Abigail (she/her) is a senior majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology with minors in both Anthropology of Global Health and Molecular and Cell Biology. As a dedicated Pre-Medical student, Abigail is both deeply involved in academic and campus life. Outside of research, Abigail serves as the Treasurer for Alpha Beta Epsilon (UConn’s professional biology fraternity), a Supplemental Instructor for Organic Chemistry II, and works as a tutor for the Student-Athlete Success Program (SASP) tutoring in organic chemistry I & II, biochemistry, and enhanced anatomy and physiology. Driven by her passion to help others find their love for research, she co-founded the Undergraduate Research Society to expand access to undergraduate research at UConn, currently serving as the President. In her free time, Abigail enjoys playing basketball, volunteering, crocheting, and going to the gym.

Abigail’s research journey began the summer following her freshman year in Dr. Natale Sciolino’s laboratory in the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology on campus. Her research examines how the central norepinephrine (NE) system regulates motivated behaviors through the study of the locus coeruleus (LC), the brain’s principal synthesis site of NE. During Summer 2026, Abigail received a Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) Grant to advance her project, Decoding Natural Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine Dynamics During Taste Sampling Using Machine-Learning Analysis of Orofacial Behaviors. Her work aims to link LC-NE activity to the microstructure of taste-evoked hedonic responses, which will form the basis of her Senior Thesis, with planned presentations at Fall Frontiers 2026 and additional research symposia.

Beyond its scientific significance, Abigail’s research aligns closely with her long-term goal of pursuing a career in research-focused medicine as a physician. Through her work as a researcher, she has developed skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific communication that she hopes to carry into both scientific research and medical practice. Her own experiences navigating undergraduate research have also shown her how transformative meaningful research opportunities can be. As a Peer Research Ambassador, Abigail works to help other students discover the excitement of research, navigate the opportunities available to them, and find areas of research that spark their own curiosity.