FLAGEL LAB - Key Persons
Dr. Shelly B. Flagel was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, came to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, and never left. Dr. Flagel became involved in research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program conducted an undergraduate thesis project under the mentorship of Dr. Israel Liberzon, and graduated with High Honors in Psychology as a Natural Science. She then matriculated into the Neuroscience Graduate Program and conducted her graduate thesis work under the mentorship of Drs. Delia Vazquez and Terry Robinson. Her thesis project examined the effects of early life stress on drug-taking behavior in adulthood. After obtaining her PhD, Dr. Flagel joined the laboratory of Dr. Huda Akil and conducted her postdoctoral training at the Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute at the University of Michigan. Dr. Flagel "opened" her lab in the Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute at the University of Michigan in 2011 and is now a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. In addition to "doing science", Dr. Flagel enjoys being the mom of two boys, the outdoors, exercising and travelling.
Jasmine is from Sterling Heights, Michigan, and joined the lab during her freshman year at the end of 2019. She is a student in the LSA Honors Program, planning to major in Neuroscience. After graduating, she hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician. Outside of her time in the lab, she enjoys watching new movies, listening to music, and taking personality quizzes. She graduated in 2023 and is staying on as a part time assistant this year.
Jaydin is from Berkley, Michigan and joined the Flagel lab during the summer prior to his Junior year in 2022. He is pursuing a major in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and a minor in Music. After graduation, he plans to continue doing research with hopes of obtaining a PHD in Clinical Psychology. During his free time, Jaydin likes to produce music, play his violin, go out with friends, watch White Chicks, keep up with the latest fashion trends, and make new connections.
Stephanie first began studying behavioral neuroscience in rodent models in the lab of Dr. Melissa Glenn at Colby College, where she earned her B.A. in Biology and completed an honors thesis on sex differences in a genetic model for schizophrenia symptoms. She then went on to get her Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College, studying the role of serotonin signaling in impulsivity and other reward-related behaviors under the supervision of Dr. Katherine Nautiyal. In the Flagel Lab, Stephanie is interested in how the balance between cortical and subcortical neural circuitry modulates cue-motivated behavior, and how this interacts with other complex, maladaptive behavioral phenotypes. Outside of lab, Stephanie enjoys reading fantasy/sci-fi novels, making art, and baking.
Job Titles:
- Research Specialist Sr / / Lab Manager
Steve began his research career at the University of Michigan, where he received a B.S. with High Honors in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science while working in the laboratory of Dr. Kent Berridge. He then obtained his Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in Dr. Peter Holland's laboratory, completing a thesis on the neural basis of sign-tracking. Steve next completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Dartmouth College in Dr. Kyle Smith's laboratory investigating the neural circuitry of cue-reward learning. Steve joined the Flagel lab in September 2018. His current research interests are focused on understanding the neural pathways mediating reward-seeking behaviors that may result in the development of drug addiction.