For her dissertation project, Toni combined functional studies of neuronal activity and assessment of behavior to determine mechanisms underlying psychostimulant sensitization. Using behavioral sensitization to the D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole, an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder, Toni generated very exciting findings implicating altered neuronal activity in corticolimbic brain regions and the locus coeruleus as key factors underlying sensitized behavioral responses. This work has important implications for understanding not only the mechanisms underlying behavioral sensitization, but also neuronal processes contributing to the development of, and changes in, compulsive behaviors. For the final phase of her project, Toni performed a detailed analysis of the behavioral manifestations of quinpirole-sensitized behavior. Toni’s work has been well received, resulting in four strong publications and an ASPET Graduate Student Travel Award to attend the Experimental Biology 2006 meeting in San Francisco where she received 2nd place in ASPET’s Division of Neuropharmacology Best Poster Competition. She was also awarded a highly competitive KUMC Training Program in Biomedical Research Predoctoral Fellowship for the 03/04 and 04/05 academic years, which provided stipend support. In addition to being strong academically, Toni impressed me with her ability to pick up new techniques, her attention to detail, her ability to work independently, and her diligence. She has strong technical skills, and has developed an impressive repertoire of computer skills, both graphic and statistical. She did an excellent job supervising several undergraduate interns. She was helpful to everyone in the lab, was well liked both in the lab and around the department, and was generally a pleasure to work with.

For her dissertation project, Toni combined functional studies of neuronal activity and assessment of behavior to determine mechanisms underlying psychostimulant sensitization. Using behavioral sensitization to the D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole, an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder, Toni generated very exciting findings implicating altered neuronal activity in corticolimbic brain regions and the locus coeruleus as key factors underlying sensitized behavioral responses. This work has important implications for understanding not only the mechanisms underlying behavioral sensitization, but also neuronal processes contributing to the development of, and changes in, compulsive behaviors. For the final phase of her project, Toni performed a detailed analysis of the behavioral manifestations of quinpirole-sensitized behavior. Toni’s work has been well received, resulting in four strong publications and an ASPET Graduate Student Travel Award to attend the Experimental Biology 2006 meeting in San Francisco where she received 2nd place in ASPET’s Division of Neuropharmacology Best Poster Competition. She was also awarded a highly competitive KUMC Training Program in Biomedical Research Predoctoral Fellowship for the 03/04 and 04/05 academic years, which provided stipend support. In addition to being strong academically, Toni impressed me with her ability to pick up new techniques, her attention to detail, her ability to work independently, and her diligence. She has strong technical skills, and has developed an impressive repertoire of computer skills, both graphic and statistical. She did an excellent job supervising several undergraduate interns. She was helpful to everyone in the lab, was well liked both in the lab and around the department, and was generally a pleasure to work with.

For her dissertation project, Toni combined functional studies of neuronal activity and assessment of behavior to determine mechanisms underlying psychostimulant sensitization. Using behavioral sensitization to the D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole, an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder, Toni generated very exciting findings implicating altered neuronal activity in corticolimbic brain regions and the locus coeruleus as key factors underlying sensitized behavioral responses. This work has important implications for understanding not only the mechanisms underlying behavioral sensitization, but also neuronal processes contributing to the development of, and changes in, compulsive behaviors. For the final phase of her project, Toni performed a detailed analysis of the behavioral manifestations of quinpirole-sensitized behavior. Toni’s work has been well received, resulting in four strong publications and an ASPET Graduate Student Travel Award to attend the Experimental Biology 2006 meeting in San Francisco where she received 2nd place in ASPET’s Division of Neuropharmacology Best Poster Competition. She was also awarded a highly competitive KUMC Training Program in Biomedical Research Predoctoral Fellowship for the 03/04 and 04/05 academic years, which provided stipend support. In addition to being strong academically, Toni impressed me with her ability to pick up new techniques, her attention to detail, her ability to work independently, and her diligence. She has strong technical skills, and has developed an impressive repertoire of computer skills, both graphic and statistical. She did an excellent job supervising several undergraduate interns. She was helpful to everyone in the lab, was well liked both in the lab and around the department, and was generally a pleasure to work with.