BRITTANY A. BELL, PHD

*** * *** **, ***** Brook, NJ 08805

856-***-**** aczids@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RUTGER’S UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ

Graduate Researcher, Vicario Laboratory 2011 - Present

Independently develop hypotheses regarding the influence of hormonal action on neural activity in sensory structures of the brain and assess those hypotheses through neurophysiology and novel behavioral paradigms.

Supervise and manage experimental projects for undergraduate research fellowships, summer science projects and senior theses from the early process of applicant selection and experimental design through the dissemination of results via publications and poster presentations.

Perform neurosurgery and neural recordings for my own research while concurrently training the lab’s undergraduate researchers in those and other technical skills necessary for their projects into the neural and behavioral phenomenon of a model species.

Analyze project data using statistical and visualization softwares (MATLAB, R, Statistica, SPSS, Excel and PowerPoint) to produce figures and slideshows for presentation at lab meetings, conferences and ultimately for publication.

Organize lab responsibilities and preparation for animal care and OSHA lab inspections by managing: drug dilutions, the maintenance of lab records, and ensuring compliance with DEA standards for use of controlled substances. Teaching Assistant, Learning Processes 2012 - 2017

Instructed an undergraduate laboratory class focusing on conditioning and learning in a rat model.

Taught students to write manuscripts in APA style format and developed individual lesson-plans to improve writing through successive drafts and edits.

Supervised and ensured the safe completion of experimental protocols with a class of undergraduate students that have not previously worked in an animal model by training students in animal care, handling and experimentation.

Supervised the occupational health processing and training of students to comply with IACUC and university guidelines. Part-Time Lecturer, Introduction to Psychology 2016

Developed syllabus and course of study for an introductory course to psychology by preparing course slides and delivering 3 hour lectures on material, twice a week, due to an accelerated summer schedule.

Maximized students’ grasp of material through one-on-one instruction and study-planning with individuals that required additional tutoring.

Designed examinations and essay assessments that produced course grades which accurately and fairly reflected student investment and performance. VASSAR COLLEGE, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY

Undergraduate Researcher, Vassar College 2011

Designed and completed study into the effect of early play deprivation, in rats, on oxytocin levels and social memory in adulthood. EDUCATION

RUTGER’S UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ PhD, 2017

Department: Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience GPA: 3.97/4.0 Dissertation: Assessing parental experience in a socially monogamous songbird. RUTGER’S UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ MS, 2013

Department: Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience GPA: 3.97/4.0 Thesis: Effects of Instrumental Learning on Auditory Representations of Social Vocalizations in the Songbird Forebrain. VASSAR COLLEGE, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY BA, 2011

Major: Neuroscience and Behavior, Minor: Public Policy Economics GPA: 3.5/4.0 PUBLICATIONS

Bell, B. A., Phan, M. L., & Vicario, D. S. (2015). Neural Responses in Songbird Forebrain Reflect Learning Rates, Acquired Salience and Stimulus Novelty after Auditory Discrimination Training. Journal of Neurophysiology, 113(5), 1480-92. CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Bell, B. A., Narayanan, N., & Vicario, D. S. (2016). Parental experience counts in a socially monogamous songbird. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA. Vicario, D. S., Bell, B.A., Phan, M.L. & Buchanan, K. (2015). Experimental manipulations in the developing songbird affect both vocal imitation and auditory memories. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL. Bell, B. A., Phan, M. L., & Vicario, D. S. (2014). Neural responses to vocalizations in the songbird auditory forebrain differentially reflect social and instrumental reward prediction. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C. Bell, B. A., Phan, M. L., & Vicario, D. S. (2013). Auditory responses in the songbird forebrain reflect acquired salience and individual learning rates in a behavioral discrimination paradigm. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA. AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS: Society for Neuroscience, 2011-2016; Excellence Fellowship for Dissertation Work in Psychology, 2016; PLOS ONE Reviewer, 2016; Ralphe Bunche Fellowship, 2011-2012

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