PI
Dr. Rincón-Cortés is an Assistant Professor in the Neuroscience Department at UTD. She is originally from Puerto Rico, where she was first exposed to neuroscience through a physiological psychology course that she took during her junior year at the UPR-RUM because it sounded fun. She became fascinated by the brain and moved to New York City to pursue a PhD in neuroscience (2015) under the mentorship of Dr. Regina Sullivan at NYU and completed postdoctoral training with Dr. Anthony Grace at the University of Pittsburgh. Her lab aims to characterize normative and adversity-induced adaptations in reward-related behaviors and dopamine function throughout development. Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking, reading at breweries, dance nights, Pilates, tending to her many plants, spending time with her cat Fausto, and going on hikes/road trips.
Graduate Students
Abi is a an incoming 4th year PhD student in the Systems/Cellular Neuroscience track at UTD. Prior to joining the lab, she completed a Master’s Degree in Experimental Psychology at Angelo State. Abi is interested in studying risk factors that predispose humans (and rodents) to autistic-relevant behaviors. Outside of the lab, Abi enjoys painting, cooking, going to HOTWORX, and learning about different languages and cultures. She is currently learning Korean.
Melissa joined the lab as a Research Technician in September 2023. She previously worked as a Research Associate at UT Austin in the Epigenetic, Development and Neuroscience lab for 3 years before joining our lab. She graduated from UT Austin in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology. Her goal is to continue doing research with a focus on early life adversity and to learn as much as possible. Melissa was enrolled in UTD’s ACN Master’s program but recently joined the lab as a PhD student in Neuroscience. She loves hiking, indoor bouldering, working on puzzles and reading scary stories.
Jeffy is a Neuroscience major who joined the lab as an undergraduate student in Fall 2023. Prior to this, she had previous experience working on mental and behavioral health awareness for early childhood and families. After completing her degree, Jeffy joined the MADRE lab as a research assistant before becoming a PhD student. Outside of lab, Jeffy loves binge-watching shows, painting with watercolors and finding new restaurants.
Technicians
Christine joined the lab in June 2022. She recently graduated with a Neuroscience major and a Sociology minor on the Research and Academia track (2024). After graduation, Christine became a laboratory technician/research assistant in the MADRE lab. She plans to do research here at UTD and eventually earn a PhD out of state (she’s applying for PhD programs during Fall 2025!). She loves plants, music (playing/writing/listening to/dancing to), journaling, organizing and filming montages.
Undergraduates
Aviva is a neuroscience major and visual arts minor who joined the lab in Spring 2025 and plans to graduate in 2027. After she graduates, Aviva hopes to go to graduate school and earn a PhD in neuroscience research. In her free time, Aviva enjoys painting, crocheting, baking, and watching TV shows.
Jasmine is a Neuroscience major on the Pre-Research track who recently joined the lab in Spring 2025. After achieving her undergraduate degree, she plans to stay in research and gain Neuroscience-related experience and publications to eventually apply to PhD programs in the future. In her time outside of lab, Jasmine enjoys cooking, playing or watching volleyball, playing instruments (amateurly), and spending time with friends and family.
Fatima is a Biology major who joined the lab in Spring 2025. She is on the Pre-medical track and plans to graduate by 2028. Fatima wants to become a specialized surgeon in the future mainly focused in neurology. In her free time, Fatima likes to read novels, watching Netflix, painting and cooking.
Alumni
- Skylar Mendez, PhD student (2024-2025)
- Erin Lauraine, Undergraduate Student and Research Assistant, (2022-2025)
- Riya Thomas, Undergraduate Student, (2024-2025)
- Sasha Oak, Undergraduate Student, (2022-2024)
- Paolaenid Rodney-Hernández, Undergraduate Student, (2022-2024)
- Seher Hasan, Undergraduate Student, (2023)
- Anna Awa, Undergraduate Student, (2023)
- Zoey Fowler, Undergraduate Student, (2022)