Carina Pizzano received her B.A. in Genetics at Rutgers University. While at RU, she was an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. David Barker’s lab, contributing to addiction and pain related studies. After graduating, she took three gap years as a Research Technician in Dr. Michael Bruchas’ lab at the University of Washington in Seattle where she worked on addiction and emotion projects using imaging techniques. She now is a PhD student in Columbia’s Neurobiology and Behavior program, hoping to focus her studies on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders. Outside of the lab, Carina enjoys spending time with her dog, going thrifting, traveling, and perfecting her film photography skills.

 

Research Experience:

2020-2023: Research Technician II, University of Washington, Seattle

2019-2020: Undergraduate research assistant, Rutgers University, New Brunswick

 

Publications:

Piantadosi, S. C., Zhou, Z. C., Pizzano, C., Pedersen, C. E., Nguyen, T. K., Thai, S., Stuber, G.

D., & Bruchas, M. R. (2024). Holographic stimulation of opposing amygdala ensembles

bidirectionally modulates valence-specific behavior via mutual inhibition. Neuron, 112(4).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.007

 

Bruno, C.; O’Brien, C.; Bryant, S.; Mejaes, J.I.; Estrin, D.; Pizzano, C.; Barker, D.J. (2020).

pMAT: An open-source software suite for the analysis of fiber photometry data. Journal of

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. 201 (2021), 173093. doi:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2020.173093