People
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sydney Trask
After completing her undergraduate degree at Kent State University, Sydney earned her PhD at the University of Vermont and conducted her postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Outside of lab, she likes to spend time outside with her family and dog, and can usually be found running or listening to Taylor Swift. Sydney is active in Women in Learning, the Pavlovian Society, the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, and the Eastern Psychological Association.
Graduate Research Assistants
Payton Robinson, MS
Payton is a 3rd graduate student at Indiana University, working towards a PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences. Payton earned her bachelor's in Psychology at Purdue Fort Wayne where she was also a member of their women's track and field team. She earned her M.S. in Neuroscience and Behavior from Purdue University under Dr. Sydney Trask. Her work in the Trask Lab investigates age-related changes in memory and learning processes that coincide with changes in neural function produced by aging. In her free time, she's probably hanging with her baby, Roman, husband Aubin, and 3-year-old beagle-hound Aloe.
Research Technicians
Christabel Nyarko, BS
Christabel is a neuroscience graduate from Indiana University with a passion for understanding the brain and improving healthcare systems. She’s also interested in data analytics and how technology can enhance patient outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, and traveling to experience new cultures and cuisines.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Isra Badar
Isra is entering her sophomore year of undergrad at IU as a Biology major. She enjoys watching sitcoms, reading mystery novels, and hanging out with her friends and family!
Sam Fable
Samantha is a Junior Neuroscience major at Haverford College, visiting from the lab of Dr. Patrese Robinson-Drummer. In her free time she likes to listen to musicals and bake.
Honorary Trask Lab Members
Dr. Nicole Ferrara
Nicole completed her undergraduate work at Albion College before earning her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Nicole is currently an Assistant Professor in the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics within the Center for Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders.
In her lab, Dr. Ferrara and her trainees study the impact of environment on innate and learned fear and social behaviors as well as the neural mechanisms that underlie these changes.
Lab Photos
