WELCOME TO THE PETERSON LABORATORY

TODD PETERSON, PHD

Primary Investigator

Postdoctoral scholar, Stanford University, 2013-2018

PhD, Southern Illinois University, 2013

Masters of Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2010

Bachelors of the Arts, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 2006

My general interest in neuroscience began in an introductory course to brain and behavior. From there I began to explore the relationship between the environment and the central nervous system while volunteering in Dr. Rodney Swain's laboratory at UWM, where I fell in love with science. From there I decided to pursue a Masters degree in Behavior Analysis with Dr. Swain where we used behavioral analytic techniques to examine the cerebellar role in complex behaviors.

During my time in the military I became very interested in traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and how the brain responds to neural insult. This led me to get my doctoral degree at SIU with Dr. Michel Hoane where we examined the effectiveness of several neuroprotective compounds in preclinical trials of traumatic brain injury.

Following my doctoral degree, I wanted to receive more training in cellular and molecular neuroscience so that I could put all of the pieces together. I joined Dr. Marion Buckwalter's laboratory at Stanford University as a postdoc to study the neuroinflammatory response to stroke. With this diverse training background I recently started my own laboratory where we examine the cellular, molecular, and behavioral responses to neural injury like traumatic brain injury or stroke.

On a personal level, I grew up in the Midwest, but I have quickly been adapting to the beach lifestyle in Wilmington, NC. When I am not working vigorously in the laboratory, I enjoy many sports including long distance running, volleyball, snowboarding, and most water sports (wakeboarding, kiteboarding, and surfing).

Personnel: Lab Members

LABORATORY PERSONNEL

STACIE BEUSCHEL

Laboratory Manager

My undergraduate degree is in Biology from a small State College in the mountains of Vermont. I began my career with Charles River Laboratories as an administrative assistant for the University Veterinarian, eventually cross-training in animal care. I joined the Environmental Pathology group at the University of Vermont in 2004, studying the mechanisms by which our body responds at the cellular level to particulate injury to the lung, most notably to asbestos, culminating in Malignant Mesothelioma a fatal lung cancer. As an animal research technician and member of the Northern Mountain Branch of AALAS, one of my passions was talking about and teaching young people about the contributions that animals in research make to the understanding of disease processes and how that very directly affects them. Every animal in research is hero. I am excited to have landed in the laboratory of Dr. Peterson, and I am so very excited to meet and learn from this great team of young scientists!

We moved to Wilmington last spring amid the pandemic but are lucky enough to have lots of family here and my daughter was born in Wilmington so for her this is kind of like coming home. We were both quite excited to trade in our snow shovels for a beach umbrella and I cannot wait to see how this chapter plays out!

JOHN H. HOLSTEN

Master's Student

I am a recent graduate of UNCW, who majored in Psychology and minored in Neuroscience. As an undergraduate, I spent my time researching the default mode network in self-related thought and emotional valence processing. My interests as an undergraduate led me to pursue a deeper understanding of how the brain works on a biological level. More specifically, I want to explore the role of how the astrocytes and neurons respond to injury, such as TBI and stroke.

When I am not doing school work, I like to enjoy my free time going to the beach to surf, walking around waterfront, and hang out with my close friends.

KIMBERLY PRESCOTT

Master's Student

I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus in 2018. During my undergraduate career, I worked with Dr. Rebecca Rayburn-Reeves and Dr. Hillary Wehe. I focused on reward and learning in humans and studied precrastination in both rats and humans. As a graduate student, I am interested in investigating the role microglia and astrocytes play after injury.

Personnel: Lab Members

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

RUCHI DUDHAT

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am majoring in Public Health with a pre-clinical concentration. I hope to attend medical school in the future, but I’m not sure what type of physician I want to become. Outside of school, I enjoy any outdoor related activity, reading, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends.

SCOTT JERNIGAN

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am majoring in Biology with minors in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Chemistry. I first got interested in neuroscience research in some of my introductory Psychology and Biology classes, and I am interested in learning more about the neuroinflammatory response. After graduation, I plan on attending medical school and specializing in emergency medicine, trauma surgery, or neurology. Outside of school, I enjoy outdoor sports, going to the beach, playing video games, and volunteering as an EMT.

NICK J. MASON

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am majoring in biology with minors in Neuroscience and Psychology. I am interested in research as a career, but I am still deciding whether I would like to pursue medical or graduate school. In the future I would like to research neurodegenerative disorder pathogenesis and novel pharmacological treatments. When I am not in the laboratory, I enjoy reading and watching movies.

Personnel: Lab Members