Brielle (she/her) is a junior majoring in Psychology and Physiology & Neurobiology with research interests in behavior and neuroscience. She began her research career during her freshman year in the Markus Lab, after reaching out to Dr. Markus directly to learn more about his work. Since then, she has continued her involvement as a student researcher, studying how social hierarchies form and persist in female rats. In her sophomore year, she received a Psychology Undergraduate Research Grant, funded by the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, to support her independent project. She has presented her work at NEURON (the Northeast Undergraduate Research Organization for Neuroscience) and is now planning to complete her honors thesis through the further exploration of this line of research.

On campus, Brielle is active with Alpha Beta Epsilon, UConn’s professional biology fraternity, and serves as a Resident Assistant, where she enjoys building community and supporting fellow students. Following graduation, Brielle plans to pursue dental school, combining her background in science with her passion for healthcare.

Research has been one of the most meaningful parts of Brielle’s college experience, fueling her curiosity, creativity, and love of learning. She intends to become involved with even more research opportunities as she enjoys the rest of her time at UConn.