Principal Investigator
Luis Martinez, Ph.D.
I received my B.S. in Psychology (2006) from the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY, and my M.S. (2011) and Ph.D. (2013) in Neuroscience from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. My dissertation work in the labs of Dr. Aras Petrulis and Dr. Elliott Albers focused on the role of oxytocin in regulating sexual solicitation in female Syrian hamsters. In 2013, I joined the lab of Dr. Paul Mermelstein at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN as a postdoctoral fellow. My work in the Mermelstein lab focused on the intracellular signaling mechanisms mediating the effects of estrogen on behavioral responses to drugs of abuse in female rats. Over the course of my pre- and postdoctoral training, I learned how to perform surgeries (stereotaxic, IV cannulation, gonadectomy), histology, imaging, and behavioral analyses. I now employ these techniques to study sex differences in drug addiction in my current position (2016-) as an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. When not in the lab, I enjoy biking as well as exploring what’s new to eat and drink in the Hartford area with my wife, Jennifer.
Email: luis.martinez@trincoll.edu
Office: 204 Life Sciences Center
Current Students
Taylor Mikolajczak ’25
My name is Taylor Mikolajczak, and I am a neuroscience major from Johns Creek, GA. I am pursuing a career in physical therapy and am currently researching Alzheimer’s Disease and estrogen therapy. Outside of the lab I am a captain on the softball team and enjoy spending time with my dog and hiking!
Aili Ramsden ’25
My name is Aili Ramsden and I am from Lakeville, Massachusetts. I am majoring in neuroscience with a minor in cognitive science. I am currently researching sensitization to cocaine in a rodent model of ADHD and look forward to investigating the role of estradiol on this effect. Outside of lab, I lead a group advocating for students with disabilities and take care of babies at the on-campus day care!
Spencer Rooney ’27
My name is Spencer Rooney and I am from Buffalo, New York. I am a freshman neuroscience major with a minor in French language. In the Martinez lab, I am helping research the neurological effects of cocaine in a rat model of ADHD. I am a part of Trinity’s chapter of oStem, and in my free time, I play piano.
Former Students
Luz Cumpa Gomez ’24
Luz is working as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Clinical Futures and PolicyLab centers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Miriam Kirylo ’24
Miriam is working as a Research Assistant in the Rajasethupathy lab at Rockefeller University.
Ingrid Schoenborn ’24
Ingrid is an IRTA Postbaccalaureate fellow in the Michaelides lab at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Sarah Mathew ’23
Sarah will be starting as a medical student at the UConn School of Medicine in Fall of 2024.
Cesira Barrett ’23
Cesira is currently a student in the doctor of occupational therapy program at Quinnipiac University.
Kylie Brandt ’22
Kylie is currently a medical student at Nova Southeastern University.
Grace Chouinard ’22
Grace is currently a physician’s assistant student at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Kiera Flynn ’21
Kiera has been working as a referral specialist at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center while preparing to apply to medical school.
Meg Huston ’20
Meg will be starting as a PhD student in the umbrella program at the UMass Morningside Graduate School in Fall of 2024.
Eve Larkin ’21
Eve is currently a medical student at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
Samantha McStocker ’21
Samantha is a Program Manager at Folia Health.
Christina Tzianabos ’20
Christina is a Clinical Registered Dietitian at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Amr Arqoub ’18
Amr is a Senior Brand Manager in Oral Care Innovation at Colgate-Palmolive.
Meghan Lees ’18
Meghan is a Consumer Insights Analyst at Firmenich.