A Scicurious CV

In which Sci can boast about herself.

http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/

https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/scicurious

https://student.societyforscience.org/blog/eureka-lab

Academic History

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. Laboratory of Irwin Lucki, Ph.D., April 2010-present.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institutional NIMH Training Grant, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Laboratory of Irwin Lucki, Ph.D., May 2010-May 2012.

Ph.D – Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina

Dissertation: Effects of chronic methylphenidate on dopamine/serotonin interactions in the mesolimbic dopamine system of the mouse Defended: April 10, 2010, Degree conferred May 4, 2010. Laboratory of Sara R. Jones, Ph.D., Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Ruth Kirchstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellow, NIDA: The effects of chronic methylphenidate on dopamine and serotonin interactions, Laboratory of Sara R. Jones, Ph.D., April 2007-April 2010.

Graduate Predoctoral Fellow, Institutional NIAAA Training Grant, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine,  Laboratory of Sara R. Jones, Ph.D., August 2005 – August 2007

B.S., B.A. – The College of William and Mary in Virginia, Williamsburg, Virginia. Date of Graduation: May, 2004. Bachelor of Science, Biology, Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy. Undergraduate Research: Preliminary observations on fecundity and seasonal timing in Gammarus pseudolimnaeus. Laboratory of Gregory M. Capelli, Ph.D., August 2000-May 2004.

Professional Honors and Media Mentions

• Ranked as one of the "10 must read #womeninscience blogs"
• Ranks #5 on Buzzfeed's "25 must follow twitter accounts for science nerds
• Blogger for the Ignobel Prizes, 2013.
• 2012 Winner of Society for Neuroscience Next Generation Award, Postdoctoral level.
• 2012 Trainee Travel Award Recipient, Stress Neurobiology Workshop, Philadelphia, PA, June, 2012.
• Official Blogger for the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at the Experimental Biology meeting, 2012.
• Blogger for the Ignobel Prizes, 2012.
• Winner of the Top Quark Award for the 3 Quarks Daily 2011 Prize in Science.
• Official blogger for the Experimental Biology meeting, 2011.
• Blogger for the Ignobel Prizes, 2011.
• 2011 Biomedical Postdoc Research Symposium award winner for best platform presentation.
• Semifinalist in the 3 Quarks Daily 2010 Prize in Science
• 2010 SYNAPSE Award Winner for excellence in community outreach, Western North Carolina Society for Neuroscience.
• Nominated for Eureka’s Top 30 Science Blogs at the Times Online, 2009.
• 46 posts featured in the New York Times/ScienceBlogs link exchange
• Winner of the PLoS ONE Blog Pick of the Month for December, 2009. “Zicam and your Nose”
• 25 posts featured in the Editor’s Selections for Researchblogging.org
  • "Women's Brains on Steroids"
  • “The incredible healing mouse”
  • “Dopamine and Obesity: the D2 Receptor”
• Selected Official Blogger for the Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2009.
• Guest Editor of The Open Laboratory: The Best of Science Blogging 2009 Blogging Anthology.
• Winner of PLoS ONE 2^nd Anniversary Synchroblogging contest
• Featured in The Open Laboratory: Best Science Blogging 2008 Blogging Anthology. “Uber Coca, by Sigmund Freud”
• Featured in The Open Laboratory: Best Science Blogging 2009 Blogging Anthology. “Addiction and the Opponent-Process Theory”
• Featured in The Open Laboratory: Best Science Blogging 2010 Blogging Anthology. "The antidepressant Reboxetine: a *headdesk* moment in Science"
• Winner of Research Blogging’s Blog of the Year Awards: Neuroscience category, 2009.
• 2009 Student Travel Award Recipient, Gordon Research Seminar and Conference on Catecholamines.
• Wake Forest University Graduate Student Research Day Poster Contest, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC. April, 2009.  Poster contest runner-up.
• 2007-2008 Alumni Student Travel Award recipient, Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
• Keystone Symposium: Neurobiology of Addiction, Santa Fe, NM, 2007, Scholarship Recipient.
• Monroe Scholar, College of William and Mary

Publications and Presentations

Academic Publications

Brookshire, B.R., Jones, S.R. Chronic methylphenidate administration in mice produces depressive-like behaviors and altered responses to fluoxetine. Synapse. 2012 May 15. doi: 10.1002/syn.21569.

Hodes, G.E., Brookshire, B.R., Hill-Smith, T.E., Teegarden, S.L., Berton, O., Lucki, I. Strain Differences in the Effects of Chronic Corticosterone Exposure in the Hippocampus. Neuroscience. 2012 Epub June 23, 2012.

