Degree

• PhD; Zoology; Michigan State University, 2011
• BS; Ecology, Behavior and Evolution; UCLA, 2007

Training

• Postdoctoral Fellow; University of Washington, 2011-2013

Research Interests

• Behavioral neuroendocrinology
• Sex and seasonal differences in brain and behavior
• Steroid hormone effects in the brain

Research in my laboratory focuses on the neural and endocrine regulation of reproduction and reproductive behavior. Specifically, we are interested in how seasonal differences in reproduction and reproductive behavior are regulated and how the brain and endocrine system interact to regulate these changes. Feel free to email me if you are interested in working in my lab.

I teach Animal Physiology (BIOL 434/534), General Endocrinology (BIOL 438/538), Animal Behavior (Biol 436/536), and Research Methods (BIOL 602). I also teach in the Research Immersive Scholastic Experience in biology (RISEbio) program (BIOL 106/398/399) and mentor research students in Independent Study (Biol 499/677). I am committed to student learning, and the development of critical thinking skills. In order to help facilitate student learning, I try to develop tools that make lectures more interactive.

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Cohen lab news

Members of Dr. Cohen's lab at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Top left photo (left to right): Ruth Gebrehiwot, Anna Wilcox, Bobbi Lovstad, Dr. Cohen, Arya Haala, Madisyn Jarvey, Emma Rieper, Euphemia Deemi, and Nicolet Limas. What a great end to the school year!

Members of Dr. Cohen's lab at the 2025 SICB meeting in Atlanta, GA. Top left photo (left to right): Madisyn Jarvey, Dr. Cohen, Nicolet Limas and Anna Wilcox. Lots of good news: Congrats to Nive Sankar for successfully defending her MS thesis! Congrats to Nick Shankey, Bernadette Igo and Taylor Grossen for their publication in Hormones and Behavior! Congrats to Taylor Grossen and Alexus Bunnam for their publication in Journal of Experimental Zoology!  

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's lab at the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Top photo (left to right): Euphemia Deemi, Brooke Andel, Ola Enigboken, Nicolet Limas, Nick Shankey, Natalie Bina, Meklit Naizgi, Dr. Cohen, Kadin Larsson, Madisyn Jarvey, Kaylyn Batchelor, Nive Sankar, and Emma Rieper. Lots of good news this semester: Congrats to Nick for successfully defending his MS thesis. Congrats to Brooke, Kaylyn, Madisyn and Emma for representing the Cohen lab at NCUR! Great job everyone!

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's lab at the 2024 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Seattle, WA! Top photo (left to right): Spencer Harstad, Nick Shankey, Dr. Cohen, Nive Sankar, Brooke Andel, and Bernadette Igo. Great job everyone! Also, congrats to Nick for publishing his first scientific paper!

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's research lab at the 2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Top photo (from left to right): Ebrima Dem, Niveditha Sankar, Brooke Andel, Dr. Cohen, Alex Calli-Wehrman, Kaylyn Batchelor, Kadin Larsson, Meklit Naizgi, Nick Shankey, Bernadette Igo and Taylor Grossen. Great job everyone! Also, congrats to Brooke for presenting her work at the 2023 NCUR meeting and Dr. Cohen for being selected as a 2023 Distinguished Faculty Scholar recipient.

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's research lab presented their research at the 2023 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting in Austin, TX (from left to right): Nick Shankey, Taylor Grossen, Alex Calli-Wehrman and Brooke Miles. Nick was also selected for a SICB research award! Congrats everyone!

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's research lab at the 2022 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Top photo (from left to right): Nick Shankey, Brooke Miles, Alex Calli-Wehrman, Dr. Cohen, Taylor Grossen, Ashely Kraudy, and Nadia Lowery. Great job everyone!

 

Alexus Bunnam and Taylor Grossen presented their research at the 2022 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology meeting in Phoenix, AZ. Also, congrats to graduate student Cai Tao and undergraduate students Jada Harley and Savannah Spencer on their recent publication in Hormones and Behavior!

 

Successful cohen lab poster presentations at the virtual 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Congrats to Jada Harley, Brooke Miles, Zach Sandborgh, Taylor Grossen, Alexus Bunnam, Alex Calli-Wehrman and Matt Broman! Also, congrats to graduate student Cai Tao on his successful thesis defense!

 

Last cohen lab meeting (via zoom) of 2020. Congrats to graduating Undergraduate students Taylor and Savannah!

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's research lab at the 2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium. From left to right: Abiola Olanrewaju, Kyle Mercer, Georgia Muelken, Hyejoo Kang, Dr. Cohen, Taylor Kenealy, Savannah Spencer, and Mohannad Alhuwaish. Congratulations to Kyle and Taylor for winning outstanding presentation awards!

 

Graduate students Hyejoo Kang and Sawan Talwar presenting their research posters at the 2018 Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego, CA.

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's research lab at the 2018 URS. From left to right: Kyle Mercer, Hyejoo Kang, Erin Baker, Dr. Cohen, Caitlin Foley, Sawan Talwar, and Mohannad Alhuwaish.

 

Members of Dr. Cohen's research lab at the 2017 Undergraduate Research Symposium. From left to right: Jefferson Imasuen, Caitlin Foley, Dr. Cohen, Jaden Roddick, Christine Klecker, Hyejoo Kang, and Mohannad Alhuwaish. Congratulations to Caitlin and Jaden for winning an outstanding poster award!