012-2016. He assisted with studies of social stress and behavior. He is an author on joint publications and several conference presentations, including the first author on poster presentations at the Experimental Biology Conference and Animal Behavior Conference. He received his MA degree in 2016. He now works in the Office of Clinical Research at Indiana University (Indianapolis, IN).
Emily Dyba, BS
2021-2022
Emily was a graduate student from 2021-2022. She assisted with our research focused on the potential benefits of exercise in protecting against behavioral and cardiovascular consequences of social stress.
Dmitry Kovalev, BS
2020-2022
Dmitry was a graduate student in the lab from 2020-2022. He assisted with studies of stress, behavior, and the brain. He is currently in a PhD training program at Rosalind Franklin University (Chicago, IL).
Marigny Normann, MA
2016-2020
Marigny was a graduate student in the Grippo Lab from 2016-2020. Her research focused on the developmental consequences of social stress. She is an author on several publications and presentations, including the first author on publications in Psychosomatic Medicine (2018) and Social Neuroscience (2021). She received her MA degree in 2020, and is currently working in research at the University of Pittsburgh.
Joshua Wardwell, PhD
2010-2016
Josh was a graduate student in the Grippo Lab from 2010-2016. His research focused on stress and social behavior, especially the mechanisms underlying vicarious stress. He is an author on several publications and presentations, including the first author on a publication in Stress (2020), and on posters at the Chicago Chapter Society for Neuroscience Conference and the Experimental Biology Conference. He received his PhD in 2016. He is a Science Team Leader at St. Lucie West School (Port St. Lucie, FL), and also is a Freelance Scientific Editor for Cactus Global Communications and Accdon.
Post-Baccalaureate, Undergraduate, and High School Assistants
Emily Aberson, 5/2010-8/2010
Stephanie Allen, 5/2009-5/2010
Sue Bates, 5/2009-5/2011
Heather Giless, 5/2010-7/2010
Ryan Groch, 8/2019-5/2020
Nicole Holzapfel, 5/2017-12/2018
Bill Homan, 1/2010-8/2010
Erica Hymen, 5/2009-8/2009
Elliott Ihm, 8/2012-8/2014
Nalini Jadia, 8/2011-5/2014
Blessy Johnson, 10/2015-12/2016
Leigha Johnson, 1/2011-5/2011
Alison Knecht, 8/2011-5/2012
Meagan LaRocca, 8/2009-12/2011
Kristy Lenher, 1/2013-7/2013
Jessica Linley, 6/2022-6/2023
Meredith McCormick, 1/2017-5/2017
Vitoria McDaniel, 1/2009-5/2010
Tommy Miller, 5/2019-12/2020
Reilly Mitchell, 8/2018-12/2019
Deirdre Moenk, 8/2009-8/2010
Rachel Murphy, 8/2011-5/2013
Kal Nastek, 8/2018-8/2019
Brett Pinkepank, 8/2009-12/2010
Kristin Preihs, 5/2010-8/2011
Rachel Schultz, 7/2012-5/2013
Megha Sharma, 1/2012-5/2012
Tanya Sheth, 6/2019-12/2019
Stephanie Steel, 8/2011-5/2012
Samantha Sujet, 5/2017-6/2018
Amir Toghraee, 11/2013-5/2014
Diane Trahanas, 8/2009-8/2010
Loren Weese, 1/2010-5/2011
Trevor Wisniewski, 10/2014-5/2016
Matthew Woodbury, 3/2013-11/2015
Other Pictures
|