Multani, P., Hodge, R., Estevez, M., Abel, T., Kung, H., Choi, S., Talbot, K., Brookshire, B.R., Lucki, I., Nall, A.H., Doyle, G.A., Lohoff, F.W. VMAT1 deletion causes hippocampal apoptosis and neurocognitive deficits. Neuroscience. November 29, 2012.

Balu, D.T., Hodes, G.E., Turner, J.R., Brookshire, B.R., Hill-Smith, T.E., Blendy, J.A., Lucki, I. Brain Monoamines and Antidepressant-like Responses in MRL/MpJ Versus C57BL/6J Mice.  Neuropharmacology. April, 2013.

España, R.A., Brookshire, B.R., Locke, J., Roberts D.C.S., Jones, S.R.  SB-334867 reduces cocaine self-administration and DA signaling in the NAc, Eur J Neurosci. 2010 Jan;31(2):336-48. Epub 2009 Dec 23.

Brookshire, B.R., Jones, S.R. Direct and indirect 5-HT receptor agonists produce gender-specific effects on locomotor and vertical activity in C57 BL/6J mice, Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2009 Nov;94(1):194-203. Epub 2009 Aug 19.

Mathews, T.A., Brookshire, B.R., Goldowitz, DA and Jones, S.R. A mouse model of hypodopaminergia exhibits ethanol-induced hyperactivity, Alcohol. 2009 Sep;43(6):421-31.

 

Chapters and Abstracts

Brookshire, B.R., Mateo, Y., Ferris, M., Jones, S.R. Dopamine/serotonin interactions following chronic methylphenidate: evidence for altered serotonin receptors.  Abstract published in Phillips PEM, Sandberg SG, Ahn S, Phillips AG (Eds.) Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience, 2008. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on In Vivo Methods, 328-330.

Carroll, J., Brookshire, B.R., Mathews, T.A. Microdialysis.  Handbook of Analysis and Pharmaceutical Quality. To be published by Wiley and Sons. Editor-in-Chief: Shayne Gad, Ph.D.

Published Science Writing, Selected

Science Writer, Science News, "Scicurious," November 2013-present.

Science Writer, Science News for Students and the Society for Science and the Public, "Eureka! Lab," Novermber 2013-present.

Science Writer, Scientific American Blogs, “The Scicurious Brain” July 2011-October 2013.

Science Writer, Scientopia Blog Network, “Neurotic Physiology”, July, 2010-present.

Science Writer, ScienceBlogs.com, “Neurotopia”, Sept, 2008-July 2010.

Slate, June 3, 2013 "Dopamine is ______"

Science Writer, The Presidential Commission on Bioethical Issues, public meetings 13-15, 2013. http://blog.bioethics.gov/

Slate, May 8, 2013 "Psychology Is WEIRD"

Featured Article at The Guardian, April 13, 2013. "Beer, dopamine and brain scans make an intoxicating mix"

Featured Article at Discover Blogs “The Crux”, Sept. 21, 2012. “Under Controlled: Why the New GMO Panic Is More Sensational Than Sense”

Featured Article at Scientific American, May 15, 2012. “Not-So-Quick Fix: ADHD Behavioral Therapy May Be More Effective Than Drugs in Long Run”

Featured Article at The Guardian, May 18, 2011. "The postdrome: migraine's silent sister"

Featured Guest Blogger at The Scientific American Guest Blog, March 28, 2011. "Serotonin and Sexual Behavior: Is it really that simple?"

Featured in The Open Laboratory: Best Science Blogging 2010 Blogging Anthology. "The antidepressant Reboxetine: a *headdesk* moment in Science"

Featured Guest Blogger at The Guardian Blog Festival, Sept. 28, 2010.  "If low serotonin levels aren't responsible for depression, what is?"

Featured in The Open Laboratory: Best Science Blogging 2009 Blogging Anthology. “Addiction and the Opponent-Process Theory”

Guest editor: The Open Laboratory: The Best of Science Blogging 2009 Blogging Anthology.

Featured in The Open Laboratory: Best Science Blogging 2008 Blogging Anthology. “Uber Coca, by Sigmund Freud”

 

Invited Oral Presentations

Brookshire BR (2014) Don't Read the Comments. Presented at ScienceOnline Together, March 1, 2014, Raleigh, NC.

