S. ALISHA EPPS, PH.D.
alishae@uab.edu
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Neurobiology
Shelby Biomedical Rm 1030
1825 University Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35249
(205) 996-6933
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Emory University, Atlanta, GA (2006-2013)
GPA: 3.911
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Neuroscience Program
Recipient of Graduate Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences Fellowship
Dissertation: “Seizure Susceptibility and Epileptogenesis in Depression-Sensitive Rats”
B.S. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (2003-2006)
GPA: 4.0
Summa Cum Laude Graduate, with Honors from the South Carolina Honors College
B.S. in Experimental Psychology, Minor in Medical Humanities
Honors Thesis: “Lentivirus Mediated Gene Transfer Altering GAD Affects Seizure
Severity in the GEPR-3 Strain”
College of Charleston Honors Program, Charleston, SC (2002-2003)
GPA: 4.0
White Knoll High School, Lexington, SC (2000-2002)
Valedictorian
GPA: 4.8
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham (Jan 2013-present)
Labs of Drs. Linda Wadiche & Candace Floyd, Depts. of Neurobiology and Physical
Medicine & Rehabilitation
Objective: To assess the role of adult-born neurons/neurogenesis and G-protein signaling in
cognitive impairments and hippocampal excitability following mild traumatic brain injury.
Key Skills: Learning, memory, & anxiety paradigms, injury models, hippocampal slice patch
clamp electrophysiology, immunofluorescence, stereology, confocal microscopy
Graduate Student, Emory University (Oct 2007-Jan 2012)
Labs of Drs. David Weinshenker & Jay Weiss, Depts. of Human Genetics & Psychiatry
Objective: To behaviorally and genetically characterize a rodent model of depression,
epilepsy, and drug addiction co-morbidity
Key Skills: Microarray, qRT-PCR, forced swim test, seizure induction (pilocarpine, electrical
kindling, etc), operant self-administration, conditioned place preference
Research Assistant, University of South Carolina (Aug 2003-July 2006)
Lab of Dr. James Coleman, Dept. of Psychology
Objective: To use lentivirus vectors to alter the GABAA receptor α-1 subunit or to affect
levels of GAD65 in an effort to modify seizure activity
Key Skills: Audiogenic seizure priming and testing, stereotaxic surgery
S. Alisha Epps, Ph.D.
Summer Lab Assistant, Univ. of South Carolina School of Medicine (May 2005-Aug 2005)
Lab of Dr. Janet Fisher, Dept. of Pharmacology, Physiology, & Neuroscience
Objective: To study GABA receptor mutations causing various forms of epilepsy
Key Skills: Patch clamp electrophysiology, cell culture, transfections, data analysis
PUBLICATIONS
Epps SA, Kahn AB, Holmes PV, Boss-Williams KA, Weiss JM, Weinshenker D (2013).
Antidepressant and anticonvulsant effects of exercise in a rat model of epilepsy and
depression comorbidity. Epilepsy & Behavior 29(1): 47-52. PMID: 23933912
Epps SA, Weinshenker D (2012). Rhythm and blues: Animal models of epilepsy and
depression comorbidity. Biochemical Pharmacology 85(2): 135-146. PMID: 22940575
Epps SA, Tabb KD, Lin SJ, Kahn AB, Javors MA, Boss-Williams KA, et al (2012). Seizure
susceptibility and epileptogenesis in a rat model of epilepsy and depression comorbidity. Neuropsychopharmacology 37(13): 2756-2763. PMID: 22871911
Lin SJ, Epps SA, West CH, Boss-Williams KA, Weiss JM, Weinshenker D (2012). Operant
psychostimulant self-administration in a rat model of depression. Pharmacology,
Biochemistry, and Behavior 103(2): 380-385. PMID: 2301038
Schroeder J, Epps SA, Grice T, Weinshenker D (2013). The Selective Dopamine βHydroxylase Inhibitor Nepicastat Attenuates Multiple Aspects of Cocaine-Seeking
Behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology 38(6): 1032-1038. PMID: 23303068
GRANTS AND FUNDING
Pre-Doctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Recipient (2010-2012)
Pre-Doctoral Research Training Fellowship Recipient, Epilepsy Foundation (2009-2010)
Predoctoral Institutional Training Grant Fellow, National Institutes of Drug Abuse (2008)
TEACHING & MENTORING EXPERIENCE
Courses Designed and Taught
Neuropsychology Instructor for gifted and talented high school students at the Duke Talent
Identification Program at Texas A & M University (June 2011, 108 instructional hours)
House Call Healthcare Instructor for high school students in the CREWSIN Summer Institute
at Drew Charter School, Atlanta, GA (June 2010, 80 instructional hours)
Instructor
Instructor for Undergraduate-level Interdisciplinary Seminar on Central Nervous System
Disorders at University of Alabama at Birmingham (Fall 2013 & 2014)
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S. Alisha Epps, Ph.D.
