Laboratory for Human Neurobiology

The Laboratory for Human Neurobiology studies psychological and neurological processes. Our lab focuses on the processes which underlie behavior, such as cognition and motor skills, in the brain and how those processes are altered in disease. Our current work in Human Neurobiology includes:

  • The development and preclinical validation of instruments for the clinical investigation of the effects of interventions on disease states.
  • Exploration of the micro-anatomical structure of neurons and glia in neocortex via electron microscopy, and methods to connect these data to macro-anatomical methods such as MRI and light microscopy.
  • Educational research into the use of systems theory to improve educational outcomes in pre-college students via collaborations with local high schools.
  • Applied research in the emergency management space, merging theoretical systems in neuroscience and psychology with real-world applications in disaster reresponse and crisis prevention.

Summer Program in Neuroscience (SPIN)

During the summer of 2017 the Laboratory for Human Neurobiology hosted two students from the Summer Program in Neuroscience (SPIN). This innovative program gives high-achieving undergraduate students from colleges and universities around the country a head start in several areas of neuroscience. The SPIN program provides experiences that these students would not normally get until they entered graduate school. Lelia Rosenkrans and Brian Rezende joined the Laboratory for Human Neurobiology at the beginning of their SPIN experience. Afetr training, they and on annotating data gathered in a study on Parkinson’s Disease. The experience was rewarding for both the lab and the students, who continue to work on this project from off-campus locations as they complete their undergraduate degrees.

Learn more about the SPIN program.

Principal Investigator

thomas_kipKevin “Kip” Thomas, PhD, MBA
Associate Professor
Director of the Master of Science in HEM Program

Dr. Thomas’s research focuses on the study of human neurobiology, cognition, and behavior at the individual and group level to study societal dynamics in complex adaptive environments.