Brookshire, BR (2014) Getting Started in Social Media. Presented at the 2014 American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, Feb 15, 2014, Chicago, IL.

Brookshire, BR (2013) Sharpening Your "Social" Skills: Social Media and Science. Presented at the Communications Dinner, American Physiological Society, December 12, 2013.

Brookshire, BR (2013) We Can Hear You: Social Media and Science. Presented at the Sgima Xi, Annual Meeting, “Science Communication in the 21^st Century,” November 9, 2013, Raleigh, NC.

Brookshire, BR (2013) Life Beyond Lolcats: Social Media and Science. Presented at the Carnegie Mellon University Public Communication for Researchers Seminar, October 11, 2013, Pittsburgh, PA.

Brookshire, BR (2013) Life Beyond Lolcats: Social Media and Science. Presented at the Cornell Tri-Institutional Bioinformatics Graduate Student Retreat, August 12, 2013, Skylodge Mountain Resort, PA.

Brookshire, BR (2013) Online Comments: Influencing (and advancing?) the scientific conversation. Presented at ScienceOnline, DC, July 10, 2013, Washington, DC.

Brookshire, BR (2013) Public understanding & misunderstanding of science with new media, presented with Rebecca Water, Frasier Cain, and Tamsin Edwards at the 2013 SciFoo meeting, June 23, 2013, Mountain View, CA.

Brookshire, BR (2013) Life Beyond Lolcats: Social Media and Science, presented with Dr. Miriam Goldstein at the 2012-2013 American Associated for the Advancement of Science Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Year-End Summit (YES), June 21, 2013, Bethesda, MD.

Brookshire, BR (2013) Science blogging for fun and profit, Engaging in Social Media, presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, Feb 14, 2013, Boston, MA.

Moderator ScienceOnline (2013) Blogging for the Long Haul, presented with Zen Faulkes at Science Online 2013, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

Moderator ScienceOnline (2013) We are who we are? Who are we? Issues of identity and the internet, presented with Kate Clancy at Science Online 2013, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

Brookshire, BR (2012) Augmentation of antidepressant effects by corticosteroids: potential mechanisms. Presented October,14, 2012, Society for Neuroscience meeting, 012.Mood Disorders: Animal Models of Stress and Depression, New Orleans, LA.

Brookshire, BR (2012) Role of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 single nucleotide polymorphism C2432T in strain differences and antidepressant response. Presented March 15, 2012, to the University of Pennsylvania Center for Neurobiology and Behavior “Works in Progress” seminar, Philadelphia, PA.

Brookshire, BR (2011) A Polymorphism in the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (tph2) gene regulates gene expression, serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, and the behavioral response to SSRIs. Presented October 12, 2011, University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Postdoctoral Symposium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Panelist ScienceOnline (2012): (1) Sex, gender, and controversy: writing to educate and writing to titillate. (2) Adding a digital element to Scientific Conferences. presented at Science Online 2012, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Panelist ScienceOnline (2011): How to Explain Science in Blog Posts, presented at Science Online 2011, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Panelist ScienceOnline (2009): Web and the History of Science, presented with Greg Gbur and Brian Switek, presented at Science Online 2009, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Brookshire, BR (2009) Effects of chronic methylphenidate on 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors in mouse ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens:  implications for altered dopamine/serotonin interactions. Presented August 8, 2009, Gordon Research Seminar on Catecholamines, University of New England, Biddeford, ME.

Brookshire, BR (2007) Changes in dopamine/serotonin interactions following chronic methylphenidate administration. Presented February 28, 2007, Keystone Symposium: Neurobiology of Addiction, Santa Fe, NM.

 

Conference Posters, Selected

Brookshire^, B.R., Robinson, S.A., Port, R., Hahn C.H., Borgmann-Winter, K., Lucki, I. (2012) Co-administration of Corticosterone with fluoxetine augments cell proliferation in the hippocampus and olfactory epithelium in C57BL/6J mice. Presented at the Neurobiology of Stress Workshop, Philadelphia, PA.

Brookshire^, B.R., Hill-Smith, T.E., Balu, D.T., Turner J.R., Blendy, J.A., Lucki, I. (2012) The tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) polymorphism C2432T mediates wound healing and behavioral responses to SSRIs in a sex-specific manner. Presented at Biological Psychiatry, Philadelphia, PA.

Brookshire^, B.R., Hill-Smith, T.E., Balu, D.T., Turner J.R., Blendy, J.A., Lucki, I. (2011) The presence of a Tryptophan Hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) polymorphism G11515891A in the MRL/MpJ mouse contributes to altered TPH2 expression, increased serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, and enhanced 5-HT response to SSRIs. Presented at the Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington, DC.

