Gilman Lab
Health & Behavioral Neuroscience
Land Acknowledgement
Adapted from Kent State's School of Theatre and Dance
The traditional people this land belongs to include the Nations of the Delaware, Miami, Mingo, Ottawa, Shawnee, Wyandot and Cayuga. This land acknowledgement pays respect to the traditions, ancestors, and contemporary cultural and spiritual practices of Indigenous Americans. Please take a moment to consider the legacies of violence and displacement that have removed Indigenous Americans from their land. Dr. Lee Gilman (they/them) recognizes that their work takes place on this land that was forcibly and unlawfully taken from these Indigenous Nations.
Research in the Gilman lab is focused on bridging gaps in knowledge about how genes, diet, and exposure to environmental stress interact to promote (mal)adaptive behavioral changes. Such behavioral shifts can include persistent consumption of unhealthy diet, inappropriate responses to stressors, or both, which can contribute to psychiatric disease vulnerability (e.g., depression, anxiety) plus comorbidity with cardiovascular or metabolic diseases. Specifically, we are investigating how diet- and stress-modulated neuroactive hormones and neuroinflammation, and genetic differences that influence dopaminergic signaling, can initiate and perpetuate feed-forward pathophysiology that can dramatically impact palatable food consumption, anxiety-related behaviors, and stress responsivity.
Dr. Lee Gilman (they/them) advocates for inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in neuroscience. This is a core value they personally hold, and does not necessarily reflect Kent State University. Dr. Gilman recognizes that IDEA are crucial to the success and advancement of neuroscience, and science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) fields more broadly. In addition to educating themself and continually working to improve IDEA in their professional and personal lives, Dr. Gilman engages in collaborative research to incorporate IDEA practices in STEAM, and to increase retention of people with historically excluded, marginalized, and minoritized identities in STEAM fields.
Graduate School Applications for
AY 2025-2026
The Gilman Lab is fortunate to be at capacity for graduate students. We will NOT be accepting applications in Fall 2024 for
graduate students in the AY 2025-2026 year.
People
People are the most important lab resource. Meet our essential lab members.
21 Jun 2024
Dr. Lee Gilman
Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Statement
Dr. Lee Gilman (they/them) actively works to perpetuate a welcoming, comfortable, and accepting work environment for individuals of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, all cultures and religions, all gender and sexual identities, and all financial, national, and academic backgrounds. They recognize that everyone has had to learn things - no one is born knowing neuroscience or lab techniques. They strive to treat all lab members with respect, and to meet each where they are in their learning path. Their desire is that every lab member can be their genuine selves in lab, as much as they feel comfortable doing so. Dr. Gilman works to actively educate themself about historical and present biases, prejudices, inequities, and abuse against marginalized, oppressed, and minoritized groups. Prior to Ohio Senate Bill 1 (finalized 26 Mar 2025), these were included in regular lab meeting discussions. In doing so, they encountered many excellent resources, and gladly share those here.
Lauren Scrimshaw
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, 2022-2024
Graduate Student, Joined 2024
Lauren graduated from Kent State University in 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience with a Biology minor. Lauren's research interests include how neurotransmitters and genes can lead to psychiatric disorders.
Aliyah Ross
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2023
Aliyah is an undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience. She plans on earning a graduate degree, but she is unsure what field she wants to continue in. Her goal in joining the Gilman Lab is to find a field of psychology that she loves and wants to proceed with her education in.
Anna Crites, B.S., B.A.
Graduate Student, Joined 2023
Anna graduated from Siena Heights University in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Biology with a Chemistry minor. Her goals include developing a better understanding of the physiology and etiology of psychiatric disorders in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment methods for individuals.
Grace Sonick, B.S.
She/Her
Graduate Student, Joined 2023
Grace graduated from Kent State University in 2022 with a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Pre-Medicine. Her research interests include examining how diet can play a role in the development of psychiatric disorders and the reverse, how psychiatric disorders can influence diet.
Amanda Shafer
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2024
Amanda is an undergraduate student pursuing a dual degree in both Psychology and Neuroscience. She is interested in researching the complex biological and psychological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders. Amanda is interested in pursuing a career that involves clinical psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral neuroscience research, in combination with clinical practice.
Elise Simmons
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2024
Elise is a B.S. Psychology and Neuroscience double major. She plans to go to graduate school for Neuroscience. Elise is interested in both neurodegenerative conditions as well as neuropsychology and how certain neurotransmitters' chemical makeup can affect behaviors.
Elizabeth Winters
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2024
Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Kent State majoring in Neuroscience and Biology. She plans to go to graduate school for Neuroscience. Her goal is to pursue a career in clinical neuroscience.
Christina Gurule
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2025
Christina is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She plans on earning a graduate degree, but is still exploring options. She finds that she is drawn to neuroscience and is interested in genetics, psychopathology, neurodivergence, neurotransmitters, and how these interact with each other.
Bruna de Araujo e Silva
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2025
Bruna is an undergraduate student at Kent State University majoring in Psychology. She has a strong interest in neuroscience research and is particularly passionate about studying the human brain. She plans to pursue a career in scientific research, gaining experience in laboratory settings to further explore the complexities of brain function and cognition.
Masiella Grob
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2025
Masiella is an undergraduate at Kent State majoring in Psychology. She plans to go to medical school after graduating from Kent State. Her goal is to pursue a career in psychiatry.
Kendrick Wilson
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2025
Kendrick is an undergraduate student majoring in Biology and plans to attend medical school after graduating from Kent State. He is passionate about neuroscience and has a strong interest in the relationship between nutrition and brain function.
Basma Alhaddad
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2025
Basma is a junior at Kent State University majoring in Neuroscience. She joined the Gilman Lab to explore how diet, stress, and genetics shape behavior and mental health. Basma is especially interested in how these factors interact to influence vulnerability to psychiatric and metabolic disorders, and she plans to pursue a career in medicine and neuroscience research.
Lily Apanius
She/Her
Undergraduate Student, Joined 2025
Lily will be graduating in 2026 as an undergrad in Neuroscience. Her goal is to gain hands-on experience and discover new opportunities as she continues down her path. Lily is interested in the way food and diet play roles in the health and healing of the brain.
Lee Gilman, Ph.D.
They/Them
Principal Investigator
There are two equal goals of Dr. Gilman's. One goal is to fill in substantial knowledge gaps regarding how exposure to different diets and stressors influence hormones that interact with neurophysiological processes regulating emotions and behaviors. The other goal is to culture a supportive, diverse, challenging, and multifaceted research experience for their trainees, providing trainees with a broad range of skills that will serve them in whatever career paths they pursue.
Lab Member Activities & Accomplishments
Location
600 Hilltop Dr.
Dept. of Psychological Sciences
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242
We are located in Kent Hall, in the Department of Psychological Sciences, at Kent State University.
Contact
