Jim Fadel, PhD
jrfadel@med.sc.edu

Jim just finished a postdoc stint in the lab, and is now an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. His work in the lab focused on two topics. The first as the role of neurotensin in subserving antipsychotic drug and psychostimulant actions, using neurotensin knockout mice. Jim also studied hypothalamic projections to the midbrain dopamine neurons, including orexin neurons, and uncovered the activation of orexin cells by antipsychotic drugs that cause weight gain.

Jennifer Scruggs, PhD
jscrugg1@utk.edu

Jenn recently completed her Ph.D. in neuroscience, deciphering the mechanisms by which hallucinogens activate the cortex. She found that activation of 5-HT2A heteroceptors on thalamocortical neurons elicits release of glutamate, which in turn drives cortical cells via an AMPA receptor. She is currently studying veterinary medicine at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, maintains a research interest in hallucinogens, and is delighted to be finished with dialysis.

Kim Petrie, PhD
kim.petrie@vanderbilt.edu

Kim has finished with neurotensin, dopamine, and GABA (for now, but who knows?) and elected to stay at Vanderbilt. She is currently a program development specialist for the Biomedical Research Education and Training office at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Kim keeps in close touch with the lab, serves as a resource and guide to all dialysis projects, and organizes lab lunches. Kim enjoys reading, scrapbooking, skating, and pretending to play tennis, and trying to keep her husband Wes from crashing cars that he has built.

Tamara Altman Geraci
tamera.altman@vanderbilt.edu

I came to Vanderbilt straight from graduating from Carson-Newman College, where I earned my B.A. degree in graphic design and drawing. I am currently the graphic designer and illustrator for the Deutch lab. My time at work is spent doing poster design and layout, web design, illustrations of all sorts of brain schematics, and anything else that may require artistic ability. In my spare time I am a portrait artist and I thoroughly enjoy anything that has to do with the arts. I have had the opportunity to participate in three art exhibits and have managed to sell several pieces of art. Outside of my art career I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend Jason and my quest to know him better. I also enjoy my active involvement in my church, working out, spending time with friends, and I love to travel.