Brookshire, B. R., Lucki, I (2011) Strain differences determine the response to citalopram on hippocampal neurogenesis, neurotrophin mobilization and behavior. Presented at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics division of Experimental Biology, Washington, DC.

Brookshire, B.R., Ferris, M, Mateo, Y, Jones, SR (2009) Effects of chronic methylphenidate on dopamine/serotonin interactions: evidence for altered 5-HT1B receptor function in the ventral tegmental area. Presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting, Chicago, IL.

Brookshire, B.R., Ferris, M, Mateo, Y, Jones, SR (2009) Effects of chronic methylphenidate on dopamine and serotonin interactions in mice: evidence for altered 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors.  Presented at the Gordon Research Conference on Catecholamines, Biddeford, ME.

Brookshire, BR, Jones, SR (2008) Effects of serotonin receptor agonists on locomotor activity in male and female C57/BL6J mice.  Presented at the Meeting for the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC.

Brookshire, BR, Mateo, Y, Ferris, M, Jones, SR (2008) Dopamine/serotonin interactions following chronic methylphenidate: evidence for altered serotonin receptors.  Presented at Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience, Vancouver, BC.

Brookshire, BR, Mateo, Y, Jones SR (2007) Chronic methylphenidate administration changes dopamine and serotonin systems in mice. Presented at the meeting for the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.

Brookshire, BR, Mateo, Y, Jones, SR (2007) Long-term methylphenidate administration changes dopamine and serotonin interactions in mice. Presented at Keystone Symposia: Neurobiology of Addiction, Santa Fe, NM.

Brookshire, BR, Mathews, TA, Lapa, A, Jones, SR (2006) Dopaminergic characterization of the 22-TNJ mutant mouse: supersensitive dopamine receptors measured by in vivo microdialysis and in vitro voltammetry. Presented at the Research Society on Alcoholism, Baltimore, MD.

Brookshire, BR, Capelli, GM (2003) Preliminary observations on fecundity and seasonal timing in Gammarus pseudolimnaeus. Presented at the Verizon Research Symposium, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.

Brookshire, BR, Capelli, GM (2003)  Preliminary observations on fecundity and seasonal timing in Gammarus pseudolimnaeus. Presented at the Monroe Summer Research Project Symposium, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.

 

Teaching and Career Development Training

University of Pennsylvania

• Lecturer, Summer 2012, University of Pennsylvania, Biology 109, Introduction to Brain and Behavior, Lecture on Mental Illness.
• Lab Assistant, Summer 2012, University of Pennsylvania, Biology 109, Introduction to Brain and Behavior, Introductory Neuroanatomy.

Winston Salem State University

• Lecturer, Spring 2007 - 2009, Winston Salem State University, Physical Therapy Masters Program, PHT 7401, General Physiology: General Endocrinology.
• Lecturer, Fall 2007 - 2008, Winston Salem State University, Physical Therapy Masters Program, PHT 7402, General Pharmacology, the Pharmacology of Pregnancy and the Pharmacology of Diabetes.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

• Teaching Assistant, Fall 2006 - 2008, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Graduate Neuroanatomy.
• Lecturer, Fall 2007 - 2008, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Graduate Neuroanatomy: Motor Systems.
• Guest Lecturer, Fall 2007, Wake Forest University Department of Counseling, Psychiatric Pharmacology.

Professional Society Memberships

• Society for Neuroscience, 2005-present.
• American Chemical Society, 2006-2010.
• Western North Carolina Society for Neuroscience, 2007-2010.
• American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2010-present.

 

Outreach, Volunteer, and Service Activities

• AWIS DC, Vice President of Social Media, 2014.
• Twitter: @scicurious, over 20,000 followers. Twitter feed on neuroscience and physiology.
• Science Online Brain, Executive planning committee, arranged, planned, and funded a seminar in Los Angeles on Psychology and Neuroscience communication, scheduled for July, 2014.
• Science Online DC, planning committee member, arranged and planned monthly seminars and meetings.
• GeekGirlCon, DIYScienceZone Scientist Volunteer, October, 2013

