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 currently the Executive Director of Women in Learning, and serves on the Executive Committee for the Pavlovian Society.
Sydney is currently a Faculty Associate with:
The Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience
The Purdue Center on Aging and the Life Course
The Purdue Center for Research on Brain, Behavior, and Neurorehabilitation
The Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Program (PULSe)
Graduate Research Assistants
Payton Robinson, BA
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. 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 likes to hang out with her husband and fur baby, think about working out, and finding new shows to watch.
Research Technicians
Sean Warner, BS
Sean earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Ball State in 2017 and is currently pursuing his Masters of Science in Biology while working as a research technician. Outside of lab, he enjoys watching stand up comedy and listening to music.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Jaden Brooks
Jaden is a senior majoring in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology and minoring in Psychology. They plan to go on to graduate school and get a PhD. In Jaden's free time, they like to hang out with their cat, crochet, and listen to audiobooks.
Priya Halder
Priya is a Junior majoring in Medical Laboratory Science with minors in Biology and Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, reading, trying new restaurants, and more.
Paulina Lang
Paulina is a junior double majoring in Psychology and Law and Society with minors in Human Resources and Forensics. She plans to continue her education to obtain a PhD in clinical psychology. She enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, cooking unique recipes, and going for long runs.
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