Textbook & Curriculum Development
Editing assistant, Diseases of the Nervous System textbook, Elsevier 2015 (2014)
Curriculum development contributor, Emory Tibet Science Initiative (2008)
Guest Lecturing & Teaching Assistantships
Guest Speaker for ACCESS AL Virtual Field Trips at Alabama Board of Education Distance
Learning, “Too Sad to Swim: Neuroscience and Models of Depression and Epilepsy” and
“New Neurons and Head Hits: Concussion and Neurogenesis” (Oct 2014)
Teaching Assistant for Graduate-Level Seminar Practice in Cellular and Molecular
Neuroscience at University of Alabama at Birmingham (Fall 2013)
Guest Lecturer for Undergraduate Research Skills Workshop, “Research Ethics” at
University of Alabama at Birmingham (Oct 2013)
Teaching Assistant for Graduate-Level Experimental Design and Grant Writing at University
of Alabama at Birmingham (Spring 2013)
Guest Lecturer for Graduate-Level Cellular, Molecular, & Developmental Neuroscience at
Emory University, “Basic Building Blocks of the Cell” & paper critique (Jan 2012)
Guest Lecturer for Undergraduate Neurobiology at Georgia State University, “Emotions”
(Oct 2011 & April 2012)
Teaching Assistant for Graduate-Level Statistics for Experimental Biology at Emory
University (Spring 2009)
Teaching Assistant for Graduate-Level Basic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases at
Emory University (Spring 2008)
Research Mentoring
Undergraduate Research Mentoring for undergraduate student studying learning and
memory deficits in a mouse model of concussion (2013)
High School Research Mentoring for Center for Community OutReach Development student
studying learning and memory deficits in a mouse model of concussion (2013)
Undergraduate Research Mentoring for undergraduate student studying gene expression
differences in a mouse model of chronic noradrenergic inhibition (2012)
Undergraduate Research Mentoring for honors thesis student studying depression and drug
addiction in a rodent model (2010)
Undergraduate Research Mentoring for Summer Undergraduate Research at Emory student
studying epilepsy and depression in a rodent model (2009)
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S. Alisha Epps, Ph.D.
Community Outreach & Brain Awareness
Interview Panelist, UAB Science & Technology Honors Program, Birmingham, AL (2014)
Judge, UAB Undergraduate Summer Research Expo, Birmingham, AL (2013)
UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences Poster Session, Birmingham, AL (2013)
Brain Awareness Week at McWane Science Center, Birmingham, AL (2013)
Brain Awareness, 11th & 12th Grade at North Forsyth High School, Cumming, GA (2012)
Brain Awareness, 3rd Grade at Whitefoord Elementary School, Atlanta, GA (2012)
Guest Speaker, 5th Grade Gifted & Talented Class, Northside Elementary, Dallas, GA (2012)
Brain Awareness, 2nd Grade at Idlewood Elementary School, Tucker, GA (2011)
Brain Awareness, 6th through 12th Grade at Drew Charter School, Atlanta, GA (2010)
Brain Awareness, Pre-K through 5th Grade at Briarlake Elementary, Atlanta, GA (2007)
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Vice-Chair, UAB Postdoctoral Association Executive Board (2014)
Reviewer, UAB Functional Neurorecovery Collaborative Pilot Grants (2013)
Reviewer, Neuropharmacology (2013-present)
HONORS AND AWARDS
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science Postdoc Travel Award (2013)
Society for Neuroscience Chapters Graduate Student Travel Award (2010)
Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Involved in Volunteerism at Emory
Community Service Award (2010)
50th Annual Short Course on Medical & Experimental Mammalian Genetics National Institutes of
Drug Abuse Travel Award Recipient (2009)
USA Today College Academic Team Honorable Mention (2006)
M. Kershaw Walsh Award for Academic Achievement (USC, 2006)
Roger W. Black Award for Psychological Research (USC, 2006)
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (2005)
USC Summer Research Institute in Experimental Psychology (2004)
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S. Alisha Epps, Ph.D.
