Shanna Samels

Shanna Samels is a PhD student studying neuroscience at Drexel University. Before attending Drexel, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut where she studied physiology & neurobiology and psychology. While at the University of Connecticut, she conducted research under the mentorship of Dr. John Salamone studying the neural basis of effort related motivation. After graduating she worked as a research assistant at the Nathan Kline Institute in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Sears. While a research assistant, she explored the neurocircuitry of active coping behaviors. Currently at Drexel she is working under the mentorship of Dr. Rodrigo España to investigate how a neuropeptide, hypocretin/orexin, can modulate motivation for drugs of abuse.

Last updated: July 2023