Principal Investigator

Laura K. Fonken

Assistant Professor
Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology 
College of Pharmacy
University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Laura Fonken completed her PhD in Neuroscience in Dr. Randy Nelson’s laboratory at The Ohio State University. Laura’s dissertation research focused on the effects of nighttime light exposure on physiology and behavior. Next, Laura completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Dr. Steven Maier’s laboratory in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. In the Maier laboratory, Laura’s research focused on understanding how heightened neuroinflammatory responses contribute to mood disorders and cognitive impairments with aging. Current research in her laboratory focuses on endogenous (e.g. circadian rhythms) and exogenous (e.g. infection and injury) factors that influence neuroimmune function across the lifespan.

Senior Post-Doctoral Fellow

Louise Ince

Research Scientist Google Scholar

Dr. Louise Ince completed her BSc in Cognitive Neuroscience & Psychology, MRes in Integrative Biology and PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Manchester, UK. She performed her dissertation research under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Loudon, Prof. David Ray and Dr. Julie Gibbs, working on rhythmic glucocorticoid signaling & neutrophil migration to the lung after inflammatory challenge. She then joined the lab of Prof. Christoph Scheiermann as a post-doc, where she studied the influence of biological rhythms upon adaptive immune function, including temporal variation in dendritic cell trafficking and modulation of vaccination efficacy. Now a Research Scientist in the Fonken Lab, Louise is using her expertise in rhythmic immunology to investigate how changes in neuroimmune rhythms contribute to cognitive decline in aging and dementia.

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Alexis Campanile

LinkedIn Google Scholar

Dr. Lexi Campanile completed her B.S. in Psychology and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Florida State University in Tallahassee Florida. She completed her doctoral training under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Eckel, where Lexi used a translational approach to examine altered immune function in disordered eating behaviors using both a rat model of binge-like eating, and biological and clinical data from women with bulimic syndromes. Lexi is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Fonken lab and is interested in how immune function can become dysregulated with age and how this can lead to changes ranging from the behavioral to cellular level.

Graduate Students

Kate Davis

Neuroscience Program

Kate Davis is a fourth-year graduate student at the Institute for Neuroscience (INS). She received her Bachelor of Science from Southwestern University in Psychology. She is currently exploring how immune activation during development alters neuroimmune functioning and results in behavioral alternations akin to those seen in neurodevelopment diseases such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and schizophrenia. Kate’s hobbies include paddle boarding, baking, and spending time with her dog.

Kate Davis was awarded the National Institute for Science’s Graduate Research Fellowship, a five-year fellowship that helps support promising graduate students in STEM. As part of the fellowship, Kate proposed a “mini-grant” to study the effects of endocrine disruptors on the neuroimmune and endocrine systems.

Brandy Routh

Neuroscience Program

Brandy Routh is a third-year graduate student at the Institute for Neuroscience (INS). After receiving her BS in Neurobiology from UT Austin, she worked as a cellular neurophysiologist in the lab of Daniel Johnston for several years, studying ion channel dysfunction in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome. She is now working towards her PhD, with an interest in circadian rhythms during brain development, specifically focused on the role of circadian disruptions in neurodevelopmental disorders.  Outside of the lab, she enjoys photography, travel, and spending time with her husband and four young children.

Kiersten Bell

Pharmacology and Toxicology Program LinkedIn Google Scholar

Kiersten is a third-year graduate student in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences at Duke University.  She has an interest in the emergence of circadian rhythms during brain development and how their dysfunction may play a role in neurodevelopmental and mood disorders. Outside of lab, Kiersten enjoys spending time outdoors and learning how to roller-skate. 

Lab Technicians

Anisah Aguilar

Lab Manager LinkedIn

Anisah completed her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience at Boston University. She is currently working towards becoming a lawyer. Her passions include movies, music, social advocacy, and art. She spends her free time exploring her hometown of Austin, TX for new breweries and concert venues to try with her friends and family.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Anusha Dabak

Anusha Dabak is a senior majoring in neuroscience in the Polymathic Scholars honors program. Outside of research, she enjoys painting, running, baking/cooking, and traveling. 

Cecily Gibson

Cecily Gibson is a junior majoring in Chemistry and Plan II Honors. Outside of research and academics, she enjoys writing, going down Wikipedia rabbit holes, making obscure Spotify playlists, babysitting cousins, and perfecting her lemon bar recipe.

To see previous lab members, please visit our Alumni page!

Research Opportunities

Dr. Fonken is interested in meeting and working with individuals who would like to contribute to innovative neuroscience, immunology, and pharmacology research. Motivated applicants for undergraduate or graduate research positions are encouraged to contact her.