SELECTED ORAL PRESENTATIONS
“Epileptogenesis in a Rodent Model of Depression & Epilepsy Co-morbidity: A Behavioral
Analysis.” Frontiers in Neuroscience Seminar Series. Emory University, Atlanta, GA, Feb 2012.
“Genetic and Behavioral Characterization of a Rodent Model of Depression & Epilepsy CoMorbidity.” Frontiers in Graduate Pharmacology Research Annual Symposium. Emory
University, Atlanta, GA, Mar 2011.
“Seizure Susceptibility in a Rodent Model of Depression & Epilepsy Co-morbidity.” Graduate
Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Annual Symposium. Emory University, Atlanta,
GA, Oct 2009.
SELECTED POSTER PRESENTATIONS & ABSTRACTS
Epps SA (Sept 2013). Bedside to Bench and Back: A Case Study on Traumatic Brain Injury and
Teaching Experiences in an Undergraduate Honors STEM Class. National Center for Case
Study Teaching in Science 14th Annual Conference. Buffalo, NY, 2013.
Epps SA, Patterson K, Blaize M, Ray K, Viswaprakash A, & Floyd C (Aug 2013). Evaluation of
an Automated Touchscreen Task for Its Utility in Assessment of Complex Cognitive
Impairments Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. National Neurotrauma Society
Annual Meeting. Nashville, TN, 2013.
Epps SA, Tabb K, Lin SJ, Kahn AB, Boss-Williams KA, Weiss JM, & Weinshenker D (Aug
2012). Epilepsy-related phenotypes in a rodent model of co-morbid epilepsy & depression.
Gordon Research Conference on Mechanisms of Epilepsy & Neuronal Synchronization.
Waterville Valley, NH, 2012.
Epps SA, Lin S, Tabb K, Boss-Williams K, Weiss J, & Weinshenker D (Nov 2011).
Epileptogenesis in a rodent model of depression & epilepsy co-morbidity: A behavioral analysis.
Program No. 154.08. 2011 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington D.C.: Society for
Neuroscience, 2011. Online.
Epps SA, Tabb K, Lin S, Boss-Williams K, Weiss J, & Weinshenker D (Dec 2010). Genetic and
behavioral characterization of a rodent model of depression & epilepsy co-morbidity. Abstract
No. 3.052. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX, 2010.
Epps SA, Tabb K, Williams K, Weiss J, Weinshenker D (Sept 2010). Genetic and behavioral
characterization of a rodent model of depression & epilepsy co-morbidity. Epilepsy and
Depressive Disorders. Chicago, IL, 2010.
Epps SA, Williams K, Weiss J, Wilson W, Li Y, Pletcher M, & Weinshenker D (July 2009).
Genetic analysis of a rodent model of drug abuse & depression co-morbidity. 50th Annual Short
Course on Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics. Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor,
ME, 2009.
Epps SA, Venable DE, Faingold CL, Wilson SP, & Coleman JR (Oct 2006). Increased GAD
level expression using lentivirus-mediated gene transfer reduces seizure severity in genetically
epilepsy prone rats. Program No. 281.19. 2006 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Atlanta, GA:
Society for Neuroscience, 2006. Online.
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