Marianne L Seney, PhD
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Translational Neuroscience Program
Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Professional Affiliations:
- Associate Member, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
- Member, Society for Neuroscience
- Member, Society of Biological Psychiatry
- Member, International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
- Member, Organization for the Study of Sex Differences
What are your main research interests/projects?
“Given heterogeneity in symptomatology, genetic risk, and patient demographics of psychiatric and addictive disorders, I believe that a better understanding of causes, as well as treatment development, will come from identifying and studying patient subpopulations. In line with this, my lab takes a nuanced approach by focusing on whether molecular alterations occurring in the brains of patients with these disorders are influenced by sex and/or circadian rhythms. We then use animal models to determine if these sex- and/or time of day-specific alterations are causative to changes in relevant behavioral domains.”
Kelly Barko
Research Project Assistant
What are your main research interests/projects?
“My current research interests include investigating molecular mechanisms of mood-related disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and using these mechanisms as a putative target for pharmacologic intervention.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“When I am not in lab I enjoy hiking and backpacking in the Laurel Highlands and scenic runs through local parks.”
Micah Shelton
Supervisor Research Lab
What are your main research interests/projects?
“I am interested in understanding the ways that sex changes the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder, specifically with an eye on the role of microglia in changing cortical structure in regions related to affective states.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“Outside of the lab, you can find me in the garden when I’m not listening to a podcast.”
Tyler Myers
Research Associate
What are your main research interests/projects?
“My general research focus is examining the differences in molecular changes between the sexes in people who suffer from Major Depressive Disorder.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“When I’m not in the lab you can catch me rock climbing, reading, and dancing in my kitchen.”
Hanxue Cui
Tsinghua MD/PhD Student
What are your main research interests/projects?
“My current research interests mainly focus on the sex differences in Major Depression Disorder (MDD). I am now focusing on whether manipulating the level of active microglia in certain brain regions could have an affect on dendritic spine density and depressive-like behavior.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“When I am not in the lab, I enjoy staying with my cat, reading books, watching movies, or simply just lying on my bed forever thinking and rethinking whatever happens to be on my mind.”
Jyoti Dubey
Research Staff
What are your main research interests/projects?
“I am working with postmortem human brain tissue to look into the pathology of Major Depressive Disorder and corresponding sex differences.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“Outside of the lab, I love to spend time with my family and go for nature walks.”
Andrew Yoblinski
PhD Candidate
What are your main research interests/projects?
“Using both human post-mortem tissue and mouse models to understand the role of microglia in producing sex differences in stress and depression.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“I only have two personality traits: coffee and Carolina basketball. Everything else is just resume hacking.”
Nicole Horan
PhD Candidate
What are your main research interests/projects?
“How genetic/proteomic changes influence psychiatric disease mechanisms and treatment. My current project focuses on the isolation of nuclei from mouse/rat/human brain samples and running snRNA-seq to investigate cell-type-specific changes in diseases like Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Alcohol-Use Disorder, and Opioid-Use Disorder.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“When I’m not in lab, you can find me playing volleyball somewhere in the city (indoors or grass), finding new hiking trails, or incessantly bothering my cat, Jester.”
Undergraduate Researchers
Sydney Green
What are your main research interests/projects?
“In the Seney lab, I focus on studying sex differences in subjects with major depressive disorder and how this relates to neuron morphology across brain regions.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“Outside of research, I love cooking new recipes, playing guitar, hiking, and exploring the city of Pittsburgh!”
Aakriti Neopaney
What are your main research interests/projects?
“My main research project involves investigating the role of nanoparticle injections on stress-induced behavior in mice through behavioral assays.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“Apart from science, I enjoy photography, spending time with my friends and family (including my cats), and trying out global cuisine around Pittsburgh.”
Omeed Chaichian
What are your main research interests/projects?
“My primary research project involves exposing mice to chronic stress and following that with behavioral testing to assess mood-related behavior”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“Outside of the lab, I enjoy staying active whether that’s playing soccer with my friends or just simply going to the gym.”
Romita Das
What are your main research interests/projects?
“My research project is focused on understanding sex differences in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), specifically in the expression of astrocyte-related genes in mood-related regions of the brain.”
What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?
“Outside of the lab, I love cooking and taking walks around campus with my camera to photograph nature and sunsets!”