• Referee, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, Neuroscience Letters
• Contributing Writer and Editor, 2011- present, Biomedical Postdoctoral Council Newsletter, University of Pennsylvania. Worked with the members of the editing team to assign and develop stories and prepare newsletter issues.
• Volunteer Editor, 2011-present The Biomedical Postdoctoral Editors Association, University of Pennsylvania.
• Volunteer Judge, October 12, 2011, Biomedical Postdoc Symposium poster session, October 12, 2011.
• Contributing Writer, 2009 The Neurotransmitter, newsletter for the Western North Carolina Society for Neuroscience. Worked with the members of the editing team to assign and develop stories and prepare newsletter issues.
• Brain Awareness Council, 2004 – 2010. Presentation Coordinator, 2008-2009, Director of Publicity, 2007-2008, Brain Awareness Educator, grades 1-12.  Education on drugs of abuse, human brains, comparative animal brains, and psychiatry
• Founder: Scientopia, a Science Blogging Collective. Founded August 8, 2010.
• Organizer: Scientopia Thanksgiving Writeup: Nov. 22-26, 2010: Writeup of what Scientopians are Thankful for in Science and Medicine, with participants of the Scientopia Collective and beyond.
• Organizer: Scientopia Women's Health Writeup: Sept. 27-Oct 1, 2010: A writeup and analysis of health writing in women's magazines, with participants of the Scientopia Collective.
• Organizer: ScienceBlogs Zombie Day, July 1, 2010: A synchro-blogging groups effort on all aspects of zombie life, with participants from ScienceBlogs.

Other Professional Development

• Course in Biomedical Writing at the University of the Sciences, 2012. Proficient in use of AMA style and writing for clinical and lay audiences.
• Course in College Teaching at the University of Pennsylvania, 2012. Proficient in syllabus design and classroom lecture.
• Participant in Education Journal Club, a post-doc run Journal Club for biology education, 2012-present.
• Committee Member: University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Science Policy Group a graduate and postdoctoral group focused on confronting issues of science policy.

Features:

• Featured Blog Post at The Guardian, April 19, 2013. "Beer, dopamine and brain scans make an intoxicating mix"
• Featured Article at Discover, The Crux, Sept. 21, 2012. "Under Controlled: Why the New GMO Panic Is More Sensational Than Sense"
• Feature Article, Scientific American, May 15, 2012. "Not-so-quick Fix: ADHD behavioral therapy may be more effective than drugs in the long run.
• Featured Article at The Guardian, May 18, 2011. "The postdrome: migraine's silent sister"
• Featured Guest Blogger at The Scientific American Guest Blog, March 28, 2011. "Serotonin and Sexual Behavior: Is it really that simple?"
• Featured Guest Blogger at The Scientific American Guest Blog, Nov. 30, 2010. "The Antidepressant Reboxetine: A "headdesk" moment in science"
• Featured Guest Blogger at The Guardian Blog Festival, Sept. 28, 2010.  "If low serotonin levels aren't responsible for depression, what is?"
• Featured “Blog of the Week” at the Charlotte Observer, April 5, 2010.
• 18 posts featured in the Encephalon Blog Carnival (http://www.sharpbrains.com/resources/encephalon-blog-carnival/)
• 10 posts featured in the Giant’s Shoulders History of Science Blog Carnival (http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_4722.html)
• 2 posts featured in the Praxis Blog Carnival (http://www.layscience.net/?q=blog/32)
• 3 posts featured in the Tangled Bank Blog Carnival (http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_39.html)
• 4 posts featured in the Scientia Pro Publica Blog Carnival (http://scientiablogcarnival.blogspot.com/)
• 2 posts featured in the Carnal Carnival (http://carnalcarnival.wordpress.com/)

Featured "Appearances":

• Interviewed on WHYY Philadelphia's "The Pulse" Feb. 28, 2014.
• Interviewed on Skeptically Speaking Episode 195 "The Penis Panel"
• Interview on Skeptically Speaking Episode 166 "The Cure for Everything"
• Interviewed on Skeptically Speaking Episode 142 "Science is a hell of a drug..."
• Interviewed on the CBC Technology show Spark "Pseudonymity Online", Sept, 16, 2011.
• Interviewed on Skeptically Speaking Episode 115 "Cell Phone Science", Jun. 5, 2011.
• Interviewed on Skeptically Speaking Episode 105 "Making Science Funny", Mar. 27, 2011.
• Interviewed on Skeptically Speaking Episode 100 "Semen Science", Feb. 25, 2011.
• Interviewed at the Guardian's Science Weekly Podcast: How Blogs are Changing Science, Jan. 24, 2011.
• Interviewed for Science Career's: Science Blogging and Tenure, Jan. 28, 2011.